Dental Implants

Why are dental implants the best option for replacing missing teeth?
Every way you look at it, dental implants are a better solution to the problem of missing teeth. While high-tech in nature, dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.

    • Esthetic
      Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.
    • Tooth-saving
      Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!
    • Confidence
      Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They are secure and offer freedom from the irksome clicks and wobbles of dentures. They’ll allow you to say goodbye to worries about misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.
    • Reliable
      The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

What are the benefits to replacing missing teeth?
Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts which are placed into the jawbone where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. In addition, implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.

Dental implants are changing the way people live! With dental implants, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life.

What is involved in placing implants?
After the gums have had several weeks to heal, the next step is begun. The artificial teeth are made and fitted to the post portion of the anchor.

First, surgery is performed to place the anchor. Surgery may take up to several hours and up to six months may be required for the bone to grow around the anchor and firmly hold it in place. Some implants require a second surgery in which a post is attached to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. With other implants, the anchor and post are already attached and are placed at the same time.

Implant surgery can be done in a dental office. A local or general anesthetic may be used. Dr. Gilsdorf and our team at Dentistry by Design will give you instructions on diet and oral hygiene.

Let us help you decide on the best course of action on replacing a missing tooth. We provide the dental implants to permanently solve problems of lost or damaged teeth. As specialists in dental implant procedures, we want to discuss with you how we can restore your perfect smile. Contact us and a member of our team will get in touch with you shortly to arrange for a convenient date for your free, private consultation.

We offer three primary tooth-replacement options. Depending on the number of missing teeth, certain implant options work better than others:

  • Single-tooth replacements have the highest success rate, and because they will never decay or need root canal treatments, they are the best long-term investment for replacing a single tooth.
  • Multi-tooth replacements are similar to bridges and are commonly used when three or more teeth in a row are missing. A bridge must connect to a natural tooth, which often becomes weak and starts to decay. With tooth implants, the surrounding teeth are not affected.
  • Implant-supported dentures replace entire jawlines along the top or bottom (or both) rows. These dentures lock into place so they will not shift around in the mouth or fall out during jaw movement.

What are Mini-Implants?
Mini Dental Implants are small implants that can be placed in one day to stabilize dentures. The whole procedure takes a matter of hours, with very little discomfort or recovery time. They are wonderful for those with a denture or other prosthetic that will not stay in place.

What is the mini-implant procedure?
First Dr. Gilsdorf will numb the area, and use a special drill to create the space for the screws. Typically six mini-implants are inserted in these holes and tightened to serve as anchors. Your denture will be retrofitted with a metal housing for each post so that the denture can snap into place. Now that the denture is anchored, it cannot slip or move, and makes the denture-wearing experience much easier. The procedure causes little discomfort and requires almost no recovery time, so many patients are able to eat dinner that same day.