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BEVERLY HILLS DENTAL IMPLANTS

Do You Miss Your Teeth? – Missing teeth can cause embarrassment and psychological scars. Modern dentistry holds an answer though and the results are giving patients something to smile about. Jennifer Barnes invited Beverly Hills periodontist, Dr. Sharyar Baradaran, to a Q & A to explain what we need to know to get our smiles back.

Reprinted from Anti-Aging & Cosmetic Surgery Magazine with Permission.

What can be done for missing teeth?

Technology is advancing so quickly in the area of dental implants, we can now almost copy nature and get back the teeth we were meant to have. Dental implants are an ideal option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, injury, or some other reason (e.g., a cracked root or genetically missing teeth).

Dental implants are so natural looking and feeling, you may forget you ever lost a tooth. The implant is a biocompatible titanium screw that looks similar to the root of a tooth, which is placed in the jawbone. We allow the bone to engage the implant, which takes several months, and then a crown is connected to the implant. The result is a tooth that feels and looks exactly like a natural tooth, and patients cannot tell that it is not their real tooth. Due to the strength and permanence of this procedure, the result is not just cosmetic, but functional as well. (2)

What was done before implants?

Before, we used to have to grind down healthy, natural teeth on either side of the missing tooth to attach a bridge for support. Or, the other option was to wear a removable denture that did not look natural and had functional limitations.

Traditionally, dentures are made to fit on the ridge of the gum tissue. A denture is a large, acrylic appliance in the mouth. Frequently, there is a need to psychologically and functionally adapt to eating, as well as speaking. Over time, dentures begin to wobble and loosen. They also cover the roof of the mouth, thus minimizing the patient’s sensation of taste. In addition, dentures may alter speech.

Are dentures on their way out because of implants?

Yes, I would say dentures are becoming obsolete. Few new dentures are being made. In fact, people who have had dentures made years ago are now asking how they can replace their dentures with implants.

What are advantages of dental implants?

Aesthetic: 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. (3)

Tooth Saving: Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth as 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 eliminate the 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. Generally speaking, implants are successful in about 94% of the cases in the upper jaw, and 98% of cases in the lower jaw (the bone in the lower jaw is more dense so it has a higher success rate).

If a tooth must be removed, can you replace it with implants at the same time?

Sometimes we can, other times we wait a few weeks or months; sometimes if the patient has lost a lot of bone, we actually have to rebuild the bone before the patient can have an implant. The patient never leaves the office with a missing tooth. A temporary tooth is always made in advance.

How do you rebuild the bone?

The best thing to do is to use the patient’s own bone. We borrow some bone tissue from around the wisdom tooth area, the chin or side of the jaw. In more complicated procedures bone might be taken from the patient’s hips.

Do dental implants need any special care or maintenance?

Dental implants are like your own teeth and will require the same care. The patient visits their dentist and periodontist for regular routine hygiene and x-rays, as they would have done anyway.

What if a patient is missing most or all of their teeth?

We analyze the bone with a three dimensional x-ray called a CT to determine which strategic sites have the best bone and the corresponding number of implants will be planned with the restorative dentist and the laboratory technician.

Does this surgery hurt and is anesthesia required?

Local anesthesia is used while the patient is awake, but the area being worked on is completely numb. Patients don’t feel anything while removing the tooth, while the bone is being rebuilt, or while the implant is being placed. For those patients who prefer not to think about the treatment, there is the option of undergoing light IV (intravenous) sedation so that although they are still awake, they feel as if they have experienced a relaxing nap during the procedure.

What is the recovery like?

After an implant is placed into the bone, numbness from the local anesthesia will last for a few hours. Patients can then take over-the-counter pain medications to alleviate any discomfort and as necessary additional medications are prescribed. The majority of patients are able to resume their usual routine the same day or the following day.