A dental implant is, for many, the next best thing to your healthy, natural tooth. An implant is a strong, stable artificial tooth root that is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement crown or bridge. Dr. de Jongh is extremely precise in his implant placement technique to ensure it fits, feels, looks and functions like a natural tooth.

The ideal implant candidate is in good oral and overall health and has an adequate density of bone to support the implant. Healthy gum tissues free of periodontal disease is imperative to implant success, as the implants are intimately fixed into the gum tissues and underlying bone.

What to Expect from Implant Surgery with Dr. de Jongh

Because we specialize in making your teeth look and feel like your own, we keep both the placement of the implant and the restoration under one roof. We will acquire a series of x-rays, photos and measurements to fabricate a 3-D rendering of your jaw and dentition. This allows Dr. de Jongh to plan your implant placement from all angles and come up with the optimal treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.

Implants don’t only replace a single tooth, we can utilize them to replace several teeth with an implant-supported bridge or even replace all the teeth with the use of an all-on-four or all-on-six, which are implant supported dentures. These implants and restorations, when properly cared for, can last a lifetime.

Who is an Implant Candidate?

Often, a patient is not an optimal implant candidate due to inadequate or poor quality bone where the implant is to be placed, particularly in the upper back jaw region. For many, these deformities can be corrected through ridge modification or bone grafting to develop a place for an implant.

Leaving empty spaces in your mouth after losing teeth can lead to additional issues, such as the deterioration of the bone in the area. When there is no tooth or implant to stimulate the surrounding bone, the bone simply loses its strength and firmness and overtime wears away completely. Implants are the only restoration option that preserves the natural bone in the area of a lost tooth and stimulates bone growth, preventing bone loss.

How Do I Care for Dental Implants?

Just like your natural teeth, implants require diligent at-home care and regular dental visits. To ensure long-term implant success, it is very important to keep your implant clean and plaque-free. Brushing and flossing are more important than ever after the placement of an implant or implants and we will work with you to develop the best at-home care plan for you.

We want every patient’s smile to look, feel and function the best they possibly can. It is not necessary to feel uncomfortable in public, or embarrassed when you speak because your smile looks different. Even those who wear removable dentures or tooth-supported partials can breathe a sigh of relief. Implants offer a reliable solution so there is no more worrying your teeth can loosen or fall out when you speak, eat or laugh. Don’t let missing teeth deter you from smiling any longer.

Come in for a consultation today and let us show you how we can restore your lost dentition and keep your teeth in your mouth!

Dental Implant FAQ

• Will my speech be altered with an implant? Adjusting to an implant may mean you will pronounce things a little different for a few days, but there is no long term struggle to speak as with dentures and partials. Implants function just like your natural teeth!
• Will implants change my smile? If you are replacing a single tooth, the implant and crown will be designed to match your smile perfectly. If you are replacing a large number of teeth, we have the opportunity to return your dentition to its optimal smile. A face without teeth can appear sunken in or sad. Our goal when restoring a fully or partially edentulous mouth is to design and create a structure with the implants and restorations that will enhance your smile and the natural appearance of your facial tissues.
• How long will they last? Dental implants are designed as a permanent solution to missing dentition, unlike traditional tooth supported briges which often only last around 10 years if done well. With good care and potential periodic adjustments, dental implants can last a lifetime.
• Can I get cavities with dental implants? Cavities can’t occur in an implant restored crown. It is important, however, to have regular dental checkups and maintain good hygiene and home care to ensure the implant stays clean and free of infection.
• Will an implant cause my teeth to move? In fact, dental implants, because they are fixed, help prevent adjacent teeth from shifting.
• What is the implant process like? At your first appointment, Dr. de Jongh will do a detailed consultation and take a series of records to plan your implant placement. He will make a general recommendation of what you will need and schedule you for a final consultation one week later. In this week, Dr. de Jongh will work closely with his lab technician to create a customized 3-D rendering of your mouth and plan all aspects of your implant placement. Dr. de Jongh will go over your implant treatment plan in detail and answer any questions you may have. Once this step is complete, you will be scheduled for 2-3 weeks out and your implant and custom fitted guide and abutment will be fabricated. On the day of surgery, you will be mildly sedated, we recommend having a driver, and the implant will be placed along with a healing abutment (or cap). You will be left to heal for 2-3 months before we place the custom abutment and take the final impression for your crown or bridge. After this appointment, we will send your impression to our laboratory, where your permanent restoration will be made in 2-3 weeks. At this point, we will verify that your implant is stable and completely healed and place the restoration.

Schedule your consultation today to learn more.