Missing teeth have always been a curse to the dental patient.  Missing teeth can  cause other teeth to tilt or shift.  They can interfere with your ability to eat and definitely interfere with your ability to smile.  Missing teeth can lead to gum disease, dental decay and the loss of more teeth.  In cases of multiple missing teeth,  the bite can “collapse” making restorative correction  very complex and expensive.  Until recently the treatment of choice involved trimming teeth on either side of the gap to span a bridge, even if the teeth were perfectly healthy teeth.  Today, with the placement of implants, teeth can be replaced without damage to adjacent teeth. 

An implant is placed by an Oral Surgeon or a Periodontist and the area is allowed to stabilize over time, 6 to 8 weeks.  Once the implant is stable, an “abutment” component is placed in the implant and an impression is taken.  At this time a temporary crown is placed until the final crown is fabricated, fitted and cemented in place.

Implants can also be used to stabilize dentures, for the denture patient whose teeth just won’t stay put.   Attachments placed in the denture will hold onto components on the implants to keep the dentures in place.  Below are some links to companies who manufacture the implant systems.