MISSING TEETH?—CONSIDER DENTAL IMPLANTS!

Whether from a functional or aesthetic standpoint, mankind has strived to find suitable replacements for missing teeth throughout history. Numerous ancient civilizations developed false teeth and bridgework options to replace lost natural teeth, but the Mayans are credited with the first successful attempts to “implant” false teeth into the jawbone. In around 600 AD, the Mayans implanted pieces of seashells into the bone to replace mandibular teeth. Modern radiographs of this ancient dental work show compact bone formation around the implant materials “that amazingly looks very much like that seen” in blade implant techniques developed in the 1960s.

Of course, you don’t need to find suitable seashells for dental implants in Marco Island, Florida, as implant technology has significantly evolved since Mayan times. With periodic ongoing training from the Misch International Implant Institute, Island Tower Dentistry dentists Dr. Jonathan Van Dyke and Dr. Ryan Whelen offer their Southwest Florida-area patients the most advanced technological options available for replacing missing teeth. Read on to learn why dental implants may be the perfect solution to replace your missing teeth.

WHAT EXACTLY ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Dental implants are small prosthetic devices implanted into the jawbone to mimic the natural root of a tooth. Once affixed to the jawbone, the implant’s titanium alloy has properties that encourage the bone to naturally fuse with the implant in a process known as osseointegration. The osseointegrated implant is topped with a dental crown that looks, feels, and functions like the original natural tooth it replaced. Overall, dental implants offer the most effective prosthetic for tooth loss and have the highest success ratio of any implanted surgical device.

BENEFITS OF IMPLANTS OVER DENTURES

While cosmetic dentures remain viable for replacing missing teeth, dental implants offer a more permanent solution and provide other advantages over dentures and bridgework. As permanent fixtures infused into the jawbone, dental implants help transfer chewing force to the jawbone, which feels more natural than the chewing action provided by dentures. The implants also help prevent bone loss by maintaining jawbone density and shape. While a reasonable cosmetic and functional fix, partial dentures and bridges cannot prevent underlying jawbone degradation and can expose remaining abutting teeth to the risk of cavities and other damage.

ARE YOU A GOOD CANDIDATE FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?

Today’s dental implants have emerged as the most functionally practical and aesthetically realistic prosthetic replacement for natural teeth. While less than 1% of U.S. dental patients had replaced at least one missing tooth with an implant in 2000, that percentage is projected to reach 26% by 2026. However, not everyone is a suitable candidate for dental implants. Some patients don’t have enough bone tissue to support the implants, while other factors can compromise the likely success of implantation. These factors include:

• Uncontrolled gum disease
• Overall poor oral health
• Osteoporosis
• Diabetes
• Certain cancers
• Long-term steroid use
• Smoking

You might be a suitable candidate for dental implants if you:

• Are missing one or more teeth.
• Have difficulty chewing because of missing teeth.
• You have or need a dental bridge.
• Your dentures are uncomfortable.
• Tooth loss is making you appear older than you are.

If you are not a good candidate for dental implants, cosmetic dentures are a reasonable alternative on the functional level and a fantastic one for realistic-looking tooth replacement.

YOUR DENTAL IMPLANTS WITH ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY

To determine whether you’re a suitable candidate for dental implants in Marco Island, turn to the experienced implant dentists at Island Tower Dentistry. We begin your dental implant journey with a full assessment of your teeth, gums, and underlying bone to ensure that your implants provide years of trouble-free functional use. Our dentists rely on a physical assessment, X-rays, CT scans, and modeling to determine implant feasibility and to guide the subsequent implant surgery.

Dental implant surgery at Island Tower Dentistry is tailored to each patient’s distinct needs and dental configuration. The procedure may include damaged tooth removal, jawbone prep, and, in some cases, bone grafting. In general, once the prep work has been completed, the dental implant(s) are inserted through the gum and into the underlying bone via incision, drilling, and either with a self-tapping implant screw or a torque-controlled wrench. Once inserted, your dentist will carefully suture gum tissue around the implant as needed.

Most patient’s implants are topped with a temporary crown that remains in place while the bone fuses (osseointegration) to the implant. Patients typically experience minor bruising and pain after the procedure but can manage to chew soft foods within a day or two of surgery. Osseointegration usually takes up to three months, at which point your dentist will replace the temporary crown with a permanent one.

CONSULT WITH ISLAND TOWER DENTISTRY FOR YOUR IMPLANTS

For those who’ve experienced tooth loss in Marco Island, Southwest Florida’s Island Tower Dentistry can restore the natural function and appearance of your missing teeth with technologically advanced titanium dental implants. With high implant success rates, your implants will keep you smiling for decades. For all functional and cosmetic dentistry needs in the Marco Island, Florida, area, schedule an appointment with Dr. Van Dyke or Dr. Whelen at 239-394-1004.