A dental implant provides a foundation for a new tooth, and as a
working definition we could say that it is simply a replacement for the root of
a tooth that has been lost. Millions of implants have been placed in patients
over the last two decades, and have allowed people who have lost teeth to
function properly. Implants can be used to replace individual teeth or even all
of the teeth. They can be used to support a fixed bridge, which is cemented in
place,
 or to help hold in a denture that
has poor retention. One of the best advantages implants have is that they
provide for tooth replacement without having to cut down adjacent healthy
natural teeth.
Because implants require the bone to heal around them,
there is a certain amount of time between the placement of the implant and the
time your dentist can place the crown on top of it. In other words, the
surgical phase of implants requires two visits between three and six months
apart.
The placement of implants is not painful and is usually done
under local anesthesia. There is very little discomfort after the surgery is
performed.
The doctors at Northern Essex Oral Surgery have more implant
surgical experience than any other single office or school in all of New
England. Their experience is such that almost all patients can have an implant
or implants if they so desire. We consider dental implants an investment by the
patient to increase the quality of their life. |
