Dental Implants - Des Moines IA

Dental implants are changing the way people live! They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything. Knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved, they can smile with confidence.

What are Dental Implants?

The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts which are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts are then attached to the implant which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. Implants can be used in this manner to replace single missing teeth, multiple missing teeth, or all of a persons teeth.

Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing. They also carry significant advantages over conventional techniques such as bridges, since adjacent teeth are not involved.

The Surgical Procedure

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone with a healing cap which will most likely protrude through the gums. For the first two to four months following surgery, the implants are not used for chewing while they are bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear a temporary prosthesisand eat a soft diet during this time. At the same time, your dentist is forming new replacement teeth.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Our doctors or your general dentist will remove and attach small posts which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts protrude through the gums also. When your dentist inserts the artificial teeth onto the implants, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes two to six months. The longer time period may be necesssary for those patients requiring bone grafting procedures. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.

At Oral Surgeons, P.C., our doctors spend many hours outside the office obtaining continuing education to provide the best and most predictable implant surgery available. Our doctors have an implant study club in conjunction with the dentists in the Des Moines area to discuss cases and new ideas involving implants and the restoration of implants. With the help of your general dentist, our surgeons may be able to provide such services as placing a temporary crown onto the implant on the same day that the implant was placed. In some instances, an implant can be placed at the time of tooth removal.

Dental Implant Presentation

To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have provided the following multimedia presentation. Many common questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed.

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