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Tooth loss is a common condition that can occur as a result of periodontal disease, trauma or poor dental hygiene. Replacement of missing teeth is best for overall health, and can help prevent gum damage and tooth damage, as well as restore comfort and confidence in social situations. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root used to support tooth replacement structures such as crowns, bridges and dentures. Dental implants will look, feel and function just like natural teeth, and help patients regain the ability to eat, speak and smile with confidence.
Dental implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically placed into the jawbone to replace the roots of the missing tooth. The replacement structure is supported by the implant, which looks and feels like a natural tooth. Implants offer permanent results and full functionality, which can result in people not knowing that you lost teeth in the first place.
Dental implants have been used for years in Milwaukee to replace missing teeth, and offer many benefits over other tooth replacement methods. Implant treatment is considered the most stable and successful procedure performed in dentistry today. Implants provide a natural replacement that looks and feels like your own tooth. Since the implants are placed directly into the bone and act as a natural tooth root would, patients can enjoy the same comfort and confidence they experienced before tooth loss.
Implants provide sturdy, long-lasting results by preventing bone loss and gum recession. They do not sacrifice the strength of neighboring teeth like traditional bridges, preserving the health of your tooth with added strength and reliability.
Dental implants are placed during a series of appointments over several months. During the first procedure, the titanium anchors are placed in the jaw. Over the next three to six months, the anchors heal and fuse to the bone. Small posts are attached to the implant to help provide a foundation for the replacement tooth. After the implants heal, the patient is fitted for a final restoration which will match your natural teeth. Implant surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia.
A crown can be used to replace one tooth, a bridge can replace several teeth, and a full bridge or full denture can replace all teeth. The replacement teeth can be treated just like natural teeth and require regular home care and dental visits.
Dental implants are recommended for patients in good general and oral health. A certain amount of bone in the jaw is required to support the implant, so a bone graft procedure may be required. Dental implants can be used for people who have gum disease or problem teeth, currently wear dentures or have bone loss. Most people see successful results from dental implants.
Implants are not recommended for children because the growth of the jaw bone is incomplete and can affect the appearance and function of the implant.Missing teeth can become a thing of the past; restore your smile with the convenience and effectiveness of dental implants.
Socket preservation is a grafting procedure that prevents and repairs bone loss from disease, infection or removal of teeth. In this procedure, bone or bone substitute is grafted into the socket of an extracted tooth to preserve the bone and minimize bone loss adjacent to the socket.
Once a tooth is removed, the socket and any associated deformities are filled with bone grafting material, and covered with biocompatible membranes to encourage your body's natural regenerative process.
The gum tissue is then closed and sutured, allowing healing to take place. The bone will be allowed to develop for four to six months after surgery before implant placement or restorative treatment can be completed.
Dr. Morales will work in partnership with your dentist to provide temporary or provisional restorative care to maximize esthetics, comfort and function during the healing process.
Bone Grafting may be necessary to increase height or width of bone, to fill anatomical voids, to aid in the placement of dental implants as well as to correct cosmetic or functional defects in the mouth. One or more types of bone graft may be recommended depending on the patient's condition. Replacing missing bone, or adding to existing bone, can be essential to the placement and integration of a dental implant and the ensuing restoration.
During the bone grafting procedure, Dr. Morales will expose the bone defect and fill with bone or bone substitute. Bone for the graft is often taken from within the mouth such as the chin, third molar (wisdom tooth) region, or upper jaw.
Although bone is usually taken from the patient's own body, alternate sources such as cadaver, cow or synthetic bone grafting materials may be recommended.
Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on each patient's needs, the bone will be allowed to maturate for approximately four to six months before implant placement or restorative treatment.
Deformities in the jaw can leave you with inadequate bone in which to place a dental implant. The bone defect may have been caused by injury, trauma, and periodontal disease, as well as wearing dentures or problems in development. This bone deformity can cause problems with placing implants, as well as cause an unattractive indentation in the bone. Ridge Augmentation can improve the appearance of your jaw and increase your chances for successful implant placement.
To correct the problem, Dr. Morales will expose the bony defect and fill with bone or bone substitute.
There are many options for bone grafting materials, including bone from your own body, a cadaver, cow bone or synthetic material.
Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. Depending on each patient's needs, the bone will be allowed to maturate for approximately four to six months before implant placement or restorative treatment.
Ridge Augmentation is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. Dr. Morales will take great care to ensure your comfort both during and after this procedure.
A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that adds bone to the upper jaw in order to make room for dental implants to be placed. The bone is added between the jaw and the maxillary sinuses, which are located on both sides of the nose. A sinus lift is most often performed on patients who have lost teeth in the upper jaw, who have lost bone because of gum disease, or whose tooth loss has caused bone loss as well.
After the sinus lift procedure, patients may experience swelling and bleeding, and should avoid forcefully sneezing or blowing their nose.
Stitches will be removed after 7 to 10 days, and patients will continue to see Dr. Morales for several follow-up visits to make sure the area is healing properly.
Although a sinus lift is considered safe for most patients, there are certain risks associated with any kind of procedure. Some of these risks may include puncturing or tearing the sinus membrane, infection, or a failure of the bone graft to integrate with the patient's actual bone. These risks are considered rare, and can be further reduced by choosing an experienced surgeon to perform your procedure. Dr. Morales has successfully performed hundreds of sinus lift procedures, and remains at the forefront of surgical technology advancement in this area.
Guided bone regeneration is a surgical procedure to regenerate or direct new bone growth using a combination of bone grafting and biocompatible membranes. This regenerative procedure is usually indicated in sites having insufficient bone volume or dimension. Guided Bone Regeneration is one of many advancements in implant dentistry that has greatly increased the number of implant candidates.
After a thorough examination and radiographs, Dr. Morales will decide if this regenerative procedure is necessary in preparation for your implant placement.
