Dental Implants West Island
If you are missing one or more teeth or are tired of your dentures or bridge and are looking for a more permanent replacement of your missing teeth or removable dentures, dental implants may be the solution for you.
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are the modern way to replace missing teeth.
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is surgically inserted into your jawbone to replace the root of a missing natural tooth.
Attached to the implant is a connecting piece called an abutment which is capped by a natural looking prosthetic crown.
A dental implant can be used to replace one or several teeth, support removable dentures or serve as anchors for fixed bridges.
Why is important to replace missing teeth?
Missing teeth can put you at risk of developing other oral health problems that may affect your everyday life.
- When a tooth is lost and not replaced the jawbone begins to shrink due to the lack of pressure and stimulus of chewing. That not only affects your smile but also changes the shape of your face causing you to look prematurely aged.
- In the first year after tooth extraction, 25% of bone is lost and this bone loss continues.
- The space created by the missing tooth (or teeth) may lead to shifting of the other teeth which will impact your bite (occlusion). Improper bite can cause headaches, muscle pain, unnatural wearing of the teeth, sensitivity, tooth loss or temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
Replacing your missing teeth may prevent these problems.
What is the procedure to place dental implants?
The dentist will do a comprehensive examination and take x-rays of your head, jaw and teeth to ascertain that you are a good candidate for implants.
When there is little bone volume to hold an implant, a bone graft may be recommended. Bone grafting can regenerate bone where it has been lost to ensure the success of the implant.
The surgery will be done in two phases.
The dentist will first insert the dental implant into your jawbone, beneath your gums. During the healing process, which can take several months, the implant will fuse to your jawbone and attach to the gum.
During the second phase, which can only happen once the jawbone and gum have completely healed, an abutment will be attached to the implant to receive the artificial tooth. Several visits to the dentist may be necessary to finalize the fit.
To consult the postoperative recommendations please click here.
Dental implants in Montreal West Island
Dr. Mauricio Galvis, dentist in the West Island of Montreal, strongly recommends the use of PRGF® (Plasma rich in growth factors) when having a bone graft and/or placing a dental implant. It increases the speed of healing and recovery by decreasing the amount of inflammation and pain, in addition to increasing the quality and quantity of new bone and tissue and helping with the bone integration around the implant.
To learn about all the details of the PRGF® technology, please click here.
Caring for your Dental Implants
Caring for your implants requires the same rigorous dental hygiene as your natural teeth; brushing them twice a day and flossing at least once. If you are diligent in your oral health routine and visit the dentist regularly for professional cleanings and dental checkups, as recommended, your implants may last from several years to a lifetime.