Dental Implants

How do I get started?

would request all our outstation patients to firstly send us a DIGITAL OPG xray, via email, so that we can provide a preliminary treatment plan and suitability for implants for them. Then on their visit to the clinic.

The first step is a comprehensive examination of existing teeth, bone and gums. This allows for an accurate diagnosis and discovery of the potential solutions to your condition.

During the first visit, we will do a visual examination and evaluate radiographs (X-Rays). We will then share our findings with you, recommend treatment solutions, and help you determine the most appropriate treatment for you.

We invite our patients to have a family member or friend participate in our discussions, which most patients find very beneficial. In addition, any financial matters will be discussed in detail and in a confidential setting before any treatment is started.

Is the treatment painful?

The surgical placement of dental implants causes only minor discomfort similar to having a tooth removed. Post-operative discomfort is controlled with the use of prescriptions. Depending on the extent of the therapy, many persons return to work the day of their surgery. Most patients report that they were much more comfortable following the procedure than they had anticipated.

What is the success rate of dental implants?

This depends very much on where the implants are placed and what they will be called upon to do. The best case scenario is the placement of implants in the front portion of the lower jaw. Here success can be as high as 98-100%. In other areas of the mouth, success rates can drop significantly. According to figures that we have today, the success of implants in the front part of the upper jaw are anywhere from 90-95%. Success rates of implants in the back part of the upper and lower jaw can be in the 85-95% range. The success rate in my practice for the past five years has been 99+% for all implants placed.

Whereas no medical treatment can be guaranteed 100 percent without risks and failures, implant operation can be considered very safe. The prosthetic phase of treatment is basically non-invasive and non ?invasive and non-surgical in nature.

How long after a dental implant is placed can it be used to anchor my new teeth?

The The protocol that was originally developed clearly states that we must wait three months in the lower jaw and six months in the upper jaw before we can begin to construct the new dental prosthesis that will be supported by the implants. In recent years, however, there has been a movement within the profession to sort of speed up this process. Today we believe that it is possible in selected patients to accelerate the healing time. We are even loading implants in very specific situations right away. However, the general protocol that I favor is 3 months in the lower jaw and 4 months in the upper jaw.

Do I have to go without my "teeth" while the implants are bonding to my jaw bone?

Once again, the original protocol called for patients to go without wearing their dentures for at least two weeks after implant placement. Over the years, this has been modified considerably and in most situations, patients leave the office wearing their teeth the day the implants are placed. Every patient and procedure is evaluated separately and there might occasionally be a recommendation that a patient go without their prosthesis for a short period of time. You may also have to be on a soft diet for a period of time after implants are placed.