Dental implants are artificial tooth root replacements that were first developed half a century ago by a Swedish scientist named Per-Ingvar Branemark. Implants arose from the patient's need to secure loose-fitting dentures. Since the advent of the implant, engineering and enhancements to the implant have enabled dentists to expand the implant's usefulness, including the replacement of missing or lost teeth. Today, implant techniques provide a wide range of tooth replacement solutions including:

• Single/Multiple Tooth Replacement - An implant replaces both the lost natural tooth and its root. This is a great alternative to a bridge, which requires the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth be crowned. The implant’s root also helps to better preserve the bone and keep it healthy.


• Upper and Lower Denture Retention – Dental implants replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots. Dentures that are Implant-support are more comfortable and stable than conventional dentures, allowing you to retain a more natural biting and chewing capacity. In addition, because implant-supported dentures will replace some of your tooth roots, your bone is better preserved.


• Bridge and Partial Retention – These dental implants will replace both your lost natural teeth and some of the roots without needing support from the adjacent teeth as with a traditional fixed bridge or partial. The implant’s root also helps to better preserve the bone and keep it healthy.


• Teeth in an Hour – It is now possible to have your implants placed and receive your teeth in the same visit.

Implants are popular and the most effective because they mirror the size and shape of a patient's natural tooth root. This implant is often as strong as the patient's original tooth root. The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from two to five months.