Restoring Your Smile with Dental Implants in St. George

Osseointegration is the scientific term to describe the bone fusing to the titanium surface. Osseointegration creates a permanent, immovable structure to support the repetitive beating that the teeth take from chewing, clenching and grinding. Implants offer multiple benefits as compared to other forms of treatment because they osseointegrate to the jawbone. Like the foundation of a house, dental implants provide a secure, long lasting solution to support your smile.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine explains that.…”Bones are strengthened by physical stimulus. For your jawbone, that includes the force exerted on your jaws by chewing and biting…. When a tooth is missing, the bone loses its stimulus in that spot and your body begins signaling osteoclasts to break down the jawbone.”

Implants stimulate the bone to restore the balance of natural bone production and density. Bone grafting at the time of tooth extraction can maintain the bone until the socket is ready for implant placement. Without implant placement or bone grafting, at least 50% of bone width and height can be lost. An average, 25% of bone is lost in the first year after an extraction. Clinically, more aggressive cases of bone loss are seen routinely.

Dental implants restore stimulation that is needed for jawbones to stay healthy and full. Without implant placement, bone grafts can start to lose volume after 12 months. Maintaining bone prevents the collapse of facial features. These characteristics can be defined by sagging and sunken in facial features and a prematurely aged appearance. Dental implants provide the jawbone with support and stimulation to combat the collapse of facial features. Implant supported restorations also provide support to lips, skin, and cheek muscles. Teeth on implants also prevent the remaining teeth from moving and help to limit problems with chewing, speech, and spacing. This promotes physical and emotional well-being.

How many teeth are being replaced? Do you want teeth that are removable or fixed in place? How much bone loss is present? Are you a 250 pound broad-shouldered male or a 110 pound slimly built female? In order to determine the number of implants, multiple factors are considered. Most of the time, single missing teeth only need one implant to replace them. By extension, multiple missing teeth often need multiple implants. One size does not fit all. There are four types of restorations common with dental implants: 1) A crown or cap that replaces a single tooth 2) A bridge that replaces two or three teeth with two dental implants 3) A denture or partial denture retained by at least two dental implants 4) Last, a full-arch of teeth that is permanently fixed to implants. Fixed implant supported teeth to replace a full-arch requires AT LEAST 4 implants but is always better with more.

Implant supported full-arch restorations have been marketed by Nobel Biocare under the trademarked All-on-4® treatment. Nobel has made millions and millions with this venture. However, All-on-4® is not the best long-term treatment for most people. All-on-4® is only advised when placement of an adequate number of implants is not possible. A minimum of 5 implants in the lower jaw and 6 in the upper jaw is widely considered acceptable for a fixed set of teeth.

When it comes to replacing teeth, our team believes in providing implant-supported restorations of the highest quality. We work closely with trusted local labs that use name-brand materials known for their longevity and ability to mimic natural teeth.

When necessary or insisted upon by you, we use the All-on-4® method to replace a complete arch of teeth. This uses a set of dentures custom made to your mouth. The four implants are permanently attached to your denture on either the upper or lower jaw, or both. The denture used for All-on-4® is different than a traditional denture because it attaches to implants. It is called a hybrid denture. For this reason, your existing denture cannot be used for your final teeth with the All-on-4® method.

Our implant dentist in St George, Dr. Bergman, is well-versed in implant-related procedures. He is an Associate Fellow with the American Academy of Implant Dentistry and is credentialed with the ICOI Mastership from the International Congress of Oral Implantology. Dr. Bergman can perform bone grafting, sinus lifts, and soft tissue procedures so you can enjoy a restored smile with dental implant therapy. These procedures help to restore the jawbone to a healthy and strong structure to support dental implants.

Bone grafting uses methods and materials to allow your own bone grow into a predetermined space. Bone grafting is necessary to maintain or rebuild jawbone for dental implant treatment. When teeth are not replaced, the jawbone shrinks and weakens. Over time, more than 50% of the jawbone height and width can be lost. As the bone shrinks, there may not be enough strength or density to support dental implants without help. A bone graft adds new bone material to build up density and volume. Grafting procedures encourage regrowth so your implants can fuse properly, increasing the chance for successful treatment.

There are a few instances when a sinus lift is necessary: 1) Bone loss from gum disease 2) Lost back teeth in the upper jaw 3) Oversized sinus space. When back teeth in the upper jaw are lost, the sinus space grows. This growth is called pneumatization. When the sinus pneumatizes, there is not enough space for dental implants. Our St George implant dentist can diagnose and treat the underlying cause of bone loss with a sinus lift. To make room for bone in the sinus, the sinus membrane is lifted or moved upward which give the treatment its name. It is also called a sinus augmentation. There are scientifically supported methods and materials that Dr. Bergman uses to give you the best results to restore your smile.