What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants offer people an alternative to the traditional ways of replacing missing teeth. The actual implant is an artificial root [anchor] made from synthetic material, usually titanium metal. There are three phases to the implant process.

First, the dental implant is surgically placed into the jawbone. It takes 3-6 months to fuse with the bone [called osseointegration]. An abutment [post] is attached to the implant and protrudes above the gum tissue. A replacement restoration is cemented or screwed to the implant abutment. Depending on the situation, dental implants can support a fixed crown or bridge or act as a stabilizing base for a full denture. The procedure can take up to 9-12 months for completion and has a high degree of success.

Some individuals have had so much bone resorption [loss] that the remaining bony ridge is too thin to hold an implant. In many cases, synthetic or natural bone can be grafted [added] or grown to allow for dental implants as an alternative treatment.

Implants have a great advantage for people already wearing full dentures since they can support and stabilize the denture while minimizing further bone loss of the denture ridge.

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. There are certain risk factors that may limit success including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic bruxism [grinding teeth], systemic problems such as diabetes and individuals with poor oral hygiene.

Dental implants offer a “second chance” to those who have lost all of their teeth. For people missing only one or several teeth, dental implants provide benefits as an alternative way to restore your mouth. To determine if implants are for you, a clinical examination, x-rays, study casts and other appropriate records and measurements will be necessary. Call our office at (757) 229-1224 if you have questions or would like to schedule an implant exam.

One Gorgeous Smile with LUMINEERS

No other veneer option is as versatile!

When it comes to improving your appearance, it's crucial to have freedom of choice. However, many smile makeover options, including traditional veneers, leave patients with irreversible loss of tooth structure, Chiclet-like teeth, and sometimes pain and discomfort. Now, painless LUMINEERS® offers incredible versatility creating a smile that is perfect for every individual.

Whether re-shaping worn and chipped teeth or creating a straighter, more uniform smile, revolutionary LUMINEERS® has changed the face of dentistry. By dramatically transforming a smile in the most minimally invasive way, LUMINEERS® is the only veneer procedure that preserves and protects natural teeth whenever possible, so that the process is virtually painless - even a post-procedure aspirin is unnecessary.

The exceptionally thin LUMINEERS® [width of a contact lens] leaves original teeth in tact, and the process is reversible. Traditional veneers require the removal of sensitive tooth structure, often shaving or grinding down teeth. Consequences of such tooth reduction can sometimes cause the death of tooth pulp, causing the need for a root canal procedure.

Without the need for local anesthesia, LUMINEERS® offers a painless and permanent smile enhancement option. Since the process is so simple and gentle, the sensitivity usually felt after a traditional veneer procedure is eliminated, making even an aspirin unnecessary.

LUMINEERS® provides instant teeth straightening and permanent whitening. It is a convenient substitute for braces and other orthodontics. The procedure may also be used on worn teeth to strengthen them and prevent further wear. LUMINEERS® can even be placed over crowns to improve esthetics and help rejuvenate a smile. A LUMINEERS® procedure is so versatile, it can even be used on cases that require some tooth structure removal for desired esthetic results. All LUMINEERS® come with a 5-year warranty.

LUMINEERS® can only be made from Cerinate porcelain, an innovative porcelain, crafted through a proprietary process unavailable anywhere other than Den-Mat Corporation. LUMINEERS® creates a custom-made smile clinically proven to last up to 20 years. LUMINEERS® is the best of both worlds - ultra thin, yet super strong for a radiant smile that resists any micro-cracking, which can damage restorations.

If you think you may be a candidate for this procedure, call our office at (757) 229-1224 to set up an appointment.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants offer people an alternative to the traditional ways of replacing missing teeth. The actual implant is an artificial root [anchor] made from synthetic material, usually titanium metal. There are three phases to the implant process.

First, the dental implant is surgically placed into the jawbone. It takes 3-6 months to fuse with the bone [called osseointegration]. An abutment [post] is attached to the implant and protrudes above the gum tissue. A replacement restoration is cemented or screwed to the implant abutment. Depending on the situation, dental implants can support a fixed crown or bridge or act as a stabilizing base for a full denture. The procedure can take up to 9-12 months for completion and has a high degree of success.

Some individuals have had so much bone resorption [loss] that the remaining bony ridge is too thin to hold an implant. In many cases, synthetic or natural bone can be grafted [added] or grown to allow for dental implants as an alternative treatment.

Implants have a great advantage for people already wearing full dentures since they can support and stabilize the denture while minimizing further bone loss of the denture ridge.

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. There are certain risk factors that may limit success including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, chronic bruxism [grinding teeth], systemic problems such as diabetes and individuals with poor oral hygiene.

Dental implants offer a “second chance” to those who have lost all of their teeth. For people missing only one or several teeth, dental implants provide benefits as an alternative way to restore your mouth. To determine if implants are for you, a clinical examination, x-rays, study casts and other appropriate records and measurements will be necessary. Call our office at (757) 229-1224 if you have questions or would like to schedule a complimentary consultation.