Whether replacing a single tooth or restoring an entire mouth, dental implants change lives!
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Why Dental Implants?
Dental implants are far and away the best way to replace missing teeth. Traditionally, missing teeth have been replaced with bridges, partial dentures and full dentures. Bridges require the needless destruction of adjacent teeth and often lead to recurring decay around the margins. They are extremely difficult to keep clean. Partial dentures and dentures are often uncomfortable, unstable, and difficult to keep clean. Because they sit on top of the bone, the pressure they create usually accelerates the natural bone loss that occurs after teeth are extracted.
In contrast, dental implants have few downsides. They are not subject to decay, are relatively easy to keep clean and the pressure placed on them maintains the underlying bone. Entire mouths can be restored so that dentures are not needed, or, implants can be placed with the intention of snapping a set of dentures in place. This approach is common because it is simple and economical.
Success rates for dental implants are in the high 90’s and healing periods are short (3-6 weeks) with new biologically active coatings (Straumann Sl active). Of course, there is a possibility of complications with any surgical procedure. Proper diagnosis and treatment planning keep the incidence low. Dr. Moritz insists that every case have a preoperative cat scan and provides them free of charge to his patients. Safety is always first!
Are you a nervous patient? If so you can rest assured that having an implant placed is usually less traumatic than getting a tooth pulled. Even so, Dr. Moritz is happy to prescribe a sedative that will help you sleep through the procedure.
Why A Dental Cat Scan?
Traditional x-rays provide only a 2 dimensional picture that is often distorted. Since the implants we place occupy 3 dimensions it just makes sense to have an image that shows depth as well as width and height. Having accurate knowledge of that third dimension can help avoid many of the more common complications associated with placing dental implants.
Computer generated guides
Through cad cam technology, a guide can be made off of a cat scan that directs the dentist so that the implant will not encroach on critical anatomy. By far, the most common complication in implantolgy is a misangled implant. A properly designed surgical guide can go a long way toward avoiding that particular complication while helping the surgery go smoothly and quickly.
Teeth in day
It is now possible to go from complete dentures to implant supported bridges in a single day. A relatively new technique using implants which are angled allows many people to enjoy the next best thing to natural teeth without long healing periods. The angled implants avoid critical anatomy while maximizing the implant to bone interface. Bone grafting is often unnecessary. A high quality temporary bridge is placed the day of surgery and the final porcelain bridge is fabricated four months later.
Dentures
We've recently added a full service denture lab run by master dental technician Chuck Martinson. Since then, fast, high quality denture repairs have been made possible. Dr. Moritz works closely with Chuck on every case and takes great pride inmaking exceptional dentures.
We've recently added a full service denture lab. All work done on site!
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Our team members listen to patients’ concerns and provide appropriate, high-quality, state-of-the-art dental treatment. Wouldn’t you like to feel that same comfort with your care? Call our office today to schedule your appointment, and get ready to smile with confidence again.
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