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Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?

Dental Implants - Rosenthal Family Dentistry

For patients who are missing their natural teeth, dental implants can be a wonderful option that fills and enhances your smile. Implants can easily last for decades because of the fact that they are made of titanium that is embedded and fused with the jawbone. The implant itself becomes the foundation or abutment for dental restorations, like bridges, single crowns or even full overdentures. The implant procedure is easy, quick and can be done effortlessly in our office at your own convenience.

Who is a Good Candidate for Implants?

Most people are good candidates for dental implants. However, you need to have enough solid, healthy bone in the area where the implant is going to be placed. If you have areas of bone loss, it’s essential that a bone grafting be done prior to any implant being surgically inserted into the jaw. If the implant is placed in an area with bone loss, it will not be able to heal properly and will be loose or even crack under normal pressure. However, the vast majority of our patients who would like to come in for implants can and should consider this restorative option. With the use of x-rays, we can determine if implants are the right choice for you.

Dental Implants Specialist - Rosenthal Family Dentistry
Dental Implants & Procedures - Rosenthal Family Dentistry

What happens during the Implant Procedure?

The implant procedure will begin by creating an incision through the gums and then inserting the titanium implant deep into the jawbone. The implant is then given a few months to heal, which involves it fusing with the surrounding bone. Once the implant has healed fully, a crown, bridge or entire overdenture can be made to fit over the top of it. While the implant itself is considered permanent, the restoration that has been placed on top of it will need to be replaced at regular intervals or as it shows signs of wear. Your new implant is going to be a solid part of your smile and provide you with the appearance that you’ve always wanted to have.

If you’d like to learn about dental implants and how they can benefit your smile, call us today to speak with one of our skilled team members.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

Dental Implants - Rosenthal Family Dentistry

Dental implants have long been used to replace missing teeth. These titanium restorations are designed to replace any teeth that you’re currently missing. Rather than use a prosthetic appliance to replace the missing teeth or having to compromise surrounding dentition, we can place a solid implant that can be used to hold onto a crown, bridge or a full denture. Implants are great for patients of all ages, and the procedure to place them is relatively quick and straightforward.

How Long Will Dental Implants Last?

The majority of dental implants will last for several decades or longer without showing signs of damage or wear. In fact, it’s not uncommon for patients to have implants that are four to five decades old that are still going strong. This is why many people think of implants as a permanent solution to their smile problems. If you’re missing a single tooth, we will place just one implant. If you are missing several teeth or need a denture placed, we will place multiple implants that are able to fuse with the underlying jawbone. The reason implants last so long is because they will integrate with the surrounding bone after being surgically placed.

Dental Implants - Rosenthal Family Dentistry
Dental Implants Specialist - Rosenthal Family Dentistry

How to Keep Your Implants Strong and Durable

The best way to keep your implants strong and durable is with proper oral hygiene. This will help to prevent gum disease, which could eventually lead to bone loss. This bone loss may cause the implant to become loose or damaged. It is important to come into the office for regular dental checkups so that we can both clean your teeth as well as check on the implant’s current state. In the rare event that an implant is loose or damaged, we may recommend that it be replaced with a brand new restoration. For most patients, they can expect the implant to last for decades and become a solid part of their smile without the need for special maintenance or care.

If you would like to learn more about implants and how they can help enhance your smile, call us today to speak with one of our trained staff members.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Hybrid Prostheses

Hybrid Prostheses - Rosenthal Family Dentistry

As the name indicates “hybrid” means the combination of two varieties of prostheses. On the one hand, it is a fixed prosthesis, since the patient cannot remove the prosthesis from the mouth, it is fixed, and constructed of two or more different materials. It is an option of implant rehabilitation treatment that allows the patient to have a fixed denture and recover their oral functionality. Hybrid prostheses consist of a metal structure that adheres to dental implants, coated with acrylic and that supports artificial fixed teeth of acrylic resin. It is necessary to place 5 or 6 implants osseointegrated by dental arch to perform the implant-supported hybrid prosthesis. 

The type of implants is chosen according to the characteristics of the patient and the work of the dentist, the resin is the color closest to the natural color of the patient’s gums, it is polished and bright so as not to cause discomfort to the patient. Finally, artificial teeth adhered to the resin part are accommodated with the color, size and inclination most appropriate to the orofacial characteristics of the patient. 

advantages and disadvantages of hybrid prostheses compressed

The hybrid prosthesis is a completely fixed prosthesis, which offers a very good aesthetic to the patient, gives moderate support to the upper lip and usually needs between 5 and 6 implants to rehabilitate the upper arch and 4 implants to rehabilitate the lower arch.  The implants are connected by a metal bar and on this bar the resin prosthesis melts, to anchor the prosthesis to the osseointegrated implants, some screws must be tightened. 

ADVANTAGES OF HYBRID PROSTHESES

One of the main advantages offered by hybrid prostheses is the comfort that the patient presents, the prosthesis is fixed and is screwed to the implants so that the patient feels with their own teeth. It is a prosthesis that offers a good aesthetic result, a good proprioception, because the impact of occlusal forces during the exercise of chewing is reduced. The acrylic resin part of the prosthesis acts as an intermediary between the teeth and the metal structure. 

Also, the hybrid prosthesis has a good ease of maintenance by the specialist dentist and versatility, because we can make repairs at any time of the acrylic resin and the teeth. Finally, another advantage offered by the hybrid prosthesis compared to porcelain crowns on metal is the economic difference, hybrid prostheses are much cheaper and any modification made is a much simpler, cheaper and faster process. These types of prostheses are screwed onto the implants and for the patient they are fixed, so that in case of any required modification, the specialist dentist can easily remove it from the patient’s mouth. 

DISADVANTAGES OF HYBRID PROSTHESES

A possible disadvantage of hybrid prostheses is the aesthetic result. However, with the improvements of today’s acrylic materials, we can obtain very optimal aesthetic results and the patient is highly satisfied.