Dental Bridges

The good news is that just about any adult who is in generally good health and is missing teeth can be a good candidate for dental implants. No wonder they’re so popular!

Typically, there are three things that your implant dentist in Scarborough looks for when determining your eligibility for dental implants:

Adequate overall health – Getting dental implants requires oral surgery, so you must be healthy enough to undergo minor surgery.

Good oral health – Any pre-existing oral health conditions, such as cavities or gum disease, should be addressed before dental implant placement. Otherwise, they could jeopardize the success of your procedure.

Jawbone density – Dental implants require a strong jawbone to serve as their foundation. If your jawbone has deteriorated after tooth loss, it won’t be able to give your implants the support they need.

If you don’t meet all of the qualifications at first, don’t worry! You may simply have to undergo one or more preparatory procedures first, such as bone grafting to strengthen a weakened jawbone.

Once your mouth is ready to support your new teeth, we can come up with a treatment plan based on the number of teeth you’re missing:

For a single missing tooth, a dental implant post will be inserted into the space where the tooth’s root structure once was. An all-porcelain dental crown will be secured on top, and it will be shaped and shaded to completely blend in with the rest of your smile. This option is much sturdier and lifelike than a dental bridge, and it doesn’t require the enamel of your adjacent teeth to be filed down for support. As a result, it’s a healthier solution that allows you to retain more of your natural smile!

Rather than replacing each individual tooth with an implant post, we can place a post on either end of the space in your smile to support an implant bridge that looks and feels just like your original teeth. Implant bridges can replace several consecutive missing teeth at the same time. If you’ve lost teeth throughout your mouth, we can secure a partial denture onto a small number of implant posts.

Full-arch implants use a series of 4-6 dental implants to restore an entire arch of missing teeth. Once these implants have been placed and have healed, your dentist will make a set of permanent or removable implant-supported dentures that clip onto the implants.

Unlike traditional dentures, these dentures will never shift or move, and they look and feel completely natural. Full-arch implants also help strengthen and protect your jaw bone, preventing bone resorption after tooth loss.

Most people return to work the next day unless otherwise advised by the dentist. You may be prescribed medication to alleviate any minor discomfort you may have.

Dental implants are low maintenance and provide stability and confidence in your smile. Therefore, the long-term value of dental implants far exceeds conventional treatment options. They are also more comfortable as they are permanent as don't move as you eat or talk.

Our patients tell us that there is very little to no discomfort associated with the placement of an implant, and there is minimal to no swelling. General anesthesia is available for those who choose not to be awake during the procedure.

In many cases, implants can be placed and a temporary tooth can be made at the same time as the tooth is removed. In other cases, the implants are placed and have to heal for several months before placing the final tooth. The dental implant procedure usually takes 3 months for the lower jaw and 6 months for the upper jaw for the implant to fully integrate with your bone. However, everyone heals differently, so our team will monitor your progress closely. We are 100% dedicated to the care we provide in our office.

You will not need to go without replacement teeth. If the implants are not provisionalized immediately with temporary teeth, then a temporary prosthesis can be made for you. If your teeth were already missing, you may continue using your removable prosthesis with minor adjustments for your comfort during the healing period.

We all put up with a lot of things we don’t think will change or improve, but based on the remarks we’ve heard from past and present patients, dental implants have opened up a new world to them. It is also important to keep in mind that your jawbone will diminish over time without implants. Dental implants stimulate the bone as natural teeth do, thus keeping the bone healthy.

Tooth loss leads to bone loss, which may require a more complicated treatment in the future. You will also have to continue to get your removable prosthesis or denture adjusted, relined or even replaced from time to time. The attachments on a partial tug on adjacent teeth and your chewing ability will not be improved. In addition to that, there will be costs for future denture adhesives and cleaners. Your denture will cause you soreness and pain and may lead to a worsened condition as the jawbone deteriorates

As dental implants have become the standard of care, more insurance companies and policies are providing some coverage for these services. We have a professional team that will be more than happy to look into your policy for you and will process your claim submission as your services are rendered.