A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that replaces one or several missing teeth. The inner part looks like a screw and is made of pure, bio-friendly titanium and the outer part is a prosthetic with the same appearance of a natural tooth. In time, the bone cells develop around the implant, reinforcing it into the jaw and fusing it with the surrounding bone.
Dental implants do not rely on adjacent teeth for support, avoiding destructive drilling, a procedure that is necessary in classical bridgework.
If a dental implants fails, it can often be replaced after a healing period of three months.
There are different approaches used in each individual implant case. Implants can sometimes be placed on the same day in the extraction site of the extracted tooth, and immediately restored either with the permanent or temporary restoration. Or, the extraction site is allowed to heal for 3 months and then the implant is placed. Implants are sometimes left to heal for 3 months with just a healing cap and then restored with the permanent restoration. These options will be discussed in detail with Dr. Boutsias.
Implants need to be kept clean by the patient with regular maintenance by the dentist.
* Photographs of a young patient treated by Dr Boutsias to replace broken tooth with implant.