Dr. Hamlet H. Ong is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Dental Implants.
Q. What are dental implants?
A. Dental implants are devices that are surgically insert into the jaw bones (maxilla or mandible). They are cylindrical in shape and resemble "screws." Dental implants are composed of two components, the implant itself that is imbedded in the bone and is below the gums and the tooth form or retention element that is above the gumline.
Q. What are implants made of?
A. Implants come in various sizes and are usually made with titanium, a bio-compatible metal used in many orthopaedic procedures such as hip, knee, or joint replacements. Attached to these implants and arising from the gums is a tooth to replace missing teeth or a device for retentiion of dentures.
Q. How long does an implant last?
A. Implants feel and function like natural teeth. They have a success rate of over 95%. They are already becoming the "standard of care" in tooth replacement.
Q. How are dental implants placed?
A. Dental implants are usually placed by a dental specialist, oral surgeon, periodontist, or prosthodontist, in an in-office surgical procedure. General dentists who have been trained can also place them. Usually the surgery is done under local anesthesia. Surgically at the implant site(s) determined by the dentist, the gums are opened exposing the bone. A bone core is removed using a special instrument and the sized implant is inserted. The gums are then sutured back together. A healing cap is placed on the implant to allow proper gum healing around the implant and to locate the implant. Nothing is done for around 3 months as integration of bone around the implant needs to be accomplished, gum healing will occur in a few weeks. Sometimes an extraction of a tooth and replacement by an implant can be done in the same procedure. The patient then is referred back to the dentist for the next phase which is the ordering and placement of the implant tooth itself.
Q. How long does it take?
A. From consultation to finished tooth the process can be as little as 16 weeks.
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
A. There are several benefits to dental implants. Before dental implants missing teeth was replaced by either bridges or removable partial dentures; and loose dentures were retained by denture adhesives bought at the local drug store. In the case of bridges, the adjacent teeth to the missing tooth are prepared or shaved down to receive the bridge, often on naturally good or "virgin" teeth. With dental implants you can keep a "one tooth problem a one tooth problem" and not involve neighboring teeth. With retentive attachment to implant, dentures can attach on them and be and feel more secure.
Q. Who is a candidate for implants?
A. Patients who are candiates for implant are those with missing teeth, failed root canaled teeth, periodantally compromised teeth, and fully edentulous (denture wearers).
Q. How to contact Dr. Ong if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
637 N. Euclid St.
Anaheim, CA 92801
phone: (714) 772-2893
Email: hamletdds@hotmail.com
Website: http://7daydental.com
