Straight from the Desk of Dr. Mirzayan
Q : What are Dental Implants?
A : Dental implants are an exciting advancement in our profession.
In the past, when somebody lost a large part of their tooth, often the tooth would have to be extracted. Then we would prepare or shave the teeth which lay in front and behind that space so as to accommodate the missing tooth. These teeth would be prepared for a bridge which is three pieces of tooth stuck together. The two ends of the bridge will sit on those two prepared teeth and the fake tooth will fill in the space.
This was done mostly because teeth are always moving and when you lose a tooth, the teeth from above would start migrating towards that space. Eventually the teeth in front of that space and those behind it would migrate towards that space and the teeth around would also collapse into that space, leading to many problems. Eventually this could affect an individual’s bite too. Bridges were a precautionary step to prevent such complications.
However, many dentists now prefer working with dental implants for missing teeth rather than bridges. This is because with dental implants, the neighboring teeth remain unaffected. This has great benefits in the long term especially because the longevity of the entire area is increased. It is also much easier to floss and clean around an implant than under a bridge. I no longer recommend new bridges to my patients!
Although implants used to be extremely expensive, they are cheaper now. They are a little more expensive than bridges but people are now more concerned about harming the neighboring the teeth. People really value and appreciate the benefits of dental implants. Now we do very few bridges as compared to before.
The process includes placing a titanium or metal implant in the jaw bone. Although this might sound scary, all patients acknowledge the fact that it is easier than having the teeth pulled. Many people who are getting an implant have probably had a tooth pulled before. Having an implant placed is more comfortable and much easier.
Once we place the implant, we have to wait for three or four months till the bone fuses and heals into the implant. This will cause the implant to embed into the bone become solid. Although we can speed up this process, it can be a little risky. Sometimes patients have no choice – the front tooth or a tooth in smile line might be missing. We need to place the implant and put in a temporary or the final crown. This is because we simply can’t let the patient leave us with a front tooth missing. In such cases we take a chance and weigh out the risks relating to managing the front teeth as compared to the back teeth.
Q : What can you expect before, during and after this procedure?
A : The success of the implant depends largely
on the planning stage. If the placement of implants and the healing process is planned well, the post-procedure work will be very smooth and thorough. It is important to make sure that the implant is placed in the right position, correct angle and the proper height. We spend a lot of time planning and doing these things. Many people who have gone through an extraction can easily vouch for the fact that the implant procedure is far less uncomfortable. Once the implant is placed, we let the patient heal for two to three months. After that, within a single appointment, we place the posts and the crown on top of the implants.
Q : What is Cone Beam and how you use that in your practice?
A : Cone beam technology is very similar to CT scans. Conventionally we used to take x-rays. However, x-rays have quite a few disadvantages. They are 2D representations of 3D objects and so you can’t judge aspects like the depth or even the exact position of the nerve. We have only an estimate. Then we would have to order a medical grade CT from the hospitals to find out the exact height and width of the bone.
With cone beam technology, we can scan a patient’s jaw and then start discussing and showing our findings to the patient. The patient gets to see a cross sectional view of where the implants are supposed to go. They will be able to better understand the implications of the process and what we are trying to accomplish. The confidence that patients get by knowing what the process is about is unmatchable! Having a 3D scanner in the office helps us relay the information very quickly to the patient and that gives them a lot more confidence in what we are doing.
Since we are committed to the highest possible care for all our patients, we are planning on incorporating this technology during the coming summer.
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Your Dental Implant Specialist
How pleasantly surprised I was to be pain free after the implant procedure. I thought I would be in a lot more pain than I actually was. I did not feel any pain during the procedure and did not need pain medication after the surgery, the entire process was painless. Recovery has been a non-event. The stitches started to fall out before the week was over. There was very little swelling and it was not noticeable. During a follow-up visit, the doctor made an adjustment to my existing dentures and the swelling stopped. Eating was and is an adventure. During the first week after surgery, I had to limit my food to liquids gradually trying semi-solids and soft foods. Now that my surgery is a month old, I am able to eat as I normally do. Had I known how easy and painless this procedure was I would have done it years ago. All-in-all, as dental procedures go, this was not an un-nerving experience. 
