Dr. Richard B. Winter is a Dentist who has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Dental Implants.
Q. What are dental implants?
A. Implants are artificial tooth roots made out of titanium that are used to preserve bone and give us a platform on which to rebuild teeth. They can be used to replace one tooth or multiple teeth. Implants can be used to secure dentures, partial dentures or to replace entire arches where all the teeth are gone. So the more implants that exist the more options we have for giving people "fixed" or non-removable teeth.
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
A. Implants stimulate bone so when people have teeth pulled, they can lose up to 60% of their remaining bone height and or width over the next 5 years. Implants placed in the bone can virtually stop bone loss from occurring. Dental implants can help people improve their quality of life. Denture wearers often have increased wrinkles, pain and decreased chewing forces. Implants reverse these trends and can give people the chewing power they had before they lost teeth. So implants are a way to improve one’s quality of life through improved self-esteem, better esthetics, and better ability to chew and digest their food.
Q. How long does an implant last?
A. An implant that is well integrated or "joined to the bone" can last a lifetime. The prosthesis on top of the implant may need replacement at 7-10 years or may last longer.
Q. What are implants made of?
A. Implants are made of Titanium Alloy
Q. Who is a candidate for implants?
A. Anyone that has lost teeth that has stopped growing. Other great candidates are denture wearers or people with partial dentures. People that have advanced periodontal disease can often stage implant treatment, so they may never have to go into dentures if proper steps are taken ahead of time.
Q. How are dental implants placed?
A. After a full examination and proper x-rays a small hole is made in the bone, through which sequentially larger drills are used, then an implant is gently placed in the bone and delivered at slow speeds to avoid overheating the bone.
Q. How long does it take?
A. Depending on the quality of the bone present, placing an implant may only take 15-20 minutes per implant.
It is important to note that implants come in different sizes and the use of "mini-implants" may be one option for holding onto dentures and partials but typically the larger the implant, the more surface area and the greater chewing forces these implants can enjoy. That being said, if there isn’t enough bone to place implants, mini-implants may be the best choice for restoring someones mouth. If "fixed" teeth are desired than bone grafting in the form of block grafts from the person’s chin or ramus may be employed to add bone to a persons ridge so that larger implants can be placed. Sinus augmentation may also be needed to create a proper foundation for implants.
Q. How to contact Dr. Winter if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
5323 W. Hampton Ave
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53218
Phone: 414-464-9021
Email:rick@winterdental.com
Website: winterdental.com
