Dr. John Schwartz 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 a wonderful alternative to replace missing teeth. Anatomically a tooth is composed of 2 parts, the crown (the part of the tooth that we can see) and the root (which anchors the tooth to the jaw bone). Dental Implants are cylindrically shaped devices that replace the root of the tooth. Once an implant is placed in the position of the missing tooth a prosthetic crown can be placed on top of it and the patient can once again function as if the tooth was never lost. Implants success rates approach 95% over 8 years and have been around for the past 30 years.
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
A. Implants allow the patient to restore the health of their mouth when teeth are missing.
Q. How long does an implant last?
A. Implants have a very good track record. It is anticipated that once implants are placed they will last greater than 10 years. The longevity of the implant is really determined as a matter of the health of the patient. Factors such bone density and health related issues such as smoking, diabetes, and circulatory diseases and medicines taken can play a vital role on the wellness and longevity of dental implants.
Q. What are implants made of?
A. Implants are made bio-compatable metals such as titanium, and stainless steel. Some are coated with materials that are considered "bone friendly" such as Hydroxy Appatite.
Q. Who is a candidate for implants?
A. Patients who are candidates for implants are healthy individuals with one or more teeth missing.
Q. How are dental implants placed?
A. Dental implants are placed by a coordinated effort of your family dentist and a trained implantologist under local anesthesia. In some cases patients may be pre-medicated with anti-anxiety medications to reduce any anxiety that the thought of surgery may cause.
Q. How long does it take?
A. To place an implant generally takes about an hour. Once the implant is placed it must be allowed to integrate with the surrounding bone for 4 to 6 months before the prosthetic crown can be placed on top of it.
Q. How to contact Dr. Schwartz if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
337 Metairie Road, Suite 200
Metairie, LA 70005
Phone: 504-832-2043
Fax: 504-832-2065
Email:johnschwartz@drjohnschwartz.com
Website: www.drjohnschwartz.com
