Dentistry is the known evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the soft and hard tissues of the jaw (mandible), the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent.
An Interview with Dr. Allen Chen on Dental Implants.
Dr. Allen Chen is a Dentist and and has answered some of the common questions bizymoms visitors have about Dental Implants.
Q. What are dental implants?
A. Dental implants are the replacement of a single tooth or multiple teeth with titanium screw (s) fixed into the jaw. Dental implants were first started back in the 1980s as a way of supporting a full denture for people who are missing most or all of their teeth. Over the years, as the long-term success of implants was established, implants became the standard of care for replacing a single tooth as well as multiple teeth for the most natural replacement.
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
A. When a tooth or teeth are missing, besides the loss of chewing function, a number of changes can also occur in the mouth such as shifting of the adjacent teeth, changes in the bite and loss of bone height and volume. Dental implants have become the standard of care because they do not require the cutting down of the adjacent teeth, they help to retain the bone gums in the area and are the most natural replacement in regards to function and esthetics.
Q. How long does an implant last?
A. The process of placing a dental implant to the final stage of seating a crown can take six months to a year depending on the treatment required in regards to the bone and gum tissue support. Once the bone has fused to the dental implant fixture and the foundation for the crown is well established, the implant could last a life time. The younger the age of the person when the implant is placed may have a baring on the need to replace the crown on the implant for esthetics or function in the future, but the foundation of the of the fixture fused to the bone is expected to be long time. The first dental implants were placed back in the 1970’s to support a full bridge on a lower jaw; the implants are still in function today.
Q. Who is a candidate for implants?
A. The most important aspect of placing dental implants is the general medical health and oral health of the person. The placement of dental implants involves a minor surgical procedure, therefore good health is needed for recovery and your body’s ability to heal. Medical problems that could delay treatment until under control are Diabetes, cancer treatment, long-term use of bisphosphonates, and heavy smoking. Poor dental health and home care can also affect the health of a dental implant. Therefore good routines need to be established and oral health improved before placing implants. With today’s advances in dentistry, it is possible to rebuild some of the lost bone support needed for dental implants that may have been lost due to missing teeth.
Q. How to contact Dr. Chen if we have further questions?
A. You can contact our office by calling 425-271-5812, Monday through Friday. We have two locations to serve you; our main office is in Renton, Washington and we have a satellite office in Covington, Washington that is open on Thursdays. You can also reach us by our web site www.valleyimplants.com.
