Placement of dental implants began in the 1950s. Over the last several decades implants have undergone significant advancements in design and material. The implants we currently use are made of titanium and when placed well and cared for can last a lifetime. 

Implants are used to replace missing teeth or to support dentures. For patients interested in implants we will first evaluate your bone to determine if there’s an adequate amount to support the implant. We will examine the area and take x-rays in addition to reviewing your health history. Risk factors such as smoking, poor oral hygiene, uncontrolled diabetes, and history of osteoporosis will affect the long-term success of a dental implant. 

Implants are placed and restored at separate visits. During the placement visit you will be numb so you will not feel any pain. The implant will be carefully placed in the bone and then covered back up with tissue while it heals for 3-4 months. The bone needs to integrate around the threads of the implant to make it stable enough to restore. After the implant has been allowed to heal we can then attach a restoration to it. We place implants in our office but for more complex cases we may refer patients to one of our trusted oral surgeons.