Dental Implants

Replacing Missing Teeth with Dental Implants:
The Latest Information & Treatment Options

Are missing teeth causing you to miss out on living your best life?
Missing teeth and loose dentures make too many people sit on the sidelines and let life pass them by. However, today's modern treatment options can replace everything from a single missing tooth to a completely missing top or bottom arch of teeth. Our expertise and techniques improve every year, and we are now able to place implants in areas that were once very difficult---or even impossible---to achieve. Don't let another day go by without taking this important first step to restoring your confidence, your smile, and your quality of life!

Stop the bone loss that can lead to premature aging and other health issues.
The effects of missing teeth can be extremely detrimental to not just your long term oral health, but also to your overall medical health. Missing teeth are also recognized as a symptom of old age making you look older than you really are. Replacing missing teeth can dramatically improve your smile and the shape of your face. This greatly enhances both your dental health and self-esteem.

Losing one or more of your teeth starts a chain of events that can have very dire and lasting physical and aesthetic consequences. The most obvious consequence is a having a visible gap in your smile. Less obvious is the loss of chewing function and the inability to eat a complete and balanced diet.
While these are certainly serious issues, a potentially bigger problem lies hidden beneath the surface---bone loss.

Having gaps where teeth are missing affect the way the jaw closes. The remaining teeth begin to tilt and drift into the gaps. In addition, food can become trapped in these spaces, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease. The titling and drifting can also cause problems for the opposing teeth. An opposing tooth will begin to hyper erupt and begin to drift into the open space of the missing tooth, causing the opposing jaw line to have bite relationship problems thus beginning TMJ problems (problems with the jaw joint).

As soon as a tooth is lost, either from gum disease or from an extraction, the supporting bone in the jaw begins to dissolve. This process is called resorption, and it is a natural process that the human body undergoes. The longer a tooth is missing---the greater the bone loss.

Over time, resorption of the jawbone has a considerable effect on quality of life and on the possibility of replacing the missing teeth. As teeth are lost it becomes more difficult to eat and chew food. Studies have shown that 29 percent of denture wearers eat only soft or mashed foods and 50 percent avoid many foods altogether. And, over time, more and more of the jaw bone disintegrates until it becomes very difficult to place any dental restoration.

Today's Dental Implants
Replicating the natural function and appearance of your lost teeth can be very challenging to accomplish. Historically, dentures or bridge restorations would be used as replacements, but with limited results. Dental implants, however, are a natural-looking replacement for missing teeth that also provide the same function as your natural tooth root. They have also been used to anchor these other types of restorations for greater success and patient satisfaction.

Modern dental implants are precision devices, available in several different designs to address your specific needs. A dental implant is a small, sturdy, titanium post that acts as the root structure would for a natural tooth. A dental implant is placed into your upper or lower jaw bone. After the bone has grown around the implant, implants can hold a crown, bridge or over-denture just like roots hold natural teeth in place. Implants are very durable and can last a lifetime. They require the same maintenance as natural teeth; this includes brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups.

A single tooth, or even a full arch of teeth which have been lost due to injury or disease, can be replaced with dental implants. Titanium metal is used because of its compatibility with bone and oral tissues.

Here are some of the ways that patients can benefit from dental implants:

• To replace one or more teeth
• To provide support for a partial denture
• To increase the support and stability of full upper or lower denture
• To enhance chewing comfort
• To increase confidence while smiling, talking, and eating
• To improve overall psychological health
• To improve aesthetic appearance and regain overall confidence

Single Tooth Replacement
A dental implant may be used to replace almost any missing tooth provided there is adequate bone at the site. If not, modern procedures can usually be performed to regenerate enough bone to safely place an implant. The implant is placed in the bone below the gum tissue. A temporary abutment may be placed on the implant until the healing phase is complete. A cosmetic temporary crown can often be made to fill the missing space. After healing, the abutment is attached to the implant. It will hold a custom-made crown that the dental laboratory will mold and match to your existing teeth. In the final step, the custom crown is cemented onto the abutment. The tooth has been replaced without disturbing the healthy teeth next to it and bone loss has been eliminated.

Multiple tooth replacement
Implants can also be used to replace several teeth, eliminating the need to grind down healthy adjacent teeth to serve as posts for traditional crown and bridge therapy. The implants are placed in the bone below the gum tissue. Like single tooth replacement, temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete. After healing, the abutments are attached to the implants. They will hold a custom-made bridge that the dental laboratory will mold and match to your existing teeth. In the final step, the custom bridge is cemented onto the abutments. The teeth have been replaced without disturbing the healthy teeth next to them, and bone loss has been halted.

Implant-supported prosthesis (removable)
If all your lower teeth are missing, five implants may be used to support a lower denture. If all your upper teeth are missing, six or more implants may be used to support an upper denture. The implants are positioned just below the gum tissue and given time to fuse with the bone. Temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete. Your existing denture can be modified so that it may be worn without disturbing the implants during the healing process. You will be fitted for a custom-made bar that attaches to the implants to support a new denture. Your existing denture may be modified to be worn during this period. The new denture will have attachments which snap or clip it into place. Your new teeth are firmly supported by the jaw, stimulating it and halting bone loss. You will be able to remove the denture easily for cleaning.

Implant-supported prosthesis (Fixed)
If all of your lower or upper teeth are missing, a permanent bridge may be attached directly to the implants. The number of implants is determined by the specific requirements of each patient. The implants are positioned just below the gum tissue and given time to fuse with the bone. Temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete. Your existing denture may be modified so that it can be worn without disturbing the implants during the healing process. You will be fitted for a custom bridge that screws directly into the implants. The screw holes will be covered after insertion. Your new teeth are firmly supported by the jaw, stimulating it and halting bone loss. Your dentist will be able to remove the prosthesis when necessary for cleaning and maintenance.

Implant-stabilized denture
If all of your lower teeth are missing, two to four implants may be used to stabilize a lower denture. The implants are positioned just below the gum tissue and given time to fuse with the bone. Temporary abutments may be placed on the implants until the healing phase is complete. Your existing denture may be modified so that it can be worn without disturbing the implants during the healing process. Dental implants can provide stability to your existing loose denture. After healing, ball-top posts are attached to the implants. Your old denture may be modified to hold clips that snap over the ball-tops, or a new denture with clips will be made. The denture is snapped into place, where it is retained by the implants and supported by the soft tissue. You simply snap the denture out each night for cleaning!

Mini Implants
Small diameter implants have brought a huge change in the way we can now stabilize your denture. They are easier to place, can be used right away, and are significantly less expensive. They do not hold up the denture, but they keep it from moving around.

What's the most effective use for Mini Dental Implants?
The most effective use of this unique dental device is the stabilization of a lower denture. There are approximately 50 million people in the United States who are "edentulous" (literally meaning lacking teeth) who struggle daily with prosthetic devices. A majority suffer a great deal of discomfort as a result of loose or ill-fitting dentures. Many denture wearers simply withdraw from any type of social engagement as a result of being compelled to wear them. Moreover, it's not uncommon for family members to complain about a denture wearer's disagreeable breath as a result of food being trapped and decaying under their denture prosthesis.

Successful placement of the Mini Dental Implant addresses and solves all of these social and practical problems. Denture patients all over the world have experienced relief from loose or ill-fitting dentures from doctors who are trained to place the MDI. Uniquely, the MDI can be utilized to stabilize a denture in a couple of hours by a trained doctor, with the patient leaving the clinic with a stabilized denture prosthesis.

Choosing Your Implant Dentist
It is always wise to choose your doctor carefully, but it is especially important to choose your implant dentist carefully. The reason for this is that implant dentistry is an extremely demanding discipline. And, unlike other disciplines like Oral Surgery, Orthodontics, and Endodontics, Implant Dentistry is not a currently recognized specialty with the American Dental Association. In addition, dentists are not formally trained in dental implants in dental school. This training is accomplished through extremely specialized advanced education courses taught by other dentists who are highly trained and have many decades of experience with implant procedures and techniques.

Dr. Carlson was trained by the world's most prominent implant dentist, Dr. Carl Misch, at the Misch International Implant Institute^™.

In 1984, Dr. Carl Misch founded the Misch International Implant Institute™  to help establish and elevate the standard of care in implant dentistry using a hands-on approach to training dentists. The Institute's goal is to remain at the forefront of implant dentistry through research, education and its unique clinical applications. Using these tools and a well-trained faculty, the Institute is able to provide its students with the most progressive and documented information. 

The Misch International Implant Institute™ is known worldwide as the premier implant training program for dentists. Over the years, the Institute has trained doctors in Brazil, Las Vegas, Florida, Italy, Japan, Korea, Monaco, Spain, and the United Kingdom. As Director, Dr. Misch has trained more than 3,500 doctors in a hands-on, yearly forum of education in implant dentistry. Dr. Misch has more than 10 patents related to implant dentistry and is co-inventor of the BioHorizons™ Maestro™ Dental Implant System.

You can rest assured that with Dr. Carlson, you are receiving treatment from one of the most respected dentists in the area for over 25 years who is known for his skillful techniques and high ethical standards. Dr. Carlson will take the time to explain your options, and he will be straightforward with you with respect to the risks and benefits of various courses of treatment, and what you can realistically expect as results.

And Carlson Dental Group is one of the few dental practices in the U.S.A. that can both surgically place the implants AND make the prostheses (crown, denture, etc.), saving you approximately 20% compared to other offices that are unable to do both. This also saves you valuable time and travel.

History of Dental Implants
Dental Implants were developed in 1952, in a laboratory in the university town of Lund, Sweden by Professor Pet-Ingvar Branemark, who had a "lucky" accident during bone grafting research. Much to his dismay, Dr. Branemark discovered that is was impossible to recover any of the bone-anchored titanium microscopes he was using. The titanium plade had apparently bonded irreversibly to living bone tissue, an observation which contradicted all scientific theory at the time.

Dr. Branemark went on to demonstrate that under carefully controlled conditions, titanium could be structurally integrated into living bone with a very high degree of predictability, and without long-term soft tissue inflammation or rejection. Branemark coined the name "osseointegration," meaning the attachment of healthy bone to a titanium implant. Thus dental implants were born and the first application of dental osseointegration was the implantation of new titanium roots in an edentulous (toothless) patient in 1965. Dental implants have shown a 90 percent success rate and long-term studies continue to show improving success.