West Palm Beach Implants

Question:
I have bone loss around one of my two upper central incisors. The tooth looks a little longer than the other central and it has to be extracted.  I have been told I need a block graft and an implant, but I don’t like the idea of a second surgery to take a piece of bone from my jaw, and prefer an implant instead of a bridge.  Is there another alternative?

Answer:
Hi,
These are the alternatives for augmenting the amount of the bone in an extraction site:
1- A Bone Graft with particulate bone, for augmenting the width , or
2- A Block Graft from another area in your jaw (preferable) or from a cadaver, to augment both width and height, which is what you need if your tooth appears longer than the adjacent central.
3- A third alternative is Distraction Osteogenesis, but in that area of the mouth, and because of cosmetic concerns, I doubt it would be acceptable to you.
4- A fourth alternative, which is Crown Lengthening Surgery, I would only consider if your front teeth seem short for your smile because it removes bone from around the teeth.
The last alternative, and the one I would recommend is called Forced Orthodontic Eruption, and it utilizes braces to slowly pull the tooth out, which physiologically brings the attachment (the bone and the gums) with it.  This allows the gums to be at the same level, for teeth that look even instead of one longer than the other, and it avoids the need for block graft surgery.

Question:

I have an overdenture on implants.  Can I have fixed teeth instead?

Answer:

In most cases, yes.  You can redesign your case to be “fixed” instead of removable and at the same time get rid of some of the acrylic covering the palate and extending around your gums that was necessary to obtain a good seal when your work was removable.

If your overdenture was done with the minimum number of implants, you will need to have additional implants placed.  For fixed teeth the minimum  accepted number of implants needed in  the mandible is six, and eight  in the maxilla.

If  you discussed this with your dentist as a posibility and the implants were placed with that contingency in mind, it will be easier.  If not, the work can still be done, but the position of the implants may create difficulties in designing the teeth.

Talk to your dentist about the details of your particular case.

Question:

Can implants help me with my loose denture?

Answer:

Yes,  implants can help when you have a loose lower denture.

• One of the most economical ways to improve your situation is to place four mini-implants and use these  to hold your existing denture in place.
• You can also  place two regular implants and use them to hold a denture with special attachments .
• Four or five implants connected by a bar will allow you to rest the denture on the bar, and this is more comfortable and secure than a denture resting on your gums.
• If you want a denture that is not removable (except by the dentist) you can place more implants and  have a fixed denture called a Hybrid.

We can help you make a decision about what treatment option best fits your needs.  Call our office for a free consultation.

Question:

Why do I need a bone graft in the area of the tooth that needs to be extracted?

Answer:

There are cases where a bone graft is not very necessary, and instances where doing a bone graft after an extraction is very important. Here are some examples:
When you extract a wisdom tooth or a second molar and you don’t have plans to replace the extracted tooth with an implant, there is no reason to do a bone graft.
If however, you are having
1- A front tooth removed
2- Are planning to put an implant after healing occurs
3- Have lost bone because of trauma or infection
4- Or have just enough bone to place an implant but cannot afford to loose any more.

Then it is very important that you graft the extraction site at the time the tooth is removed.
Without a graft, the bone around the extracted tooth immediately starts to remodel and shrink.  This may leave the area with not enough bone to place an implant, or with deficient gum tissue that would look unatractive in an esthetic area.
In any of the three examples mentioned above, loosing bone due to the normal remodeling that happens after an extraction, can make the difference between an excellent outcome or results that are less than adequate and more prone to complications if you have to place an implant where there is inadequate bone height or width.

There are more reasons why a bone graft after an extraction is recommended.
The graft does increase the total cost of the procedure, but when indicated, it is well worth it.

Disclaimer:

By submitting your question you agree that the information provided on this website is for educational  purposes only. It is not to be considered as offering professional advice.  We are not liable for any damages resulting from your use of the information on our web site, and said information should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a  qualified and licensed dentist or other health care provider.

This Website will be dedicated to providing answers to questions about dental implants .   If you have questions about dental implants, please ask your question in the area for comments. Dental professionals are welcome to browse and comment.

Topics will include both the surgical placement as well as the restoration of implants.

The purpose of this website is educational, input from the viewer is encouraged in the form of questions, comments or email.

I hope you find the information about dental implants  in this website useful to you in your quest to learn more  about your dental implant options.

Disclaimer:

By submitting your question you agree that the information provided on this website is for educational  purposes only. It is not to be considered as offering professional advice.  We are not liable for any damages resulting from your use of the information on our web site, and said information should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a  qualified and licensed dentist or other health care provider.