When you lose one or more teeth, you need a durable, long-lasting tooth restoration. Dr. Vernon Sheen offers dental implants to his patients in his Annapolis, MD, dentist office. Implants provide support to crowns, bridges, and dentures. This restorative treatment uses high-quality materials for long-lasting results.
Dr. Sheen works with the leading oral surgeons and periodontists in the Annapolis, MD, area to ensure the best results for his patients. He treats the patient from start to finish, bringing in implant specialists and surgeons for key aspects of the procedure. Their expertise in placing implants means you will receive the highest level of care.
Why Should I Get Implant Treatment?
Dental implants are the best option if you miss one or more teeth. Implants are the most natural-looking and advanced solution for replacing missing teeth. A dental implant is a titanium post we surgically place in the jaw bone beneath the gum line. It serves as the artificial root to support a false tooth or teeth.
Unlike dentures, implants do not come loose. Implants can last a lifetime with regular dental visits and proper oral hygiene.
If you have a missing tooth, we can use a single dental implant restored with a dental crown. If you are missing several teeth in a row, you can get a dental bridge or dentures if you are missing full tooth arches.
What Are Dental Implants?: The Parts of a Dental Implant
A dental implant consists of a tiny titanium post, the abutment, and the prosthetic tooth. The post supports the prosthetic tooth. It acts as a tooth root that stimulates healthy bone growth. Implants reduce the risk of jaw shrinkage, a common side effect of untreated tooth loss.
Implant Post
The implant post is the bottom part of the dental implant. The surgeon places the post into your jaw bone, below the gum line. The post is cylinder shaped and resembles a screw. The post is made of bio-compatible titanium that will eventually fuse to the jaw bone, creating a permanent and secure bond.
This titanium post will act as the tooth root. Dr. Sheen will coordinate the surgical phase of your dental implant procedure with a local Annapolis, MD, oral surgeon who will implant the post. The surgeon will numb your mouth to place the post in the jaw beneath your gums.
Once the surgeon places the post, it takes three to six months for the jaw bone to grow around it. During this period, called osseointegration, the implant fuses with the jawbone. We will regularly examine your mouth to determine when we can begin the next step of the implant process.
Abutment
This is a small part that connects to the implant post. Dr. Sheen will connect the abutment to the implant post after it fully fuses the bone.
When we attach the abutment, we must cut open the gums to ensure the abutment is secure on the implant post. The abutment will screw right onto the implant post and will sit right at the gum line. This part will support the dental prosthesis. It can take several weeks for the gums to heal after we place the abutment.
Prosthetic Tooth
Once you fully heal, Dr. Sheen will attach the dental restoration in his Annapolis, MD, dentist’s office. The prosthetic tooth is the part of the restoration that will look like a natural tooth or teeth. We will color-match the prosthetic to blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. Dental impressions, measurements, and color-matching from Dr. Sheen ensure your restoration looks and feels natural.
If you have a single missing tooth, we will cap off the implant with a dental crown. We cement or screw the dental crown onto the abutment. If you have multiple missing teeth, we recommend a dental bridge or denture. We can secure the abutment by simply snapping it into place.
Am I An Implant Candidate?
In our office, we will examine your mouth to see if implants are right for you. A good candidate for dental implants must have the following:
- Healthy teeth and gums: Before implant treatment, we will take X-rays and perform a visual exam to determine if you are in good oral health. We will provide pretreatments to treat tooth and gum infections. These treatments can include gum disease therapy, tooth extraction, and root canal treatment.
- Good physical health: We will consider your medical conditions and dental history before each treatment. If you smoke or use tobacco products, we will ask you to stop during implant treatment. Nicotine can slow the healing process and lead to implant failure.
- Healthy jaw bone: You must have sufficient jaw bone to support your implant posts. During the implant process, the jaw bone will grow around the implant to create stable support for the restoration. We recommend bone grafting if you do not have enough jaw bone. Grafting builds up your jaw with healthy donor bone or bone from another part of your mouth.
- One or more missing teeth: Because dental implants are so versatile, we can use them to replace a single missing tooth or all the teeth in your mouth. We also don’t have to use an implant for each missing tooth. Our office can maximize your jaw bone to strategically place implants for treatments like dentures.
If we examine your smile and find problems like tooth infections or insufficient jaw bone, we will recommend the right treatments. Our office ensures you are healthy enough to complete the implant process.
You’re also never too old for dental implants. As long as you meet the requirements, you can receive implant treatment.
Get Dental Implants
Do you have one or more missing teeth? Call Dr. Sheen for implant treatment in Annapolis, MD, at (443) 482-5202 or schedule an appointment online. Please let us know if you have questions about implant treatment. We’re here to help.