Your teeth are an important feature of your mouth. Tooth loss, no matter how many teeth are lost, is a major issue, affecting all of the functions your teeth perform every day. At Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, we are proud to offer dental implants to replace your missing teeth.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Missing teeth, even a single tooth, is a serious oral health issue that can greatly affect your quality of life. When you lose your teeth, several things happen:
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Biting and chewing food thoroughly becomes more of a challenge. Chewing is the first stage in the digestive process. Your teeth break down foods so that your intestines can absorb the nutrients. When food is not properly broken down, vital nutrients are missed. This can lead to malnutrition.
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Speaking is a challenge. Your teeth control your airflow when you speak, and help you to form certain sounds. Without teeth, your speech is greatly affected, and others may have a more difficult time understanding you.
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Your smile is affected.
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Your jawbone grows weak. This causes the bone to change shape, and other teeth can begin to shift from their natural positions, altering your bite.
Do I Have Enough Jawbone for Dental Implants?
Many patients with missing or damaged teeth opt for dental implants because the procedure is beneficial for both their facial aesthetics and eating habits. The only caveat is that you need sufficient jawbone mass to support the dental implant in place. Oral surgeons drill the implant posts into the jawbone. These are often made from biocompatible materials like titanium.
Without enough jawbone, the implant will fall out of place and make it nearly impossible to chew foods normally. Our dentists, and , use various tools such as x-rays and other examinations to determine if the patient has enough bone density. This information is then used to generate a panoramic image of your mouth, including a detailed profile of your upper and lower teeth and the positioning of your nerves and sinuses. This allows our dentists to get an overview of whether you have sufficient jawbone mass or not. Learn more whether you have enough jawbone for dental implants here.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are the most recent available option for replacing missing teeth. They consist of small titanium rods that are surgically inserted into your jawbone. Your jawbone then fuses with the implants (osseointegration), turning them into stable supports for your replacement teeth, which are permanently screwed in place on the implants.
Learn more about tooth loss Learn more about osseointegration
Types of Dental Implants
Implants are highly customizable and can replace any number of missing teeth. There are several different types of dental implants, which can be suited to your specific needs:
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Single tooth implants, which replace one missing tooth in any given area of your mouth.
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Multiple teeth implants (implant supported bridge), which replaces sections of missing teeth, instead of using a fixed bridge or partial denture.
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Implant supported denture, which replaces all of the missing teeth in either jaw or both.
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All-on-4. This treatment is used when you lack enough jawbone for the 6 to 8 implants needed for regular implant supported dentures. Your replacement teeth are supported by only four implants.
Learn more about implants vs. dentures or bridges
Implant Procedure
Implants require a surgical procedure. A local anesthetic is administered, which numbs the surgical sites, so you feel no pain. If necessary, sedation may also be used to help you relax and feel comfortable. Incisions are then made in the gums, exposing the jawbone. Small holes are drilled into the bone. The implants are placed, and your gums closed around them. You are then provided with temporary teeth while you heal.
Healing typically takes between just a few weeks to several months (depending on the number of implants we place). As you heal, we will monitor your progress to ensure that fusion is taking place. Once you have completely healed, we remove your temporary teeth and place the abutments. Impressions of your mouth are taken and sent to a lab, where your permanent teeth are designed, and created. When they are ready, we will screw them into place, and you will leave with your new, fully functional, beautiful smile.
Dental Implant Benefits
Implants have several benefits:
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They look completely natural.
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They are extremely comfortable (your replacement teeth are supported by the implants, instead of your gums).
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They can be cared for just like the rest of your natural teeth.
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Implants are permanent.
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They function as the roots of your teeth and stimulate your jawbone, helping to preserve the strength of the bone.
Dental Implant Materials and Titanium
At Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, we offer dental implants for your tooth replacement needs. Dental implants are a modern, revolutionary, alternative to bridges and dentures that provide you with a multitude of benefits. Not only do dental implants restore the functions of your missing teeth and the aesthetics of your smile, but they also offer you more comfort than dentures. They can be brushed and flossed just like your natural teeth. They are also permanent. The posts that support your replacement teeth are implanted directly into the jawbone and stimulate the bone just like the roots of your natural teeth. This stimulation helps to stop, and prevent, bone loss in your jaw, helping it to remain strong and stable. Most dental implants placed are made of titanium, and have been since their development. Today, there are other materials being explored.
Learn more about how implants prevent bone loss
Supporting Replacement with Titanium Implants
Titanium dental implants are the original modern-day implants. They have been in use since the discovery of osseointegration, or the process in which bone fuses to the material. This discovery was completely accidental. Back in the 1950s, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon by the name of Per-Ingvar Brånemark was researching bone healing when he implanted a titanium cylinder into a rabbit femur. Later, when he went to remove it, he found that the bone had begun fusing to the titanium. This discovery inspired him to conduct further research, and he eventually developed dental implants.
The first dental implants were successfully placed in 1965, and the material has been in use since. Ever since the initial discovery, further research has been done, and improvements are constantly being made. One of the major improvements made was with the titanium itself. The first implants were made of pure titanium. However, this material proved to be too soft, so the latest implants are made of a titanium alloy. The addition of other metals has greatly improved the strength and stability of the posts. Titanium implants make up 95% of the total number of implants placed, and they have a success rate of 98%.
The Addition of Zirconia Implants
Even though titanium implants are so successful, they are not always the best solution for everyone. There are some individuals missing teeth who are allergic to metals. There are also those who have lost teeth and want the benefits of dental implants but are wary about having metal implanted into their body. These concerns have spurred on research into alternative materials, which has led to the discovery of zirconium oxide.
Better known as zirconia implants, zirconium oxide is a metal-free implant, commonly referred to as a ceramic implant. While considered metal-free, these implants do contain trace amounts of metals, which are necessary for strength. Just like titanium implants, your jawbone fuses to zirconia posts, and research has shown that these implants can be stable and reliable.
Is One Better Than the Other?
Both titanium implants and zirconia implants are biocompatible and integrate well into your jaw. They are both able to provide stable support for your replacement teeth. However, is one better than the other?
Titanium implants have the major advantage of having many years of research and development behind them. They are much better understood. Titanium implants are also available as one-piece and two-piece implants. Two-piece implants allow the posts to be placed in your jaw at an angle, while still keeping your crowns in proper alignment, allowing the implants to take advantage of your existing bone mass for maximum contact. This makes titanium implants a very versatile treatment.
Zirconia implants may not have the same number of years behind it, but it does offer its advantages. Along with being metal-free, these ceramic implants match the color of your ceramic crowns. Titanium posts are silver. If you have naturally thin gum tissue, or you experience gum recession, the posts look like your natural teeth and are not noticeable. However, these implants are only available in single piece implants. This means that they are more restrictive in the situations in which they can be used.
Titanium dental implants have proven very successful. With the development of alternative implants, however, the treatment is being made available to more individuals who are missing teeth.
Learn more about who is a candidate for dental implants Learn more about caring for dental implants
For more information, and to find out if dental implants are right for you, call Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants today at (608) 960-7650.
Before & After Gallery
Benefits of Dental Implants
How Dental Implants Replace Teeth
All-on-4®
Benefits of Dental Implants
Benefits of Dental Implants Madison, WI
Overall quality of life is enhanced with replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth: With dental-implant-supported replacement teeth, the appearance of your smile is more natural and functions more like natural teeth. Dental implant solutions can give you comfort and confidence when smiling, speaking, and eating. For patients missing a single tooth or perhaps two to three teeth in an area, dental implant solutions provide a natural appearance and allow you to function as normal. Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants can help you determine if you are a candidate for dental implants or offer another suitable option that works for you.
Many patients will forget which tooth has been replaced by a dental implant. For patients who utilize dental implants to support multiple missing teeth, such as with a denture, dramatic enhancements to quality of life occur, as denture users are able to eat most types of food, eliminate messy adhesives, as well as have improved speech, comfort, and appearance. Dental-implant-supported replacements for dentures are often more easily maintained and provide confidence in social situations.
Dental implants preserve the structure and integrity of the jaws
When teeth have been missing for a prolonged period of time, the jaw structure atrophies or shrinks in size, as would any muscle you have that has not been used. The presence of teeth or dental implants provides forces that stimulate the jaw to maintain its normal jaw structure. For patients who are missing all of their teeth and have dentures, jaw deterioration is accelerated by the pressure a denture places on the jaw structure. When dentures are replaced with dental implants or implant supported dentures, this supports the jaw structure and prevents it from deteriorating over time, as a natural tooth would.
We may need to conduct a bone graft or gum graft if the patient has symptoms of gum disease, to create a healthy foundation and increase implant success. Dental Implants can also see instances of cysts and tumors developing at the site of the wisdom tooth follicle.
Learn more about bone grafting
Your smile is improved when replacement teeth look natural
When missing a tooth, particularly in the cosmetic zone (an area that people can see when you are talking or laughing), only dental implants provide a natural-appearing solution to missing teeth. The dental implant crowns emerge from the gumline as would a natural tooth, and this gives a natural appearance that allows the dental implant to blend in with your other teeth.
Dental implants have a long-term proven success rate compared to other alternative treatments
When considering your options for replacing a single missing tooth, it is important to consider the long-term success rate of any option that you choose. Generally speaking, the two main options are a dental implant or a dental bridge. A dental bridge is a historical solution that reduces away natural tooth structure from the teeth adjacent to the empty space. These teeth are used as supports and anchors for the dental bridge which spans from one anchor tooth to the other. See the attached diagram. Unfortunately, while this is a simple solution for the replacement of a missing tooth, this process of removing the natural tooth structure and the difficulties associated with cleaning a bridge lend to a relatively low success rate.
Studies have shown that roughly 50% of bridges fail within 8-10 years after placement and that roughly 50% of the supporting teeth under a bridge need to be extracted within 12-14 years after the placement of a bridge, even if the tooth was healthy prior to having the bridge placed. Dental implants, on the other hand, do not involve damage or injury to the adjacent teeth. They are a free-standing solution to your missing tooth. Dental implants enjoy a very high success rate and in general enjoy a roughly 96% success rate after 10 years. Dental implants have been placed in the United States since the early 1980s and have been a mainstream solution for the replacement of missing teeth since the 1990s.
Missing teeth from birth, excessive gums resulting in a gummy smile and teeth appear square in shape.
Dental implants used to replace missing teeth, esthetic crown lengthening to reduce gummy smile and reveal the teeth's natural proportion. Implant crowns and veneers by Dr. Jason Vandehaar, Total Care Dental www.tcdmadison.com
Failing dental bridge spanning across three teeth that was used to replace a missing front tooth. One of the anchor teeth became badly decayed.
Dental implants used to replace the two front teeth. Implant crowns and crowns on adjacent teeth by Dr. Mark Gustavson, Affiliated Dentists www.affiliateddentists.com
Single-Tooth Implants
Single Tooth Dental Implants Madison, WI
For patients missing one tooth, a dental implant is used to act as a root replacement. The implant is placed within the structure of the jaw, under the gumline. The implant becomes integrated within the bone structure over the following 1-2 months, and we are then able to attach a dental crown to the dental implant.
Advantages of Dental Implants
When it comes to tooth replacement there is no better option than dental implants. Removable prosthetics, like dentures, must be carefully cared for and removed at night. They don’t afford you the ability to eat everything you would with your natural teeth. Permanent dental bridges give you a more convenient option that doesn’t require as much special care, but they don’t do much for the health of the bone structure that underlies your gums. Dental implants address your oral health in a way that only natural teeth can compare to.
Because dental implants are surgically placed into the bone of your jaw, they give your jaw the feedback that it would normally receive from a tooth. This true tooth replacement option encourages healthy bone levels and discourages further tooth loss.
Not only do dental implants offer unparalleled health advantages, they give you a plethora of tooth replacement options. They can be used to support a single crown, a permanent fixed bridge, or a permanent full arch solution. They even grant you the ability to support removable tooth replacement solutions if you so wish.
This patient's front tooth is an implant and the prosthetic work was done by Dr. Mark Gustavson. This provides you with a natural-appearing, cleansable solution to your missing tooth that also enjoys excellent long-term success rates. Many patients have difficulty telling which of their teeth is a dental implant. This is clearly shown in the picture, in which it is difficult to tell which tooth is the implant.
The Procedure
Dental implant placement is a straight forward procedure that require a few trips to our office to complete. It starts with an assessment of the condition of the site, where we make sure you have adequate bone levels to support an implant. If a tooth has been missing for a long time, there is a chance that the bone underneath it has receded. If we find that you do not have adequate bone levels to support an implant, we can always schedule a bone graft in order to make an implant viable.
Once it has been determined that your jaw can support an implant we can begin the placement process. We will place a titanium post into you jaw and allow it a few months to heal. Titanium is a biocompatible metal that will fuse with your bone after some healing. Once the implant has healed we can place the crown on top and you will have a complete dental implant.
Please call us today at (608) 960-7650 to schedule an appointment.
For more information or to schedule an appointment please Contact Us today!
Dental Implant Bridge
Dental Implant Supported Bridges Madison, WI
For patients missing several teeth in a row, dental implants can be used as anchors for a dental implant supported bridge. See the adjacent diagram. Two or more dental implants are placed within the structure of the jaw, under the gum line. We place dental crowns which are fastened to each other to the implants to restore multiple missing teeth. This is an excellent solution as it provides maximum cosmetic benefit and function and does require special cleaning procedures.
What are dental bridges?
Dental bridges are a dental restoration option that allow us to replace several consecutive teeth at once. Bridges require at least two anchors in your mouth to act as support for the restoration. Traditionally this required us to sacrifice two healthy teeth to give the bridge the support it needed to be a successful restoration.
Traditional Dental Bridges
Before the advent of dental implants, dental bridges required that we heavily modify two of your natural, healthy teeth in order to give the bridge support. We would sculpt these anchor teeth in the same way we would prepare a tooth to receive a crown – by removing a decent portion of the enamel and outer structure of the tooth. By modifying the anchor teeth in this manner the bridge was allowed to sit on top of them and be adhered to them using a permanent dental cement.
Implants Supported Dental Bridges
Now we have the ability to leave your natural teeth alone in favor of placing dental implants that can act as anchors for dental bridges. These implants can act as anchors for just about any kind of dental restoration, from single tooth replacement, to dental bridges, and even full arch replacement. That’s right, we can give you a full arch of permanent teeth that are supported by dental implants.
The Benefits of Implant Supported Bridges
Besides offering us the ability to give our patients restorations that don’t sacrifice part of their healthy teeth, dental implants offer a variety of other oral health benefits. Implants are surgically placed into the jaw bone and are made of titanium, which is a biocompatible material. When something is biocompatible, that means that the body readily accepts and grows around it.
By placing implants directly into your jaw we are effectively replacing your natural teeth in both form and function. You jaw continues to receive tactile feedback from the implant in the same manner that it would from your natural teeth. It’s as if you never lost your teeth to begin with! This helps to prevent the bone loss that is commonly associated with tooth loss and even traditional bridges. If you are already experiencing bone loss, we may need to perform a bone graft
The Best Care From Professionals Who Care
At Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants we take restorative dental procedures extremely seriously. We understand the conflicting emotions and potential loss of self-esteem that can follow tooth loss and want to provide our patients with a caring solution to their tooth loss issues. When you come to us, you can rest assured knowing that we will give you the best care and treatment to help you face tomorrow with a beautiful smile that you can be proud of.
Dental-Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-Supported Dentures Madison, WI
Denture wearers have perhaps the most to gain from dental implants. Patients who have dentures without implants are typically able to generate only 20% of normal chewing force. With as few as two dental implants, dramatic improvement can be made in the quality of life of denture wearers. Dental implants stabilize the denture and allow the denture to be supported during chewing, avoiding putting too much pressure on the gum line, which nearly eliminates denture sores as well as the deleterious wear on the jaw bone structure.
Patients with dental-implant-supported dentures enjoy confidence in knowing that their dentures will not fall out while they are talking and can avoid using messy adhesives. The denture is still easily cleaned and maintained. Dental-implant-supported denture patients also enjoy an enhanced nutritional status. It has been shown in scientific studies that patients with full dentures are oftentimes chronically malnourished to some degree and that stabilizing dentures allows denture patients to eat a more complete diet, which has been shown to enhance the nutritional status of denture-wearing patients.
Replacement of Dentures With Teeth That Are Fixed in Place
Replacement of Dentures With Teeth That Are Fixed in Place Madison, WI
For patients who are going to lose their teeth or for patients who have lost all of their teeth, there is a solution that reaches far beyond dentures in terms of enhancing patients' quality of life. As few as four dental implants can be used to anchor a fixed bridge which can only be removed by a dentist. This allows patients to return to near-normal function in terms of their ability to chew, as well as to have the optimal cosmetic result and comfort.
In many cases, the remaining teeth are extracted, the implants are placed, and a temporary bridge is placed on the day of surgery. This means that no denture is required during the treatment, and you can smile and chew food with confidence immediately after the procedure. There is surprisingly little discomfort after surgery for most patients.
This concept is called "teeth in a day" or "all-on-four," and the doctors of Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants are experts at this type of treatment.
Dental Implant Treatment is a Team Effort
Dental Implant Treatment is a Team Effort Madison, WI
Dental implants require advanced planning and coordination between your primary dentist and your oral and maxillofacial surgeon. At your initial consultation, all of your options will be reviewed. Together, you, your dentist, and your surgeon will develop a personalized plan for your dental implant needs. Many patients need only basic x-rays prior to implant placement, while others require 3D x-rays and CT/computer-generated surgical guides prior to implant placement. After your implant is placed, most patients need to allow a minimum of 6 weeks to allow the implant to fuse with the jaw structure.
Your dentist can make a temporary false tooth for you to wear while you are missing your tooth. After your implant has fully incorporated into the jaw structure, your surgeon will refer you back to your dentist to have the final crown made. Your dentist will make the final crown. Our implant team stays in close contact with you and your dentist to ensure a successful outcome.
Before Dental Implants
Immediately After Surgery (Day 1)
All-on-4® Treatment Concept
Patients who have recently had their remaining teeth removed or patients facing the loss of their teeth no longer have to look to dentures as their only solution. While you may be able to "get by" with dentures, they are a less than ideal solution for the replacement of teeth. Patients with dentures can generate roughly 5% to 20% of the normal chewing power, which limits their diet to softer-textured foods that are often less nutritious. It is common for denture wearers to suffer from mild malnutrition. Dentures are often loose and require messy adhesives, and over time, lead to deterioration of the bone structure of the jaw and a premature, aged appearance.
There are several options available to patients who wish for a better quality of life than what dentures can offer. These solutions involve the use of dental implants and range from dentures which are detachable anchored by 2-4 implants which aid in stabilizing the implant to a more natural appearing and functioning solution often referred to as All-on-4® Treatment Concept, or teeth-in-a-day.
The All-on-4® Treatment Concept, or teeth-in-a-day treatment option is fixed in place, meaning it can only be removed by your dentist. This is a much lower profile set of teeth than dentures, so it feels less bulky in your mouth. This is ideal for patients with a strong gag reflex. The other major benefits to All-on-4® Treatment Concept/teeth-in-a-day are that in most cases, in one day, the teeth are extracted, the implants are placed, and a temporary bridge is attached. This means there is no portion of the treatment involving loose, floppy dentures, and the surgery is much less painful to recover from. After 3-4 months with the temporary bridge, the bridge is replaced with a durable permanent bridge. For those with low bone mass, we recommend bone grafting before the implant procedure. If your wisdom teeth have not come in, but you have dental implants, your implants may see instances of cysts and tumors developing at the site of the wisdom tooth follicle.
Below are several patients before and after pictures on the day of their surgery.
This type of treatment is often the simplest in that it involves the shortest timeframe to resuming natural function and the least number of steps in the oral surgery office and in your dentist's office. Contact Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants for a consultation today to find out if this option is right for you or if you are a candidate for dental implants. We also provide single tooth replacements.
Below are several patients before and after pictures on the day of their surgery.
Dental Implants | Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants Missing Teeth? Click through the link to see how Dental Implants from the experts at Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants and give you back your smile. Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, 2921 Landmark Place, Suite 100, Madison, WI 53713 | (608) 960-7650 | madisonoralsurgeons.com | 6/6/2023 | Associated Words: Dental Implants Madison WI |
Your teeth are an important feature of your mouth. Tooth loss, no matter how many teeth are lost, is a major issue, affecting all of the functions your teeth perform every day. At Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants, we are proud to offer dental implants to replace your missing teeth.
Patients who have recently had their remaining teeth removed or patients facing the loss of their teeth no longer have to look to dentures as their only solution. While you may be able to "get by" with dentures, they are a less than ideal solution for the replacement of teeth. Patients with dentures can generate roughly 5% to 20% of the normal chewing power, which limits their diet to softer-textured foods that are often less nutritious. It is common for denture wearers to suffer from mild malnutrition. Dentures are often loose and require messy adhesives, and over time, lead to deterioration of the bone structure of the jaw and a premature, aged appearance..jpg "Three women smiling after getting Teeth In A Day at Madison Oral Surgery & Dental Implants in Madison, WI")
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