Implants
Why Dental Implants?
For over 40 years, dental professionals from around the world have placed dental implants in patients to restore their oral function. Dental implants are made from surgical-grade titanium and in most cases offer a permanent solution for one or more missing teeth. Titanium is not only used for dental implants; it is the material used for many other types of medical devices, such as knee and hip replacements. The properties of titanium allow the human bodies bone to actually integrate into the metals surface. This process is known as “osseointergration.” This discovery was made by Dr. PI Branemark in the mid to late 1960s and was funded by the Nobel Research Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Since then, millions of people have enjoyed an improved quality of life.
Like many modern medical and dental technologies, dental implants have been dramatically improved over the last few decades. From the actual physical design, to the surface, these devices are more predictable, efficient, and painless than ever. This has allowed dentists to offer their patients “immediate function” in many cases. Immediate function enables the patient to leave the office the day of surgery with a temporary tooth in place. In as little as eight weeks from that date, the patient can receive their final crown.
Why Choose a Tooth Implant Over a Supported Bridge?
While a tooth-supported bridge is a reasonable choice, it does have some significant disadvantages over a dental implant. For example, with a three-unit bridge, the dentist must grind off the enamel of the two adjacent teeth to cement the bridge in place. This process can lead to decay of those teeth. In addition, human bone needs force applied against it to stay healthy and in place. With a three-unit bridge, the missing tooth is replaced with a “floating” tooth suspended between two crowns. This is called a pontic. Because the pontic does not apply force on the bone, the bone melts away over time. This can lead to destabilization of the adjacent teeth, hygiene issues, and cosmetic challenges.
In contrast, an implant recreates the natural anatomy and applies force to the bone. This keeps the bone healthy and in place. It also allows the dentist the ability to leave the adjacent teeth alone.
Lastly, research indicates that most tooth-supported bridges fail within 15 years, often even sooner than that, while most implants, when integrated, last a lifetime. When you consider the lifetime value, lack of bone loss, cosmetic look, and not having to grind down healthy adjacent teeth, the choice most people make is to have the dental implant.
There are two other choices a patient can make. One is a removable bridge. This is not a very attractive choice- most dentists only use it for temporary reasons. The only advantage it has is price. The second is a Maryland bridge or resin bonded bridge. This solution does leave the adjacent teeth alone, but these often fail and have to be re-bonded over and over again. They also do not address the bone loss problem.
Here at IVY DENTAL, we specialize in placing and restoring implants. We do our best to give you a painless, efficient, and predictable implant experience whether you’re missing a single tooth or need a full arch reconstruction. We guarantee the best implant price in the greater OC area!
Real Life Cases!
Take a look at some our completed cases for your education
Case 1
A deceptively tricky anterior implant case in which gingival preservation and careful attention to cosmetics are key to patient satisfaction.
Extractions and implants placed by Dr. Richard Hoang. Restoration completed by Dr. Brian L. Vu.
The patient presented with a broken front tooth and misshappen right lateral incisor. The broken tooth was extracted and an immediate implant placed same day.
Impressions were made for two porcelain crowns, the teeth temporized, and crowns delivered after 2 weeks. Please note the preservation of gingival height.
Case 2
A complete oral reconstruction/ rehabilitation case that involves full mouth extractions, 12 implant placement, and two full upper/ lower porcelain bridges.
Extractions and implants placed by Dr. Richard Hoang. Restoration completed by Dr. Brian L. Vu.
The patient presented in need of having all of his teeth removed due to bone loss/ caries secondary to smoking. Extractions, bone graft, and 12 implants were placed over the course of multiple visits. Pictured above is the healing cap stage after implant placement.
After healing/ osseointegration of the implants, impressions for a full upper and lower porcelain bridge are made to permanently restore the patient’s dentition. Pictured above are the patient’s teeth before bite adjustment.
After bite adjustment, the patient is comfortable. Please note that the bridge is porcelain and not acrylic/ plastic.
Case 3
A very difficult case on a petite woman with very thin and fragile bone, requiring the upmost surgical and restorative expertise to complete. This case involves full mouth extractions, 12 implant placement, and full upper/ lower porcelain bridges.
Extractions and implants placed by Dr. Richard Hoang. Restoration completed by Dr. Brian L. Vu.
The patient presented in need of having of having all of her teeth extracted due to advanced periodontitis (gum disease). Extractions, bone graft, and 12 implants were placed over the course of multiple visits. Pictured above is the healing cap stage after implant placement.
After healing/ osseointegration of the implants, impressions for a full upper and lower porcelain bridge are made to permanently restore the patient’s dentition. Pictured above are the patient’s teeth full upper and lower
Case 4
We don’t all need complex oral reconstruction or have high aesthetic demands - sometimes, we just want to replace that one missing tooth in the back.
Implant placed by Dr. Richard Hoang. Restoration completed by Dr. Brian L. Vu.
The patient came to the office with a missing lower left first molar. He lost that molar a long time ago and as a result, the bone is quite thin. Careful planning with CT scans will be needed to complete his case.
The implant is placed and a healing abutment placed on top of the implant.
An impression is made for a screw retained porcelain fused to metal (PFM) crown. The black hole on the biting surface of the crown is where the driver will tighten the crown into place.
The access hole is then protected with teflon tape and filled with a white filling material. The bite is then adjusted. All that’s left to do is for the patient to wear it in good health!
Case 5
This patient presents with implants done at ANOTHER OFFICE. The restorative situation is dire and the implant manufacturer is unknown. Experience and knowledge of many different implant systems will be required to finish this case.
Implant restoration completed by Dr. Brian L. Vu.
The patient presents with implants done at ANOTHER OFFICE. The patient was not able to provide the implant manufacturer (and believe us when we say there are A LOT of implant manufactures all with their own proprietary tools/ parts.) The depth and angulation of the implants also present a restorative challenge.
Through careful trial and error (and lots of equipment), Dr. Brian L Vu was able to figure out that the implants are Zimmer based dental implants. Impressions were taken and an implant supported bridge fabricated for the patient. This case demonstrates that IVY DENTAL has knowledge in nearly all mainstream dental implant systems. If the implant was placed here in the States, we can restore it!