Dental implants Simplified

One of the most positive developments in dentistry during the last decade is the increase in the success and popularity of dental implants to replace missing teeth. In this article I intend to outline, in ordinary language, what dental implants are and what they are used for.

Dental implants are pure titanium cylinders that are surgically placed into the upper or lower jaw to replace natural tooth roots. The bone heals so closely around an implant that it is described as “integrated.” Once this occurs, the implant is very stable and a variety of different attachments can be connected to it.

The most common attachment is a single tooth. These are very successful and have become the standard of care to replace a missing tooth. If several teeth are missing, multiple implants can support bridges that are permanently attached. And in a situation where there are no natural teeth remaining, implants can provide greatly enhanced support and retention for a denture.

Following are some frequently asked questions and their answers:

Aren’t implants very expensive?
The cost will vary depending on the situation, but it will be a significant investment. Remember that price is what you pay, and value is what you get. In most cases implants are the very best solution for missing teeth.

Will my dental insurance cover implants?
Not always, but it is becoming more common.

Do they ever fail?
Yes, but it is very rare and the risk can usually be determined prior to placement.

Who can place dental implants?
Any dentist can place implants. No special license is required, but this is a very technique sensitive procedure, so it is important to find a doctor with the training and experience to do it well. Often a surgeon will place the implant and work with a general dentist who restores the teeth.

If you or someone you know would like more information about dental implants, I would be pleased to provide a complimentary consultation to discover if this is the most appropriate treatment.

Yours for excellent dental health,
Dr S

Pearls from Boston

I recently returned from the annual conference of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry in Boston. This meeting, more than any other, re-ignites my passion for dentistry and gives me a higher vision of what is possible to achieve. The lectures and workshops I attended were first rate, and the knowledge and skills I acquired will immediately raise the level of care I provide. Following are a few pearls from the courses I took:

- We have been successfully placing porcelain veneers for many years. New products and techniques now allow us to place these amazing smile enhancing restorations, in many cases, with no preparation to the underlying teeth, making them non-invasive and essentially reversible.

- New products, techniques, and ongoing research provide increasing support for what everyone wants: a new tooth in one day. If you have a front tooth that for some reason needs to be replaced, in many cases the tooth can be removed, a root replacement implant installed, and a temporary tooth attached to the implant, all in the same day.

- Have you ever noticed a smile that doesn’t quite look right because too much gum tissue shows or the teeth seem to be going downhill on one side? A beautiful smile has just as much to do with where the teeth are located in the smile as it does with the color and shape of the teeth themselves. New treatment options and tools for diagnosis allow us to accurately assess and correct this important aspect of smile design.

- Implant supported attachments offer a much better solution to loose dentures than adhesive products. If an existing denture is otherwise satisfactory, these procedures can often be performed without the expense of replacing the denture or the embarrassment of going without it.

Please let me know if you have questions or would like to discuss any of these procedures further.

Yours for excellent dental health,
Dr S

Implant Seminar

Last month we held our first in-office seminar for our patients and the public on the subject of dental implants.

No longer considered experimental, the success rate for dental implants is so high that they are now the treatment choice for replacing teeth. To insure the very highest rate of success for our patients, Stafford Smiles works with a team of professionals involving an implant manufacturer, dental surgeon, lab technician, and Dr. Stafford. Dr. Stafford acts as the quarterback for the team, developing the plan and taking responsibility for the final outcome.



Each part of this team shared information regarding their particular step in the implant process. The remainder of time was spent answering questions. Those who attended felt like the information was valuable and that they acquired a much better understanding and appreciation for the entire process.



Here is a summary of the event:

Stafford Smiles - Dental Implant Seminar from Matrix Video on Vimeo.

If you have questions, please let us know in the comments below or email doctor@staffordsmiles.net.

IMPLANTS: the Who, What, & Why

Dr. Stafford is putting on his speaker-extraordinaire-hat and hosting a seminar on dental implants. Here are some of the questions he will answer:

What are they?
What can they do?
What is the installation process?
Does it hurt?
How long does it last?
How much do they cost?
Am I a candidate?

An oral surgeon, an implant manufacturer's representative will also be there to answer all of your questions.

Come join us Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. for delicious dessert and receive a $500 voucher towards implant services.

Space is limited. Please R.S.V.P.

Texas Travels

I recently returned from Grapevine, Texas and the annual session of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry which was held there. This is my favorite meeting each year because of the quality of the presentations, the opportunity to rub shoulders with the luminaries of the profession, the hands on workshops, and the networking with other dentists who have a similar practice vision.

The location was the Gaylord Texan which is an excellent venue because it has hotel rooms, restaurants, and a convention center all on the same campus and all within walking distance. This makes it easy to access the educational offerings and enhances the networking opportunities.

I was a little disappointed in Grapevine itself because I had borrowed a hat and picked up some boots at Goodwill so I would fit in with the local culture. What I discovered was that people there dressed pretty much the same as anyone in Happy Valley. No bolo ties or chrome belt buckles! I’ve since heard that maybe west Texas would be a little more like what I was expecting.

The challenge that I always come home with from this meeting is to raise the bar of what I offer my patients, I always learn new ways to improve what I can do in terms of health, natural beauty, function, durability, and comfort. And this is really my passion—to learn how to best restore these features when they have been lost due to disease or dysfunction in a way that most closely mimics nature. To this end, here is a description of the courses that were really valuable to me.

I took a hands on workshop for posterior composite placement with an emphasis on reproducing the original contours and surface shape. An optimum restoration involves more than removing the damage and filling in the hole. The restored tooth should look and function as much like the original as possible. This is significant because the new tooth colored composite materials require totally different placement techniques to achieve the best results. We cannot simply use the old mercury amalgam techniques with the new materials and expect a good outcome. I have been doing these types of restorations for over 15 years and there is always something new to learn.

I learned about the subtleties of replacing an anterior tooth in a way that makes it appear to have never been missing. This can be done with either a fixed bridge or more recently with an implant. Matching the color to the adjacent teeth is obviously critical but other considerations are equally important such as the shape of the replacement and the contours of the tissue surrounding the artificial tooth. The work necessary to achieve these results is different in every situation but requires dedicated time and attention and often the services of other dental specialists as well as clear communication with an excellent dental lab technician.

I did a workshop on adding implant retention to an existing mandibular denture. This has become a very predictable technique and is the treatment of choice in cases where patients want more stability for their lower denture. This procedure also prevents the progressive loss of bone that is normally associated with a lower denture. Any amount of stability can be achieved depending on the number of implants placed. The most popular choice is two implants placed near the front that stabilize the denture even though it is still supported by the tissue for chewing.

I listened to a lecture on the selection of ceramic materials for tooth restorations. When I began my career there were no options. If I wanted to make a tooth colored restoration, I used a porcelain fused to gold crown—period, end of discussion. In 2010 there are a plethora of tooth colored materials to choose from, all with different characteristics, and various advantages and disadvantages. It is important to stay current in this area to know how to recommend the best material for each individual situation.

It was an excellent meeting as always. And, as always, I feel like I was drinking water from a fire hose for four days. But in the end it is about me becoming a better clinician and you getting best dentistry available.