Dental Implants

Think of dental implants as artificial tooth roots, similar in shape to screws. When dental implants are placed in your jawbone (A), they bond with your natural bone. They become a sturdy base for supporting one or more artificial teeth, called crowns.

A connector – known as an abutment (B) – is placed on top of the dental implant to hold and support your crowns. The crowns are custom-made to match your natural teeth and fit your mouth (C).

Modern dental implants have been used successfully for over 30 years. They are the strongest devices available to support replacement teeth – and even better, they allow these new teeth to feel, look and function naturally.

When performed by a trained and experienced dental implant dentist, dental implant surgery is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry.

Five facts about dental implants:

• Ancient dental implants have been traced back to around 600 AD, when tooth-like pieces of shell were hammered into the jaw of a Mayan woman.
• Dental implants are the only dental restoration option that preserves natural bone, actually helping to stimulate bone growth.
• In 1951, a small group of dentists who were successfully placing dental implants formed the AAID – American Academy of Implant Dentistry – to share their knowledge on the practice of implantology. AAID is the first professional organization in the world dedicated to advancing implant dentistry.
• In 1952, Swedish orthopedic surgeon P.I. Branemark discovered that titanium naturally fuses with bone, eventually switching his research focus to the mouth from the knee and hip.
• 3 million people in the United States have implants, a number that is growing by 500,000 annually.

Implants in the mouth

Implants can be used to replace a single tooth or a mouth full of teeth. They can support a single crown or removable denture. The options are endless! Dr. Eng is highly trained to help their patients choose which option is best for them.

Each patient is different. After an initial consultation, Dr. Eng will provide you with a treatment plan including the estimated amount of time to complete the process. Total treatment time depends on your needs, medical and dental history, jawbone condition, and the technique and materials used. It can be as short as a few months, or more than a year for more complex conditions.

Every mouth and situation is different. Dr. Eng places implants and depending on the complexity of the case he may choose to work in tandem with a highly trained oral surgeon who places implants. Whatever choice the patient and Dr. Eng decides will give the patient the best care and outcome possible.