| Dental Implants
Implants are ideal for patients with a missing tooth or teeth, as well as denture-wearers who want to restore the look, feel and function of natural teeth. Regardless of how many teeth a patient is missing, dental implants help them eat and speak with confidence and comfort. Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.
What are Dental Implants?
The implants are tiny titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing and act as tooth root substitutes. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth.
The Surgical Procedure
For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures.
First, the posts are surgically inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. For three to six months following surgery, the implants beneath the surface of the gums gradually bond with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time.
After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Widner will uncover the implants and attach small posts that will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.
All on 4™
The All-on-4™ technique is a new, advanced procedure that provides patients with missing teeth a fast, cost-effective fixed restoration. Four individual implants are placed in one jaw to support a full-arch prosthesis, providing edentulous patients with an affordable, comfortable, pleasing solution.
With more traditional approaches, eight to ten implants were required to replace an entire jaw with teeth, and other procedures such as bone grafting and sinus lifts were necessary.
The All-on-4™ techniques eliminates the need for these more invasive and costly techniques.
With our in-office 3-D imaging system we have the capability to see detailed images of a patient's jaw, allowing us to make an accurate and predictable diagnosis with enhanced treatment planning.
We are proud to offer this new, advanced, state of the art procedure for our patient’s and their referring doctors.
Dr. Widner is a featured provider for the
All-on-4™ technique at OsseoNews >>
Denture Preparation
Extractions & Surgery – Pre-Prosthetic Surgery
The preparation of your mouth before the placement of a prosthesis is referred to as pre-prosthetic surgery. Some patients may require minor oral surgery treatment before receiving a partial or complete denture in order to ensure the maximum level of comfort. This treatment may involve one or more of the following procedures:
• Extraction of teeth
• Exposure of impacted teeth
• Smoothing and reshaping of bone
• Bony ridge reduction
• Removal of excess gum tissue
• Bone or soft tissue grafting to optimize ridge shape and/or dimensions
In some cases dental implants may represent a more viable treatment option than a denture.
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