Tand implantat

A smile is of great importance in how we present ourselves to others.
Good-looking teeth can take years off your appearance and improve your confidence.

Fortunately there is a modern and permanent solution to tooth loss: DENTAL IMPLANTS. Dental implants have been used for decades. By now many dentists and dental surgeons have gained an excellent understanding of the complexities of implant placement techniques.

Dentures and removable bridges may cause problems, for example they can be loose and unstable.

Whether patients have lost all of their teeth or just a few, implants are an ideal solution providing a dental replacement that works and is aesthetically pleasing.

what is a dental implant?

A dental implant is a replacement for a missing natural tooth root.
When an implant is placed surgically, growth of new bone and gum around it bonds the implant firmly in place (osseointegration). This allows for the placement of a natural looking artificial crown / bridge / denture to be attached to it.
The final result is a strong, stable tooth that looks just like a natural tooth.

what are dental implants made of?

Dental implants are made of titanium, which is a biocompatible metal that is also used in joint replacements. Because of the compatibility, the jawbone grows around the implant making it firm and stable.

Esthetic: Implants create an attractive, natural-looking smile. Implants look and feel like you own teeth. They prevent bone loss and gum from receding.
They restore lost lip support and can minimize wrinkles around the mouth.

Tooth-saving: Implants do not influence the quality of your adjacent teeth.
Fixes bridges are faster to complete, but the adjacent teeth need to be filed down, with the risk of future nerve and root complications.
Denture clasps hook on teeth and can eventually loosen them or cause cavities.

Confidence • Improved quality of life: Dental implants are comfortable and feel like natural teeth. Implants secure dentures from large movements and allows you to speak and eat with comfort. They eliminate the pain, discomfort and restrictions of ill-fitting dentures.

Reliable: After the healing period, the success rate of dental implants is between 94% and 98%.
If you are a non-smoker with good oral hygiene, the percentage is closer to 98%.
Nothing is 100% predictable.

Oral hygiene: No specialized care is required after the procedure. Oral hygiene for dental implants is the same as natural teeth: brushing, flossing, and periodic checkups. Implant-supported dentures can easily be removed for cleaning purposes.

Your are probably a good canditate if you have good general health, adequate oral hygiene, healthy gums, no periodontal disease and enough bone structure to support the implant.
If not, Dr. Hoffmeyer can advise and help you, if possible, to achieve the optimal oral condition for implants.

Generally, uncontrolled diabetics and cancer patients who have recently received radiation therapy are not good candidates. Any other medical condition is usually not a contraindication for dental implant treatment.

Dental implants are connected with gum and bone tissue.
Since a periodontist is the dental expert with special knowledge, training and experience in precisely these areas, they are ideal members of your dental implant team together with your general dentist.

In addition, Dr. Hoffmeyer has been a general dentist since 1988 and has worked with implants since then. With her communicative and friendly style she can discuss your unique concerns and goals.
Let Dr. Hoffmeyer and your general dentist help you make your dental wishes come true.

After treatment, Dr. Hoffmeyer as your periodontist will work closely with you and your dentist to develop the best care plan for you.
Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.
Implants typically should be cleaned professionally and examined every three to four months.
Remember, daily brushing and flossing are necessary for long-term success.

Success of a dental implant will depend on the quality of the bone, your oral hygiene, your overall health condition, smoking and your bite (clenching of teeth).

Dental Implants become fixed to the jawbone. Studies show that under the right conditions, dental implants have been in patient’s mouths for over 30 years.

Implants are highly predictable with numerous studies reporting success rates above 90% on traditionally placed implants. Implants placed at the time of tooth extraction (“same-day-teeth”) and with immediate bite and usage may be at higher risk of failure.
Dental implants are made of titanium, which is compatible with body tissues and integrates with the surrounding bone.
If an implant fails, it is most likely not a rejection or infection phenomenon. It is due to the fact that the bone does not grow into the implant treads, it is therefore loose and cannot be used. The implant is then removed and replaced.

Young patients under the age of 20 years old may not be candidates, due to the active growth of their jaw.

Dental implant placement is accomplished in several steps over a period of time (approximately 6 months).

Tooth removal is performed and the area evaluated for immediate implant placement.
If there is not enough bone or tissue the implant is placed after a healing period of about 6-8 weeks.

A small titanium post is precisely and gently anchored into the patient’s jawbone, recreating a natural tooth root.

The surgery is not painful. Anesthesia eliminates pain during the placement of implants.
A mild discomfort experienced after the surgery can be controlled with over-the-counter medications.

A liquid diet is usually required same day after implant surgery. A soft diet may be in order the following few days. Most often you can usually can eat most foods fairly soon. Let Dr. Hoffmeyer's advise and your comfort be your guide.

You may have to keep your dentures out the day of treatment, but, thereafter, you can wear your dentures throughout your treatment.

After sufficient healing time depending on amount and quality of bone and procedure (can range from 2-9 months, but most frequent is 2-4 months), a minor surgery is performed to uncover the implants and attach another titanium piece, called an “abutment”. The gum is allowed to heal for 2 weeks.
There are some implants that do not require this second stage because the extension piece is already attached. Dr. Hoffmeyer will advice you which system will be used.

Finally, a porcelain crown is cemented to this abutment. Only the crown is visible, as the implant looks, feels, and functions as a natural tooth.
The same procedure with minor variations is performed when bridge and dentures are placed.
- - For more information see the end of this page - -

Patients can have dental implants placed and leave with stable teeth the same day.
Also known as "Immediate Function Implants", "Same Day Teeth" eliminate the 4-6 month implant integration period usually required before new teeth can be placed.
Far from all patients, however, are good candidates for “Same Day Teeth.”
Dr. Hoffmeyer will advise you.

If the implant site does not have enough bone volume to support the appropriate sized implant, you will need a bone graft. Bone loss can be the result from periodontal disease, injuries, cysts, infections or an extracted tooth.

Normally, it can be determined if you will need a bone graft from your x-ray prior to surgery, but in some cases it is not discovered until opening the implant site.

Bone grafts are very safe and effective in the dental implant restoration. Once it is placed, it will help replace missing bone, stimulate bone formation and increase bone volume.

Bone loss due to various reasons (periodontal disease, tooth extraction, etc.) can often be regrown by simple predictable techniques in order to provide support for implants or dentures or to facilitate an esthetic result under fixed bridges.

This bone regeneration is done by using membrane barriers over bone grafts (calcium). Your own bone grows into the bone graft and with time this bone graft material is resorbed and eliminated by you body while replaced by your own bone.

Most often a self dissolving type of membrane is utilized and it will be gone a few weeks after surgery. Sometimes it is necessary to use a non-dissolving membrane which has to be removed at a second minor surgery after a few months. This procedure takes 15 minutes.

This method is highly predictable and results in increase of bone at the site where jaw bone was lost. The result is a possibility of placing implants, providing greater stability for dentures or improving esthetics under bridge or around implant crowns.

Procedure duration:
Surgery: 1-1½ hours depending on case.
Suture removal after 7-10 days: 15 minutes.
Check up visits at 3 and 4-5 weeks: 15 minutes.
X-ray at about 6-10 months to evaluate the amount of new bone growth.

sinus augmentation / sinus Floor elevation / sinus lift • Osteotome sinus Lift

When the upper back teeth are lost and have to be replaced by implants an x-ray may show that the sinus is too low for proper placement of dental implants.

Simple procedures such as "sinus augmentation / sinus floor elevation / sinus lift" and "osteotome sinus lift" might be necessary.

Sinus floor elevation is done by accessing the sinus from the side of the upper jaw. This is usually necessary when several implants need to be placed or a significant bone loss is present.

Osteotome sinus lift is done by a more conservative and simple pushing-up of the floor of the sinus from the extracted tooth site. The implant is usually placed during the same visit and therefore saves therapy time by many months.

Various grafting materials are used to encourage your bone to grow more quickly into the area, helping to stabilize the implant. These grafting materials are replaced by your own bone as it grows into the area. If the first sinus floor elevation procedure does not result in enough bone for implant placement, additional bone may be regenerated through a second sinus augmentation procedure at the time the implants are placed.

Depending on the amount of you own bone in the area, the implants may be placed at the time of sinus lift or after approximately 6-10 months when the bone has developed.

When the implant is placed a crown can usually be ready approximately 8-12 weeks after.

Procedure:
Surgery: 1-1½ hour per side. Suture removal after 7-10 days: 15 minutes.
Check up visits at 3 and 4-5 weeks: 15 minutes.
X-ray at about 6-10 months after sinus lift and/or at about 8-12 weeks after implant placement.

Sinus lifts are highly predictable for healthy patients (approx 95% success rate). Nothing is 100% predictable !!!

The cost is determined by several factors: the number and type of dental implant needed, the amount of bone loss and the type of final dental implant-supported teeth of choise. In your private consultation with Dr. Hoffmeyer, she will first review your X-rays and perform an oral examination. She will then be able to discuss your specific treatment plan, length of treatment, and total treatment fee.

Dr. Hoffmeyer understands that the cost may be of a concern to you. If you are interested you can apply for a one-year interest fee financing option (through a bank) or a discount for cash payment made prior to dental implant treatment.

When placing crowns / bridges / dentures Dr. Hoffmeyer and your referring doctor take into account tooth color and size as well as other features to ensure that your teeth are as realistic looking as possible and as close to your wishes as possible. If you have a photo from earlier in life when you had your own teeth, you may consider bringing it to the dental office to aid the dental work.

A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the jawbone and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid foods.

Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth (or one needed to be extracted), the healthy teeth on either side of the missing tooth would be cut down and the whole thing replaced with a three-crown “bridge”.

Dental Implants are the modern alternative. Instead of cutting down two perfectly good teeth, a dental post (Dental Implant) is inserted into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root. This post becomes quite solidly fixed in your jaw (like a natural tooth root). Your General Dentist then places a crown onto this artificial tooth root that looks, feels, and functions like your natural teeth.

Quite simply, Dental Implants are the most natural replacement for missing teeth.

Removal of primary (baby) tooth and replacement with implant

replacing several missing teeth • crowns and bridges on implants

Traditionally, several missing teeth would have been replaced with a removable partial or full denture.

Dentures have to be taken out and soaked at night. During the day, they can also look unnatural and rub painfully. Dentures and partials make it difficult or impossible to eat certain foods.

Dental Implants can now be used to anchor partial and full dentures.
This prevents the slipping, irritation, and pain associated with “floating” partials and dentures. It also prevents the tedious removal of dentures for overnight soaking and cleaning. With Dental Implants, these restorations are anchored firmly into the jawbone becoming much more like natural teeth.

Natural tooth roots and dental implant posts are fixed firmly in your jawbone. When you chew, these tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone and prevent it from shrinking. You may have seen a person who looked prematurely old because their jawbone had shrunk after wearing floating dentures. Dental Implants help preserve your jawbone and appearance.

Replacing all missing teeth • full arch fixed bridge on implants

Implant bridges are comfortable, effective bridges, which can either be removable or fixed and fit discreetly over implants, allowing for maximum support and stability.

replacing all missing teeth • removable denture on implants

Implant-supported dentures attach a customized denture to an individual implant or a row of implants, securing the denture in place. Working together, the denture and implant increase speaking and chewing ability. They are also very discreet in appearance, are long lasting and are quite durable. The denture only has to be removed during the minutes it takes for regular daily oral hygiene (cleaning of implants, denture and any remaining teeth).

Dentures that are not secure and stable may fall out and cause embarassing moments.