San Antonio dentist, Dentist in San Antonio, TX

Dental implants offer my patients the opportunity to regain the normal appearance and function of a missing tooth without affecting any of the adjacent teeth. Most of my patients forget which tooth is an implant after only a few months because they feel and look so natural.

Our office has DVDs availble for home viewing that explain about dental implants.

Benefits

· The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone.

· The new implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.

· Your new implants are aesthetically pleasing.

· You will no longer have pain during talking or eating.

· The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy.

· Implants have a proven scientific basis

Planning Phase: Examination by Dr. Stanley and the surgical specialist are necessary to precisely plan each step of an implant procedure. In complicated cases a special three dimensional x-ray (ConeBeam) is needed along with an implant surgical placement guide. (Fabricated by Dr. Stanley) You will be advised by both Doctors of each step needed prior to beginning treatment.

Surgical Phase

A dental implant acts as a root replacement for the new tooth. A natural tooth has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth that anchors it to bone. The titanium implant acts as an anchor to the same bone that supports natural teeth.

The initial step of the procedure is for a trained dental surgical specialist to place the implant in bone. Under regular dental anesthetic, a small opening is created in the tissue and a properly shaped dental implant is selected and positioned in the bone for maximum support. When this is achieved, the tissue is then sutured closed. Usually no significant discomfort occurs following this procedure. The implant(s) will be left to heal for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. In some cases a removable restoration is provided by Dr. Stanley during this period to allow for chewing or to preserve the cosmetic appearance.

Restorative Phase

The final step in the process is the Restorative Phase of Implant Treatment and this treatment is provided completely in Dr. Stanley's office. A special implant abutment is chosen and attached to the dental implant. This is the part of the implant that will support the final crown. Abutment design may be either a standard shape in uncomplicated cases to custom abutments created by a special computer in more complicated cases.

Finally, an impression is taken of the implant abutment and a precisely designed final restoration is crafted by a Certified Dental Laboratory. This restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. Your completed implant will be fully functional, allowing you to resume normal activities and forget you ever had a missing tooth.