Dental Implants
Anchor Point, serving Homer and Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
When we lose a tooth, we have two gaps – the visible one among the remaining teeth and the invisible one in the jawbone, where the root was. A bridge or denture fills only the visible gap. Dental implants, along with the teeth they anchor, fill both gaps.
When the gaps are not filled
Your dental health is compromised by leaving either gap unfilled. Why? Because the body will try to fill the two gaps in unhealthy ways:
- The surrounding teeth will gradually move to fill the gap among them, thus putting themselves out of alignment and impairing your bite
- The jawbone will shrink to fill the lost root’s gap, reducing your jawline and creating a prematurely aged look about your face
Dr. Bartley works with a highly-qualified oral surgeon to fill these two gaps in a permanent and effective way. The surgeon places a dental implant in the jawbone, and Dr. Bartley designs a new tooth for you and affixes it to the implant’s top edge.
What is a dental implant like?
It looks like a small screw. It is made of titanium and has grooves running around it which encourage the bone to grow in closely and incorporate it. Bone and titanium have good affinity. Several months must pass for the bone to grow and the site to heal. Then the surgeon will expose the top end of the implant, hidden beneath the gums, and place a small projection on it, called an abutment. This will take just a couple of weeks to heal up.
Attaching the new tooth
Dr. Bartley will take measurements, digital photos, and perhaps an impression of your implant area and send it with other information to a dental laboratory. A customized tooth will be made and Dr. Bartley will temporarily attach it to the little abutment on top of the implant. He’ll check it for comfortable fit first, and make sure your bite is good before permanently bonding it to the implant.
Now you have both a new tooth and new tooth root, and with good daily care they will last you indefinitely.
Bridges and dentures with an implant
Bridge – Dr. Bartley can have a custom bridge made which will attach to the implant, or to several implants if necessary. One implant can hold more than one tooth. This would be a fixed bridge, needing only good dental hygiene like your natural teeth.
Denture – You could have either a fixed or removable denture. The denture will have an acrylic base to cover the gums, and porcelain or acrylic teeth. It can be attached in either of two ways:
- By a thin metal bar created with the same curve as your jaw and attached to the implants. It has clips which attach the denture. This type of attachment needs at least three implants. The clips will need replacing about once a year, as they will gradually wear out, being made of nylon.
- By ball-and-socket attachments between the implants and the denture. This attachment needs at least two implants.
Your denture would need to be removed twice a day for cleaning. Be sure and clean around the implant abutments and attachments. Dr. Bartley would like you to come every three months for a check-up and professional cleaning. He will check your bite alignment and make sure the denture is not moving slightly when you chew.
It is not a good idea to retain any habit of clenching or grinding your teeth, as that could break the denture or eventually loosen the implants. You would also have to avoid hard and sticky foods which could damage the denture.
Implant-supported dentures are very stable and strong, and will not interfere with speaking. If you have one in the upper jaw, it will not be covering the roof of your mouth and therefore will feel more natural than a traditional denture.
For more information, and to see if you would be a good candidate for dental implants, please call or email our Anchorage Point, Alaska office. We will be glad to schedule a personal consultation for you, and we look forward to meeting with you.
(907)226-3700
Contact Us
34115 Sterling Hwy.
Anchor Point, AK 99556