Implant Surgery

Dental Implants became popular in the late 1980’s in the United States and Dr. Edalat was at the time a tenured clinical professor at New York University College of Dentistry which gave him the opportunity to be in the hub of Dental implants research and advancements. The vast experience and knowledge that his team possesses from nearly 40 years of teaching and clinical cases distinguishes this team and is a source of confidence for their patients who realise the complex nature involved in dental implant procedures and the importance of working with certified specialist professionals in this dynamic field.

In Dr. Edalat’s dental studio Cosmetic Dental Specialties they have been successfully placing implants and restoring smiles since 1982 . The procedure is done under local anesthesia and if necessary, the patients use conscious sedation, which is a state of sedation characterized by a minimally depressed consciousness where the patient remains responsive but more relaxed and comfortable during the procedures.

Dr. Edalat’s two certified specialties specialties are in Periodontics cares for the foundation of the teeth, the gums and surrounding bone which support the teeth. The gums and the teeth act together to provide a smile with harmony and balance. A defect in the gums can not be compensated by the quality of the implant crown.

Therefore in any aesthetic treatment both the gums and the teeth must be carefully evaluated in order to achieve the aesthetic harmony of the facio dental composition made of the cohesive forces found between the teeth, surrounding gums and lips.

Dr. Edalat’s other certified specialty is Prosthodontics and Occlusion, which involves the restorative rehabilitation of the teeth. These two specialties are co-dependant and responsible for the long term success of any aesthetic, surgical and restorative treatment. This is because the success of any restorative treatment be it Porcelain laminates, implants, crowns, bridges, inlays or onlays, all depend on a healthy foundation of the teeth, being the gums and surrounding bone which support the teeth.

The differentials that Dr. Edalat’s team has provided for their patients is that they treat the teeth and mouth with a more comprehensive vision under the care of the same dental professional without having to refer the patient to another specialist with the inherent risks of misinterpretation and lack of communication between the two dental professionals treating the same case, which may result in less than excellent results.

One of the keys to the success of your implant is healthy jawbone. When bone in the jaw has been lost, it may not have enough height and width to securely hold an implant. Diagnosing the health of your jawbone is an important step in planning for stable, secure implants and maintaining a beautiful smile.

Bone in the jaw can be lost for a number of reasons. These can include–

To determine whether your jaw has enough healthy bone to secure an implant, we do a thorough examination. First, we typically take x-rays, which can show us the height of the bone. In some cases, we may need additional, specialized x-rays, such as a CT (computerized tomography) scan, to provide more detail about your jawbone and the location of nerves and blood vessels in the jaw.

Then we perform a visual exam to look at the shape of the jawbone, and we may use a periodontal probe to check the height of bone around any neighboring teeth. Sometimes, we may also find defects in the jawbone while we are performing implant surgery.

If we discover that you have lost bone in your jaw, we will discuss the variety of techniques we can use to replace it.

When your jawbone has receded or lost its shape, we can often augment it to replace missing bone and help new bone to grow.

Depending on where and why bone loss has occurred, we select the appropriate procedure, which can include:

Sinus grafts and lifts thicken the wall of bone that forms the upper jawbone and the floor of the sinus. Bone grafting replaces the height and width of the jaw where bone tissues have receded. Ridge preservation fills the empty socket of an extracted tooth.

For all three procedures, we first prepare the replacement material, which may be your own bone or bone from another source. Then we make sure the area is thoroughly numb.

In a sinus graft, we open a small window into the sinus area above the missing tooth, and then we place bone grafting material on the floor of the sinus. In a bone grafting procedure, we gently open the gums and place grafting material onto the areas where the jawbone has receded. With ridge preservation techniques, we fill the empty socket with bone material after a tooth has been removed.

Depending on the situation, we may also apply platelet-rich plasma to the site. This material is made from a small sample of your own blood, and it enhances bone growth and speeds healing. We may also place a special membrane over the graft to prevent unwanted tissue from growing into the graft site. The last step is to close the grafting site.

Although situations vary, we may need to wait several months after the procedure for the bone to heal before moving on to the next step of your dental treatment.

A bone augmentation procedure has several benefits. It can recreate a healthy jawbone, provide a solid anchor for dental implants, form an attractively shaped foundation for the gums, and help preserve your healthy smile.

A dental implant is an excellent treatment for replacing missing teeth. A root form implant is the most common kind of dental implant. It is a small, titanium post that replaces the roots of a missing tooth. A custom-fitted artificial tooth, called a restoration, is secured to the implant, which holds the restoration firmly in place.

An implant has several benefits. Like the roots of natural teeth, it stimulates the jawbone when you chew. This preserves the jawbone and keeps it healthy. An implant is strong, comfortable, and secure. When the restoration is in place, the implant looks and feels much like natural teeth.

With careful homecare and regular checkups and cleanings here in our office, an implant can be an excellent long-term solution for missing teeth.

An implant can support a variety of restorations, such as a single crown, multi-unit bridges, and full arch dentures. Some restorations, like a single crown and most bridges, are not removable. Others, like many full-arch dentures, can be removed for sleeping and cleaning.

Depending on the situation, placing an implant involves several phases, and treatment times can widely vary. First we determine if an implant is right for you. We discuss your health history and treatment goals and perform a comprehensive examination to check the health of your gums and jawbone. We determine if you need any additional procedures, such as bone grafting or gum surgery.

To begin the procedure, a channel is shaped in the jawbone, and then the implant is placed into the prepared space. At this point, it may be possible to place a temporary restoration. Over the course of the next few months, the implant will become securely fused to the bone. The last step is to attach your beautiful final restoration to the implant.

When a tooth is missing, a dental implant can be a great choice for replacing it. An implant is a small titanium post that replaces the roots of a missing tooth and supports a custom-made crown.

A missing tooth can cause a chain reaction of problems, including loss of bone in the jaw, shifting teeth, difficulty keeping teeth free of plaque and bacteria, grinding and clenching, and pain in the jaw joints.

Teeth transmit chewing forces through their roots to the jawbone. This provides the stimulation bone needs to stay healthy, so when a tooth is missing, the jawbone around the area begins to shrink, along with the surrounding gums.

A missing tooth also changes the biting forces on teeth around the space. Neighboring teeth begin to shift, and the opposing tooth begins to extrude out of its socket.

These changes create places around the teeth that are hard to keep clean, so plaque and bacteria quickly accumulate. This accumulation can cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Changes in the bite also put improper chewing forces on the shifted teeth. This may lead to grinding and clenching, as well as painful problems with your jaw joint, the TMJ.

To determine if an implant is right for you, we do a thorough examination. The examination includes recording your medical history in which we discuss any condition that may interfere with healing. We perform a visual examination to check the health of your teeth and gums. To check the health of your jawbone, we take panographic x-rays and possibly CT (computerized tomography) scans. We take impressions and bite registrations to create an accurate model of your mouth.

When we have thoroughly studied these records, we will be able to discuss which implant treatment options may be best for you.

An implant fitted with a crown effectively replaces a missing tooth. The implant is held firmly in the jawbone, so it feels much like your natural teeth when you talk and chew. The crown is custom crafted to match or enhance your smile. A dental implant is a great way to keep your jawbone healthy, to stop neighboring teeth from shifting, and to maintain a stable bite.

When several teeth are missing, dental implants can be a good choice for replacing them. Implants are small titanium posts that replace the roots of missing teeth and support custom-made crowns and bridges.

Missing teeth can cause a chain reaction of problems, including loss of bone in the jaw, shifting teeth, difficulty keeping teeth free of plaque and bacteria, grinding and clenching, and pain in the jaw joints.

Teeth transmit chewing forces through their roots to the jawbone, and this provides the stimulation bone needs to stay healthy, so when teeth are missing, the jawbone around the area begins to shrink, along with the surrounding gums.

Missing teeth also change the biting forces on teeth around the space. Neighboring teeth begin to shift, and the opposing teeth begin to extrude out of their sockets.

These changes create places around the teeth that are hard to keep clean, so plaque and bacteria quickly accumulate. This accumulation can cause tooth decay and periodontal disease.

Changes in the bite can put improper chewing forces on the shifted teeth, and this may lead to grinding and clenching and painful problems with your jaw joint, the TMJ.

To determine if implants are right for you, we do a thorough examination. The examination includes recording your medical history so we can discuss any condition that may interfere with healing. We perform a visual examination to check the health of your teeth and gums. To check the health of your jawbone, we take panographic x-rays and possibly CT (computerized tomography) scans. We also take impressions and bite registrations to create an accurate model of your mouth.

When we have thoroughly studied these records, we will be able to discuss which implant treatment options may be best for you.

When all of the teeth in an arch are missing, implants can be an excellent choice for replacing them. Implants are small titanium posts that replace the roots of missing teeth and support removable dentures or a full-arch bridge.

Missing teeth can cause several dental problems, including loss of bone in the jaw, loose and uncomfortable dentures, and a compromised appearance.

Jawbone needs the stimulation of chewing to maintain its strength and shape, so when teeth are missing, the bone around the area begins to shrink.

This shrinkage continues over time; so if you wear a denture, it will become looser and less comfortable. In fact, the lower jawbone can shrink so much that the nerves end up closer to the surface of the bone, making it painful to bite down.

In addition, as the jawbone shrinks, the space between your chin and nose decreases, flattening your lips and creating wrinkles around your mouth.

To determine if implants are right for you, we do a thorough examination. The examination includes recording your medical history so we can discuss any condition that may interfere with healing. We perform a visual examination to check the health of your teeth and gums. To check the health of your jawbone, we take panographic x-rays and possibly CT (computerized tomography) scans. We also take impressions and bite registrations to create an accurate model of your mouth.

When we have thoroughly studied these records, we will be able to discuss which implant treatment options may be best for you.

A dental implant that supports a full arch bridge or dentures effectively replaces missing teeth. The implant is placed firmly in the jawbone, and it holds the denture or bridge securely in your mouth. This makes it feel much like your natural teeth when you talk and chew.

An implant also supports the denture by holding your jaws in their correct positions and helps you maintain a more youthful look. In addition, the artificial teeth are custom-crafted to match or enhance your smile. A dental implant is a great way to stabilize your jawbone, keep it healthy, and maintain a stable bite and beautiful smile.

When a tooth is missing, a dental implant with a crown is an excellent treatment for replacing it.

Although each case will be different, placing an implant generally involves two phases, surgically placing the implant and restoring the implant with a crown.

An implant restored with a crown has several advantages. The implant stops the bone loss that occurs when a tooth is lost, and it prevents the surrounding teeth from shifting into the space. Unlike replacing the tooth with a traditional bridge, there is no need to reduce the size of neighboring teeth. The crown with implant also looks and feels like your natural teeth when you chew and talk.

With proper homecare and regular checkups, your implant can be a long-term solution for a natural-looking smile.

For the surgical placement of the implant, your mouth is thoroughly numbed. An opening is made in your gums, and then a channel is shaped in the bone to receive the implant.

Next, we place the body of the implant into the prepared channel. Sometimes a cover is placed onto the implant and the gums are stitched closed. This method is called a two-stage procedure. In other cases that allow a single-stage procedure, an extension is attached to the implant at the time of surgery.

Healing may take several months as the implant becomes fused securely to the bone. During this time, we may place a temporary replacement tooth.

If the first phase included closing the gums over the implant, the second phase starts with surgical re-exposure of the implant. Another incision is made in your gums, and a small extension is placed to bring the implant above the gumline.

Then we start a series of appointments to create the final crown. Though some of the steps might be different in your case, they usually include removing any temporary and taking impressions of your mouth.

The lab uses the impressions to make an accurate model of your mouth, including the implant. They use the model to create a crown that precisely fits the implant and your bite.

When your beautiful final crown is ready, we check the fit and your bite and then secure the crown to the implant.

If you have lost a tooth due to periodontal disease, you probably have significant bone loss.

That is because when you lose a tooth, the jawbone becomes smaller where the tooth was.

Lost bone does not grow back on its own, but we may be able to augment it with a sinus lift in the upper jaw.

This surgery may be necessary if you are preparing to have an implant and your periodontal disease significantly reduced the bone or if your sinus is very close to your upper jaw.

You should let us know if you have seasonal allergies. We want to schedule your sinus lift when your allergies are least active.

We begin with x-rays or send you for a CT scan to accurately measure the width of your bone and the position of your sinus.

Prior to your surgery, we prepare the grafting material taken from your own tissue or from another source.

On the day of your surgery, we make sure the area is completely numb before we begin.

First, we make a small opening in your gums and create a space in the existing bone.

We then gently push the sinus up and away from your jaw. We place the grafting material in the space where your sinus was, and stitch the area closed.

Depending on the material, it should take between 6 and 12 months for the graft to fuse with your bone. Once the bony material has fused with your jaw, you will have enough bone to hold an implant.

Having a sinus lift helps increase the size and strength of your bone and puts you one step closer to a healthy, beautiful smile.

After implants have been placed, it’s important to follow these recommendations to ensure their long-term success.

To control minor bleeding, apply moderate pressure with gauze pads or a clean, moist tea bag wrapped in a gauze pad.

Limit yourself to calm activities for the first three to five days to keep your blood pressure stable and reduce bleeding.

If you usually wear a removable denture or partial denture, we will give you specific instructions about wearing it while your implants heal.

Don’t use tobacco for at least 24 hours, and avoid tobacco as much as possible for several months. Tobacco slows healing and increases the risk that your body will reject the implants, and it’s the leading cause of implant failure.

Call us right away if you have heavy or increased bleeding, you have pain or swelling that increases or continues beyond two or three days, or you have a reaction to the medication.

Call us if the implants gradually show through the gums, so we can check them.

You can also call us with any questions or concerns.

Avoid chewing until the numbness has worn off completely. If we placed a temporary restoration, avoid chewing for one half-hour to allow the temporary cement to set.

For the first 24 hours, drink lots of liquids and eat soft, nutritious foods, chewing on the opposite side of your mouth.

After the first 24 hours, you can begin to return to your usual diet, but continue to chew on the opposite side. Avoid very hot or spicy foods until your gums are healed. We’ll evaluate your situation to determine how soon you can chew on the implant.

For the first 14 days, gently wipe the implant site with gauze or a cotton swab. After that, brush the area gently with a soft toothbrush.

Don’t floss the site for four weeks. We will evaluate the healing and adjust your brushing and flossing timetable as necessary.

Brush and floss your other teeth normally.

If we have recommended a mouthrinse, use it as directed.

If antibiotics or other medicines are prescribed, continue to take them for the indicated length of time, even if all symptoms and signs of infection are gone.

To control discomfort, take pain medication before the anesthetic has worn off or as recommended. It’s normal to experience some discomfort for several days after surgery.

To reduce discomfort or swelling for the first 24 hours following surgery, use ice packs, 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off.

To reduce discomfort after the first 24 hours, apply moist heat.

To further reduce discomfort after the first 24 hours, you can rinse your mouth very gently three times a day with warm salt water. Use about one teaspoon of salt per glass of warm water.