Dental Implants Philadelphia

The Meaning of "Dental Implant" in Philadelphia

The word "Dental implant" has two meanings:

1. If a tooth is lost, your natural tooth root can be replaced with a small titanium post which is placed into your jawbone. This post is called a "Dental implant".
2. Once the dental implant post is firmly anchored into the jawbone, a small titanium piece is placed on top of the Dental implant. This is called an "abutment". A porcelain crown is then cemented onto this abutment. All that shows is your new crown which looks, feels and functions like your natural tooth.

Implant Supported Dental Work has many advantages, including

• More attractive appearance.
• Great comfort.
• Greater ability to chew food.
• No rubbing, clacking.
• No creme or adhesives.
• Not having to take out at night.
• Not overnight soaking in a glass.

People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can't keep up. If you've lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, Dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.

An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The "root" is usually made of titanium (the same material used in many replacement hips and knees), a metal that is well suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.

The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.

These are teeth that look and feel just like your own! When a tooth is lost, it's best to replace it with an implant as promptly as possible. After tooth loss, the load on each remaining tooth is increased because there are fewer of them. To restore proper chewing ability, the support lost from the missing tooth needs to be increased.

To compare chewing efficiency, let's assume a patient with all his or her natural teeth can chew at 100 percent efficiency. With every tooth that is lost, the amount of chewing efficiency decrease depends on whether or not the teeth are replaced and how. Ultimately, if all teeth are lost, the patient will have perhaps a 15 to 18 percent chewing efficiency (even with good-fitting dentures on adequate bony ridges).

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth that look, feel, and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything and can smile with confidence, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours are preserved.

The implants themselves are small bio compatible titanium posts that are placed into the area where teeth are missing. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. In addition, implants can help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration and facial collapse which occurs when teeth are missing. When teeth are lost, the jawbone degenerates. Nature takes away what you do not use! Where implants have been properly placed and maintained, the bone tends to be preserved since it is still being used. Dental implants are changing the way people live! With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life.

Dr. Dmitry has extensive training and experience in Dental Implant Surgery. As periodontists, they have specialized in gum tissues and underlying bone. Because of this they are ideal members of your dental implant team. They have been successfully placing implants for over 10 years and through their continuing education and faculty positions at major Universities, are abreast of the most current information on implant dentistry.

Dental Implant Evaluation

If, like many others, you feel implant dentistry is the choice for you, we ask that you undergo an implant consultation which includes a health history, dental history and clinical/films evaluation. We will review and explain your existing conditions as well as risks of delaying or not having treatment at all. Depending on your specific situation and the type of implant chosen, the doctors will help create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. Your questions and concerns are important to us and our team will work with you very closely to help make your procedure a success. We will also discuss fees at this time. There are many types of insurance plans, and coverage for implants is varied. We will be happy to assist you in obtaining any benefits to which you may be entitled.

Dental Implant Procedures

Dental implants act as tooth root substitutes. They are placed into the jawbone. Some patients may have been told in the past that they don't have enough bone for reliable Dental implants. Now using advanced technology, sinus augmentation and ridge augmentation can help correct this problem by naturally and predictably developing bone. Small posts are then attached to the implant which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. Because of the sedation protocol we use most patients surprisingly report little to no discomfort during and after the procedure.

For most patients, Dental implants can be placed in just one visit. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six weeks following this step, the implants are gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to function normally with some type of temporary replacement during this time.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. During this, your restorative dentist designs the final tooth or teeth replacements, which will ultimately improve both function and aesthetics. A simple impression must be taken. Then a small post or attachments can be connected to the implant. The new implant teeth are then made over the posts or attachments. The entire procedure usually takes two to four months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily lives. Some patients are candidates for immediate implants, which allows them to have tooth replacements that same day.

Single or Multiple Implants

Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.

Advantages Over Dentures or Bridges

Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural, but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don't directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don't compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last 7-10 years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically outlive you.

Post-Treatment Care

Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.

If you have lost or missing teeth you may wish to consider a Dental implant from Dr Karagodsky Dentistry.

Dr Karagodsky Dentistry is a full service dentist providing Dental implant services. Whether your missing tooth is the result of periodontitis, tooth decay, or an injury, Dr Karagodsky Dentistry can help restore your smile with a beautiful new Dental implant that looks and functions just like a real tooth.

Significantly stronger than bridges or dentures, a Dental implant offers a single and permanent solution to a lost tooth. The implant is integrated into your jaw with a small titanium screw and over the course of several months naturally bonds with your mouth. This procedure is relatively simple and is effective in almost all cases, so there's no need to put off restoring that great smile.

As with all our dental services, you'll be treated with the nurturing care and professionalism that embodies Dr Karagodsky Dentistry's practice. We'll make sure that you're kept comfortable and informed throughout the implant process and will always be available to address any questions or concerns.

Don't wait to restore your perfect smile. Call Dr Karagodsky Dentistry today and schedule an appointment! 215-969-2015

Why Replace Missing Teeth? The Effects of Missing Teeth

The effects of missing teeth can be detrimental to your long term oral and medical health. Missing teeth are also recognized associated with old age and can make you look older than you are.

Replacing missing teeth can dramatically improve your smile and the shape of your face. This greatly enhances both your dental health and self-esteem.

An Off-bite Relationship

Having gaps where teeth are missing affects the way the jaw closes. The remaining teeth begin to tilt and drift into the gaps. In addition, food can become trapped in these spaces, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease. The tilting and drifting can also cause problems for the opposing teeth. An opposing tooth will begin to hyper erupt and begin to drift into the open space of the missing tooth, causing the opposing jaw-line to have bite relationship problems; thus beginning TMJ problems (problems with the jaw joint).

Jawbone Deterioration

As soon as a tooth is lost, either from gum disease or an extraction, the supporting bone in the jaw begins to dissolve. This process is called resorption. The longer a tooth is missing, the greater the bone loss.

Over time, resorption of the jawbone has a considerable effect on quality of life and on the possibility of replacing the missing teeth. As teeth are lost it becomes more difficult to eat and chew food. Studies have shown that 29 percent of denture wearers eat only soft or mashed foods and 50 percent avoid many foods altogether. And over time, more and more of the jaw bone disintegrates until it becomes very difficult to place any dental restoration.

Benefits of Replacing a Tooth Immediately

A tooth should be replaced as soon as it is lost. This will retain your oral health by preventing bone loss, reducing movement of surrounding teeth and avoiding excess decay.

Teeth provide more functions than just the ability to chew. They are necessary for the health of the gum and jaw tissues as well, and a prolonged absence of a tooth will severely limit the possibilities for restorations. Missing teeth may also affect your confidence and well-being.

We accept many types of Dental Insurance. To be confident you should call the Our Dental Office at 1-215-969-2015 to verify whether or not we take the type of insurance you have.