When you’re missing a tooth, it can become difficult to chew, challenging to speak, and embarrassing to smile. Dental implants can help with all of that. Thanks to modern technology, there are a variety of materials you can choose from for your dental implants. At Greater Atlanta Oral Facial Surgery, we use titanium implants which are made of the same metal used in knee and hip replacements. These types of implants have a success rate around 95% and can last up to 30 years.
When you work with an oral surgeon who is skilled with implant dentistry, they can help you decide which type of dental implant will create a look that is completely natural and durable. No one will ever know that the implant isn’t part of your original smile.
We use the latest technology to ensure your dental implant looks flawless. We generally start by taking photos with a digital camera, and we also use a digital scanner for impressions. You don’t have to worry about biting into molding putty for your impressions.
After the prosthetics are ready, we use CT scans to ensure that the dental implants are placed perfectly, and we have a range of other high tech materials that help with everything from sedation to deep pocket therapy.
With traditional implant dentistry, the oral surgeon places a small metal post beneath your gums into your jaw bone. That implant is usually made of titanium, and once your jaw bone ossifies around it, the oral surgeon cuts some of the gums to reveal the post. Then, they place a ceramic cap on the top of the post.
With a traditional dental implant, the implant and the abutment are separate pieces. That can allow bacteria to get in between the pieces. In contrast, with a ceramic dental implant, the prosthetic is just a single piece. That reduces the risk of bacteria and helps to safeguard the health of your gums.
Ceramic implants are also ideal for patients who are allergic to metal. Additionally, with a ceramic implant, it adheres better to the gums and there will be less recession of the gums.
Traditional dental implants became available in the 1980s. In about 2000, there was a shift to a titanium implant with a ceramic abutment. Finally, in 2005, the full ceramic dental implant became available in Europe. In 2011, the Food and Drug Administration approved the ceramic dental implant for use in the United States.
If you want to learn more about dental implants in general or ceramic implants in particular, contact us today. Greater Atlanta Oral Facial Surgery is an oral and maxillofacial dental office. We have two locations for your convenience: one in Buckhead and another in Cumming. Call us to set up an appointment.