Get Dental Implants in Victoria, BC
Dental implants are artificial roots made of titanium and inserted into the jaw in place of the natural tooth. The artificial tooth is then attached to this implant. Once correctly installed, dental implants look just like real teeth. Implants are currently used in a great deal of situations that we didn’t have great solutions for previously such as stabilizing dentures, replacing individual teeth, replacing entire arches, and anchorage for orthodontics. With advances in our understanding of the biologic process behind dental implant integration and improvements in technology, implant use has become a routine part of dental treatment and is considered the standard of care in many situations.
At My Victoria Dentist, our dentists can advise you on whether dental implants are a suitable option for you. Our clinic only uses the best implants available on the market and we are constantly upgrading our training to stay current as technology and new clinical techniques develop. For more information regarding dental implants in Victoria, please contact us.
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Any person in good health can get dental implants, however some situations can make a successful outcome less predictable. For example:
-
Uncontrolled periodontal disease, diabetes, osteoporosis and smoking can limit the ability of the implant to fully integrate with the bone.
-
If the teeth have been missing for a long time, there may not be enough bone to support an implant without a bone graft.
-
A small percentage of people have sensitivity to certain metals which can limit the options for what type of implant can be used. In some cases, a metal free implant must be used as an alternative.
Speak to a dentist at My Victoria Dentist today to discuss your case and determine whether you can get dental implants. We can provide dental implants for the following situations.
Single Tooth Replacement
A tooth has two main parts. What you see above the gum is called a clinical crown. What you don’t see, hiding below the gum tissue, is the root(s). The implant functions as the root of a tooth, and a ceramic crown attaches to the implant to replace the natural clinical crown. Implants are made of titanium alloy and/or zirconia and are roughly cylindrical in shape. To replace a missing tooth, an implant is inserted into the bone and is given time to integrate. How much time is mostly dependent on the quality of bone that it is inserted into, but in most cases the implant is integrated in 2 to 4 months. Once the implant is properly integrated, the top of the implant is exposed and either an impression or an intra-oral digital scan is done, from which the crown is made. The crown is custom designed for your mouth and is rigidly attached to the implant.
Multiple Tooth Replacement
Replacing multiple missing teeth with implants is a wonderful way to replace teeth that have been lost. Usually, this is done using an implant supported bridge. An implant supported bridge connects multiple implants with a ceramic bridge that replicates missing teeth. It is not usually necessary or advisable to replace each missing tooth with its own implant. In most cases, several teeth can be replaced with only two or three implants.
Full Arch Replacement
When replacing all the teeth in an arch with implants, there is considerable planning and thought put into what your desired outcome is. There are many different ways to replace teeth using implants. The most popular options are a full arch porcelain bridge, a traditional denture stabilized by implants, or a friction fit prosthetic called Conus. All of the options have their endearing qualities and drawbacks. A full arch porcelain bridge is usually supported by 6 implants and is rigidly fixed to the implants using small screws. The aesthetics are outstanding, but it is costly and challenging to perform hygiene on. A traditional denture can be fabricated and stabilized with attachments called locator abutments that engage the implants. Either two or four implants are used to stabilize a denture. Four implants allows the palate to be removed on the denture. The locator abutments prevent the denture from moving or dislodging during chewing, but the denture is easily removed for cleaning. Conus prosthetics combine the stability of the full arch porcelain bridge with the ease of cleaning of a removable prosthetic. The teeth are mounted on custom designed abutments that extend from the implants and form a rigid friction fit.
Denture Stabilization
If you have an existing denture that moves or comes loose when you are chewing or talking, implants can be used to help stabilize the denture and prevent it from moving. This can usually be done with either a full denture or a partial denture. In many cases, your existing denture can be used to attach to implants using snaps called locator abutments. For an upper denture, with the palate covered, two implants can be used to keep the denture stable. If you would like to have the palate removed, four implants are needed for stability.
Replace Your Missing Teeth
Schedule a consultation with our dentists to learn more about your options for dental implants and other advanced restorative dentistry services in Victoria.