Implant Dentistry
Serving Fort Lauderdale, Boynton Beach, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, and Boca Raton, Florida
Dental Implants
Fifty years ago, if you lost one of your adult teeth, your only options were a false tooth or a dental bridge. However, dental technology has progressed far beyond what our parents and grandparents knew. Computers and lasers have transformed dentistry and contributed to the development of cosmetic dentistry and you can now replace a lost tooth with a completely natural-looking new tooth – and fill the gap in the jawbone as well.
The Beginning of Dental Implants
Implant dentistry is a branch of cosmetic dentistry made possible by a fortuitous accident. In 1952 a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, P.I. Branemark found that bone material had grown in around titanium implants in laboratory experiments, making it impossible to remove the implants without causing damage to the bone. He had discovered a property of titanium: that it has a strong affinity for bone tissue. Since many Swedes at the time had lost all their teeth, he switched from working on knees and hips to working in the mouth and placed the first dental implant in a volunteer patient.
Dental Implants Procedure
Fort Lauderdale Implant Dentist, Dr. John Sarris offers dental implants on a referral basis, working with a dental surgeon who places the implants. Dr. Sarris then completes the procedure by designing and placing the replacement teeth. Dental implants are made of titanium and have a screw shape. The jawbone grows into the grooves on the implant and forms a very strong anchor for your new teeth.
Two or three months are allowed to pass for the bone to fully grow. Then Dr. Sarris places a small projection on the top of the implant that is visible above the gums. This is the abutment on which he places your new tooth a little later. One implant can support two teeth. They are porcelain teeth like dental crowns, and will be indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth.
Dental Implants a Permanent Solution
If you give your implant-supported teeth the same daily care you give your natural teeth, they can serve you for a lifetime. There is no worry about discomfort, as there might be with dentures. By filling the gap in your jawbone left by the lost tooth root, the implant preserves the shape of your jaw. If the gap were to be left, the bone tissue would shrink in to fill it, which could give your face an older look.
If you have several missing teeth, or even an entire mouthful, dental implants can hold all the replacements. Four can support the upper or lower arch of teeth and eight can anchor all your teeth.
Please see Questions About Implant Dentistry for more information.
You can learn more about dental implants by scheduling a complimentary implant dentistry consultation with Implant Dentist, Dr. Sarris. Please contact our office today. We serve Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, and the surrounding areas of Florida.
Contact Us
561.278.7450
John G. Sarris, D.M.D., P.A.
1911 S. Federal Highway, Suite 600
Delray Beach, Florida 33483
