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Cleveland Smile Restorations with Dental ImplantsDr. Bill Costaras can correct a variety of dental problems by using dental implants at his practice serving the Cleveland, Toledo, and Akron area. Dental implants are a stable and durable option for securing dental crowns, dentures, or other tooth replacements for people who are missing teeth. Most implants are made of titanium, a strong metal compatible with oral tissues. The implant acts as a replacement for the missing tooth's root, and the artificial tooth replaces the missing tooth. Since tooth restorations with implants are secure, comfortable, natural looking, and long lasting, dental implants have provided many of our patients with very satisfying results. Moreover, dental implants provide an excellent base for a full-mouth restoration or smile makeover. To learn more about dental implants and restorative dentistry, contact our cosmetic dentistry practice in Westlake today!
Types and Placement of Dental ImplantsFor patients in Cleveland and surrounding areas, Dr. Costaras prescribes three types of dental implants, making treatment convenient for patients throughout the Toledo, Akron, and surrounding regions. As recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA), Dr. Bill Costaras employs a multi-disciplinary approach and therefore uses specialists to place dental implants. Dr. Costaras partners with implantologists throughout the area, and guides the restoration of dental implants following placement. Root ImplantsThe most popular form of dental implants is the root implant. This type of dental implant is very effective and mirrors the size and the shape of a patient's natural tooth root. Root implants are often as structurally sound as the original root. The procedure to insert root implants typically involves three phases: the implant placement, osseointegration (the period of healing for the jawbone), and the attachment of the dental crown, dentures, or other tooth replacement. To place the root implant, a local anesthetic is applied. The doctor then makes a small incision in the gums to access the jawbone. Next, he carefully inserts the implant into the jawbone with great precision. Finally, he stitches the gums. Pain medication may be prescribed to mediate post-operative soreness. During the next three to eight months, the bone adheres firmly to the implant in a process known as "osseointegration". Once osseointegration is complete, the patient returns to Dr. Costaras' practice to receive the tooth restoration. In this final step, Dr. Costaras completes the restoration by attaching a dental crown, denture, or another tooth replacement device to the implant. Plate Form ImplantsAnother type of dental implants available to patients in the Toledo, Akron, and Cleveland areas is the plate form implant. For patients whose jawbone is too narrow to support a root implant, plate form implants can be ideal since they are longer and thinner than root implants and require less bone support. Subperiosteal ImplantsSubperiosteal implants are unique in that they are imbedded in the gums instead of the jawbone. This makes them a treatment option for patients whose jawbones have receded and cannot support traditional dental implants. For patients in the Toledo, Akron, and Cleveland areas, subperiosteal dental implants can be placed in two office visits. In the first visit, the doctor first applies a local anesthetic; then he makes a mold of the mouth and jawbone. He sends this mold to a dental laboratory, where lab technicians use the mold to custom make the implants. Once the dental implants are ready, the doctor places them in the second office visit. He applies a local anesthetic before exposing the jawbone. He then places the implant over the jawbone and sutures the gums. Over the next month, as the gums heal over and around the implant, they secure the implant into the gum tissue. For some patients, it is possible to place subperiosteal implants in a single procedure by using a CAT scan of the gumline and jawbone instead of a dental mold. Risks Associated with Dental ImplantsWhile complications with dental implants are rare, they do sometimes occur. Possible complications include mild discomfort, infection, and slight nerve damage. After having dental implants placed, some patients experience mild discomfort as the gums and jawbone heal. Dr. Bill Costaras can prescribe pain medication to help reduce post-operative discomfort, which usually subsides within seven to ten days. He may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent or treat infection of the gums or jawbones. Finally, a small number of patients experience nerve damage after oral surgery. Typically, nerve damage heals after several weeks, although it can last for longer periods of time. Dr. Costaras and his staff remain in close contact with all patients after placing dental implants in order to monitor their progress and address any concerns. Proper Maintenance of Dental ImplantsImmediately after implant placement, patients should avoid smoking because smoking impedes the gums' ability to heal. Proper long-term care of the teeth and gums is also necessary to prevent recession of the gums and jawbone. If left untreated, bacteria in tartar around the gums can erode the gums and jawbone into which implants anchor, eventually necessitating removal of the dental implants. Fortunately, daily brushing and flossing in conjunction with regular dental check-ups can help maintain the health of the implant site(s). Patients who take proper measures to maintain their dental health can expect their implants to last for 25 years or longer. For Dental Implants, Contact Our Office Serving the Toledo and Akron AreasIn his Cleveland area practice, Dr. Bill Costaras uses dental implants to improve the dental health and beauty of patients from Toledo, Akron, and all over Ohio. To learn more about how you too may benefit from dental implants, contact our cosmetic dentistry practice today!
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