Are Dental Implants for you?

You can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth with one or two dental implants. We can also stabilize existing dentures with implants.

Step 1:

A 3D scan is taken WITHOUT uncomfortable sensors in your mouth. Note the missing tooth in the upper left (your right). This image is a two dimensional rendering of the 3D source image.

Step 2:

An intraoral scan of several teeth is then taken with a wand like camera. Again, no uncomfortable sensors and no gooey mess. The scan is then used on a computer to design a tooth (shown in white here) to the ideal form and function the doctor chooses.

Mention this article for a free Invisalign or implant consultation (a $75 value) before July 31st and see what can be done for you.

Step 3:

Then the two scans are stitched together (virtually overlapped) to plan a dental implant in the ideal position to support the future tooth already designed. By stitching both images, one can see where the details of the future crown lie and planning of the implant position is able to be done confidently. This “perfect placement” assures we have the proper loading forces (compression from chewing) on our future crown for the implant and supporting bone structure. Here, we can also determine if an extra bone augmentation procedure is necessary.

Step 4:

Now, all the surgical planning is done. The future tooth, or crown, is designed, and the exact position of the implant placement has already been determined. Now the computer mills (or 3D prints) a surgical guide as seen above. This guide allows us to transfer all of the computer planning to be carried out in reality exactly as we planned. This guide is a custom designed and milled piece that snaps on the teeth with a hole over the missing tooth space that guides our instruments to stop automatically at the exact position, depth, and angulation of our original plan. The naked eye of even the best surgeon is no match for the precision of computer guided surgery.

Step 5:

From there, the surgery can now be scheduled and performed using this manufactured guide, all of which is milled in the office in minutes. All of the pre-procedure planning streamlines the procedure since all the variables have been established and studied beforehand. This allows for shorter appointment times and faster recovery in most cases. In fact, most patients take a prescription strength Advil and have very minor discomfort. This is in large part due to the anatomy of the affected area. Bone has less sensory nerve tissue than skin or gum tissue.

Step 6:

The original design from step 1 is then manufactured in office and able to screw into the implant either the same day or in most cases within 16 weeks depending on the strength of the bone around the dental implant. All of this can be done in 1-2 appointments with minimal discomfort. Sedation options are available if you prefer. Call us 318-868-0830 to schedule your free consultation. Happy Holidays from all of us!

9220 Ellerbe Road Ste. 100 | Shreveport, LA 71106 318-868-0830 | Fax: 318-868-7260 www.SouthShreveportDental.com