For your convenience Dr. David Tai performs both the surgical procedures and the restorative phase in one office. The BioHorizons dental implants are placed in a similar fashion to traditional dental implants. At your initial office visit, Dr. Tai will take x-rays, perform diagnostic tests, and create a model of your remaining teeth to establish the correct implant placement. After analyzing the results, it will be determined if bone grafts are needed to build up bone volume for implant positioning. If bone grafts are not necessary, the patient is ready for the placement procedure. This is generally done under a local anesthetic or sedation, so that the procedure is pain-free.

To expose the jaw bone, Dr. Tai will make an incision in the gum tissue. A small hole will be drilled into the jaw so that the implant can be placed securely. Dr. Tai will screw the implant post into position, cover it with a temporary cap, and close the area with sutures. The sutures will be removed and healing will be assessed. Post-implant placement dental hygiene is essential while the area fully heals. Following a healing period of about three to six months, Dr. Tai will schedule you for the next surgical step.

Under local anesthetic, an incision will be made at the site to expose the implant and the temporary cap will be removed. An abutment will be attached. In some cases, you may receive a temporary crown on the day of implant placement. After the bone and soft tissue heal, the restorative phase commences. You will undergo an impression and fitting for the new prostheses, typically a crown. The prostheses will then be screwed into the abutment reviving your natural smile for life.

Long-term success of implants depends on how well they are maintained. Regular dental visits are essential. Your dentist will develop a dental visit program to ensure the health of your implants and remaining natural teeth. Periodontal disease can strike when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned. If left untreated bone loss, which weakens supporting structures, can lead to loss of dental implants as well as tooth loss.

Home Care: Daily brushing and flossing are absolutely necessary for long-term success. There are also many supplemental products that allow you to clean the implants properly. Your dentist will design a home care regime that will suit your individual needs.

Brushing: Your dentist may recommend a cordless electric toothbrush. Whether you use a standard brush or electric toothbrush, your dentist and hygienist will review your brushing techniques to ensure that you are cleaning the area properly.

Oral Irrigation Systems: Research has shown that oral irrigation is effective in reducing plaque accumulation around dental implants and natural teeth. Your dentist may also suggest that you use a special mouth rinse.

Flossing: Good home care includes daily flossing. Floss threaders are very helpful in allowing you to reach around implants, under bridges and bars so these areas can be easily cleaned. Your dentist may also recommend special types of floss.

Interproximal Brushes: These small dental brushes, also called “Proxy Brushes”, are specifically designed to clean between the teeth and implants. While not a replacement for dental floss they are helpful in cleaning hard to reach areas.

Dental Visits: It is typically recommended that patients visit their dentist for professional cleanings every 3-6 months. However, your dentist will design a dental visit program specifically for you.

A dental implant is a titanium fixture that serves as a replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. The dental implant placed in the bone functions as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Once the implant is integrated into the bone, crowns, bridgework or dentures can be secured onto these anchors. The treatment process is done in two stages. First, the implant is placed in a simple surgical procedure. After a waiting period of 4-6 months to allow the bone to heal, a simple second stage surgery is done to expose the covered implants. The restorative treatment will follow with impression and fitting of the prostheses. In the past a patient missing a single tooth would often receive a fixed bridge where the teeth on either side of the space are prepared for crowns and a false tooth suspended between them. With today’s technology the patient is ideally treated by a crown supported by a dental implant, avoiding any compromise to the other teeth. Dental implants are the ultimate solution for young people with congenitally missing teeth such as lateral incisors. Dental implants can also replace multiple missing teeth which are traditionally replaced by a removable partial denture. Occasionally dental implants can act as anchors for a fixed bridge to replace the teeth making the removable partial denture obsolete. In some cases there are too many teeth missing to use a fixed bridge; however, using a dental implant with an attachment that snaps into the removable partial denture will significantly improve its stability and improve the patient’s chewing function. Perhaps the best known use of dental implants is treating patients without any teeth. Denture wearers often suffer due to loose and “floating” dentures, and dental implants offer many benefits to patients without teeth. Stability of the dentures is improved with the use of even two dental implants with attachments, but greater satisfaction is achieved as the number of dental implants is increased. Depending on the number of dental implants utilized to replace the teeth a denture can be made that clips onto a bar supported by the dental implants or a fixed denture that remains in the mouth can be attached to the dental implants. Dental implants also can help preserve the patient’s jaw bone and retard the shrinking of the jaw that is routinely seen in long-term denture wearers.

A removable prosthesis, such as customized complete dentures, can restore function and appearance in the mouth as well as the surrounding facial tissues. If several teeth can be saved, dentures may be made to fit over the roots of these teeth. The “overdentures” preserve bone and greatly increase denture stability. In many individuals, dental implants can offer a patient an overdenture with far more stability that traditional dentures. More importantly, patients who have had dentures can enjoy non-removable replacement teeth, built upon implants. These function as well as, and sometimes better than, the original natural teeth.

In order to best restore your smile and maintain the esthetic effects of dental implants, it is essential to create stability in the bone-soft tissue complex. The longevity of dental implants is highly dependent on the integration of the implant with the hard and soft tissue. Traditional dental implants notoriously result in a what is known as crestal bone loss over a period of time. While the roughened surfaces of dental implants can increase the surface area of bone attachments, they have little effect on soft tissue.
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BioHorizons implants have an innovative design that serves as an attachment point for both bone and connective-tissue. This provides long term bone and soft tissue stability. They can even be successfully implanted in areas of narrow bone, low bone density, periodontally compromised sites, and more. In addition to the prevention of bone loss, a high success rate, and increased stability and longevity, other benefits of BioHorizons dental implants include:
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• Improved dental hygiene.
• Multiple implants can be placed in a single visit.
• A natural look.
• Prevention of gum recession.
• Quicker recovery period.
• Maintains bone and facial structure.
• A beautiful smile.