What is a Dental Implant?

1. A dental implant is an artificial tooth that we insert into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or permanent bridge. Dental implants surgery is an ideal option for people in good general health who have lost a tooth or teeth due to decay, gum disease, trauma, failed dental treatment or some other reason.

2. Although dental implants are a high-tech solution, they are extremely conservative. They are the only form of tooth replacement that does not rely on other teeth for support. A dental implant will never decay and never require a root canal.

3. Dental implants are the most natural feeling form of tooth replacement. Dental implants can be used to replace one tooth or a whole set of teeth. They can also be used to help secure loose dentures or bridgework.

4. Under proper circumstances, properly placed implants can last a lifetime. As a matter of fact, our implants are so successful that we guarantee them. Please call our office for details of our guarantee policy.

What Dental Implant(s) Can Do

1. Replace one or more teeth without affecting other teeth.

2. Support fixed bridgework and eliminate the need for removable partial dentures (partial plates).

3. Supply support for dentures making them more secure and comfortable.

4. Replace removable dentures with permanent teeth, sometimes in one visit. Please see the section about instant permanent teeth.

The Advantages of Dental Implants over Dentures or Bridgework

Dental implants provide the best solution for replacing missing teeth.

1. Aesthetics – Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. Because dental implants integrate with your teeth and bone, they prevent the ongoing loss of gum and bone structure associated with full and partial dentures.

2. Preservation of Tooth Structure – It is not necessary to alter or cut down adjacent teeth as is required with conventional fixed bridgework. This reduces the risk of decay and the need for root canal treatment. It represents the most conservative form of tooth replacement.

3. Increased Confidence – Dental implants provide secure and stable tooth replacements – no more denture wobbles, no more misplaced or broken dentures, no need for messy denture adhesive.

4. Reliable – Under proper circumstances properly placed implants can last a lifetime. As a matter of fact, our implants are so successful that we guarantee them. Please call our office for details of our guarantee policy.

Are You a Candidate?

The ideal candidate is in good general and oral health. Adequate bone in the jaw is needed to properly place a dental implant. However, many people which seek care from Dr. Meltzer present with less-than-optimal bone and gum structure. This is where Dr. Meltzer’s unique talents come into play. Over the past 20 years Dr. Meltzer has become one of the world’s leading experts in sinus augmentation, guided bone and tissue regeneration.

Working with companies, such as WL Gore and BIOMET 3i, he has pioneered techniques to regenerate lost gum and bone structure. He has taught these technique on six continents and has written a book on the subject with Dr. Kevin Murphy. The continuing education which others take is frequently taught by Dr. Meltzer.

What is Treatment Like?

The vast majority of implant treatment is provided within our office. Unlike most offices, your treatment will not be performed in a regular dental treatment room. The placement of a dental implant involves the placement of a small orthopedic device into your jaw. To reduce the risk of complication, our office has a special surgical suite dedicated to the placement of dental implants.

Dr. Meltzer feels the best way to treat a complication is to reduce the risk of a complication in the first place.

1. Additionally, you will be presented with several anesthesia options ranging from local anesthesia (Novocain) to IV sedation provided by our Board-certified anesthesiologist.
2. Your special case plan and fees will be discussed at your consultation prior to rendering any treatment.

After Implant Treatment

It is part of our standard implant treatment that you return to our office to receive detailed homecare instructions to ensure that you learn how to protect your investment. This service is supplied at no additional charge. Furthermore, to keep your implant guarantee in place you must return on a periodic basis for implant maintenance. Please contact our office for full details on our implant guarantee.