Bone Grafting
Bone grafting is a part of the process where we build up the bone around the dental implant site to ensure there is adequate support for the implant. In the past, bone grafting relied on taking bone material from elsewhere in your body, but the development of new technologies means that we can use a substitute made from just the mineral portions of bone, with no living cells and therefore no possibility of contamination, just the raw material your body needs to build bone around your natural looking tooth replacement.
Surface Treatments
In the past, dental implants were just made with a smooth surface, but today there are many solutions to replace missing teeth. Dental implants can also be made with a roughened texture and even coated with compounds similar to your bone tissue to encourage bone growth around the implant and tight bonding between the implant and your bone.
Alloys and Materials
Most dental implant solutions are made from titanium, but it’s not always pure titanium. Sometimes titanium is blended with other metals to improve the strength and performance of the implant.
In addition, we are now happy to offer metal-free dental implants. These zirconia implants are made of ceramic which is more similar to your bone tissue in color and composition, making for better integration with the bone as well as better aesthetics.
Crowns and Bridges
In the past, dental crowns and bridges had to be made out of metal or a combination of metal and ceramic. Now, though, your restoration can be completely made of ceramic materials to withstand the rigors of biting and chewing forces. This helps dental crowns and bridges look more attractive and natural.
Dental Implant Shape and Size
The shape and size of dental implants has evolved considerably over time. Dental implants can now be smaller than they used to be, so they can be placed where there is less bone than was needed in the past. Angled and zygomatic dental implants also allow us to help people who couldn’t get dental implants in the past.
Dental implants can also have a variety of shapes that can give them better stability in certain situations. This lets them give patients with special situations the same great care that mainstream patients have always enjoyed.
Imaging
In the past, it was often necessary to perform a preliminary surgery to determine what the actual shape and nature of bone before the dental implant could be placed. These days, computed tomography (CT) allows us to get a detailed 3D image of the bones in your jaw before we start the implant procedure. This saves you time, money, and discomfort. We can use CT to plan the procedure so that it goes quickly and is highly accurate.
We can also use computer imaging and digital pictures to give you a good idea about what your dental implant results will look like.
Are you looking for a way to restore your teeth to a more natural looking smile? Book your consultation with our implant experts in Irvine by calling (949) 551-5902 to discuss our tooth replacement solutions.
