Featuring Dr. Dino Georgas, BSc, DMD, MSD, Cert. Perio, FCDS(BC)

Duration: 1 minute, 27 seconds

Well, a dental implant is a proven technology to replace a missing tooth.

If the patient presents with the tooth present, the option is to plan the procedure so that we remove the tooth, and at the same procedure, have a bone graft and a gum graft placed. This way the patient is not going through multiple procedures, and it will allow the site to heal well.

If the tooth has already been lost, the option is to plan and just restore the site with a bone graft and a gum graft. Again, it doesn't delay things too much for the patient. The end result is that the patient has the option of replacing the tooth with an implant, and it'll be functional, cosmetic, and the dentist can provide a solid, functional crown.

Patients presenting with dentures, the option for supporting the denture is to have implants placed. A minimum of two implants can support a denture adequately. However, if a patient is looking for a little more solid support, anywhere from two to four implants can be used to support the denture.

You can also opt to have multiple implants placed, anywhere between six and ten implants, and this would allow you to have a denture that is either retained by screw in the mouth, so you don't have to remove it.

Your dentist would remove it once a year to check it. Or you can also use these implants to support a bridge that would also be permanently retained. Best option would be to speak to your dentist; see if these options are correct for you, and they will refer you to the proper sources.

Presenter: Dr. Dino Georgas, Periodontist, Vancouver, BC

Local Practitioners: Periodontist