Advanced Implant Techniques, Personalized to You

What You Need to Know About Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants have been transforming lives for decades, and advances in technology and technique have made them more accessible, more precise, and more versatile than ever. Here's a comprehensive look at how they work and what sets our approach apart.

How Dental Implants Work

A dental implant is a small post, typically made of titanium or zirconia, that's placed directly into the jawbone in the space where a tooth's root used to be. Over the following weeks and months, the bone gradually fuses to the implant in a process called osseointegration, creating a stable, permanent anchor. Once that integration is complete, a small connector post is attached to the implant, and a crown, bridge, or other prosthetic tooth is secured on top. The result is a replacement tooth that's fixed in place, doesn't shift, and functions just like a natural tooth.

Implants also play an important role in preserving the jawbone. Because they mimic the function of a tooth root, they provide the stimulation the bone needs to maintain its density and shape over time, something dentures and bridges can't do.

Immediate Implants: Same Day as Your Extraction

One of the most meaningful advances in implant dentistry is the ability to place an implant at the same time as a tooth extraction. Rather than waiting months for the extraction site to heal before beginning the implant process, immediate implants allow our surgeons to place the implant on the same day the tooth is removed. In select cases, a crown can even be placed at that same visit, dramatically simplifying the process and reducing the total time to a finished result. Not every patient or every tooth is a candidate for immediate placement, but our surgeons will evaluate whether it's an option for your situation.

Advanced Implant Techniques

Will Surgical Arts offers a range of advanced implant options for patients whose anatomy or bone conditions make conventional implant placement more challenging. These include:

• Pterygoid implants, which are placed in the pterygoid plate of the sphenoid bone posterior to the upper jaw, can be an option for patients with significant bone loss in the posterior upper arch.
• Zygomatic implants, which anchor into the cheekbone (zygoma) rather than the jawbone, are used in cases of severe upper jaw bone loss where traditional implants aren't possible
• Subperiosteal implants, which sit on top of the jawbone beneath the gum rather than within the bone itself, can be an option for patients who don't have enough bone stock for conventional implants.

Our surgeons use virtual surgical planning (VSP) that generates computer-generated surgical guides and splints to plan and execute implant placement with a high level of precision. This technology creates a detailed digital map of your anatomy, allowing the surgical team to determine the optimal implant position in advance and follow that plan precisely during surgery.

Dental Implant Types

Most dental implants placed today are made of titanium, a material with a decades-long track record of safety and durability. Titanium bonds reliably with bone, is extremely strong, and is well tolerated by the vast majority of patients.

However, ceramic and zirconia implants are an increasingly popular option that our practice specializes in. These metal-free alternatives appeal to patients who prefer a holistic approach to their care, those who have sensitivities to metal, or those who simply want to avoid titanium for personal preference. These implants carry a low risk of allergic reaction and, like titanium implants, are designed to integrate with the jawbone and provide long-lasting results.

During your consultation, our surgeons will help you understand which implant material is the best fit for your specific situation.

The Implant Process

For most patients, dental implant placement is a multi-step process. The implant itself is placed in the jawbone first, then allowed to integrate with the bone over a period of two to six months. During this healing period, a temporary prosthesis can be worn. Once integration is confirmed, the connector post and permanent crown or prosthesis are attached. In cases where single-stage implants are appropriate, the second procedure to uncover the implant can be skipped, and the healing period is typically at least six weeks before the final tooth is placed.

The implant surgery itself is performed in our in-office surgical suite, which is equipped to hospital standards. Patients with more complex medical needs or those requiring extensive bone grafting may have their procedure performed in out operating room with an anesthesia provider or in thea hospital setting. Our surgeons work closely with your restorative dentist throughout the process, since implant placement and the fabrication of the final prosthesis are a team effort.