Dental implant dentistry is second only to cosmetic dentistry, as the area of dentistry with the fastest rate of growth in the dental practice today. Since 1986 dental implant use has tripled in clinical practice in the US, and this growth is expected to continue to rise rapidly in the years ahead. People of all age groups, from teen-agers to octogenarians, are choosing dental implants to restore a single tooth, several teeth, or to support a full set of dentures.

Missing teeth, ill-fitting dentures, partial dentures, or fixed bridges can cause many people to feel overly self-conscious in public places. Many people avoid going to social events or even out to dinner because they are frightened that their dentures might slip or their partials would become dislodged while chewing. They can no longer eat all their foods they would like to or enjoy the full taste of the foods they eat.

Dental Implants are the cutting edge of restorative dentistry because they eliminate the day-to-day frustrations of ill-fitting dentures and partials

There is a growing public awareness of the significant functional and esthetic advantages of dental implants over conventional dentures, partials and fixed bridgework. Also there is now and abundance of data to support the long-term success of dental implants.

With dental implants, many surveys have found that people enjoy the following benefits:

• Dental Implants are able to restore normal eating and speech
• Dental Implants enhance facial appearance and thus a person's self-confidence.
• Dental Implants under dentures increase the dentures retention and function almost 100%.
• Dental Implants enhance a person's overall life style and confidence.

At HLD, Dr. Gary Stewart has had extensive training and experience in implant dentistry. He has taken many postgraduate courses in implant dentistry in both the surgical and restorative phases of treatment. He works closely with several surgeons in Orange County, which is crucial to the team approach needed for implant dentistry. Dr. Stewart has successfully completed almost 200 implant cases ranging from implant supported full dentures to implant supported fixed bridges to single tooth implants. He is always ready to consult with you about implant dentistry and provide you with treatment options.

The dental implants fixture is basically an artificial root that is surgically implanted in the jawbone. It is finely crafted titanium screw usually coated with a hydroxyapatite coating. The hydroxyapatite coating is analogous to the hydroxyapatite in the bone. Hydroxyapatite is the substance, which one is primarily made of. After the fixture heals and bonds to the jaw bone (usually a period of 3-6 months), the fixture is exposed and a small post is attached to the implant fixture in the bone. This entire unit forms a very stable anchor for the crown or denture, and studies have shown that people are able to bite with up to 450 psi with properly placed + restored dental implant teeth. With natural teeth people can bite with up to 540 psi, while conventional dentures only allow people to chew with about 50 psi. These studies show implants come very close to matching natural teeth in function, and are about 9 times more effective than conventional dentures.

Dental Implants are a two-phase procedure. The first phase is surgical, i.e. the placement of the fixture in the bone. Usually an oral surgeon or a periodontist (gum Surgeon) will do the surgery after first evaluating the candidate on such things as dental health, lifestyle, jawbone quality, and oral hygiene habits. Special x-rays may also be necessary. Then the surgeon and the restorative dentist consult together about your case, and plan your implant treatment program

The Dental Implants surgery is usually done in either the oral surgeon or periodontist office under conscious sedation (twilight sleep). The titanium fixtures are surgically placed in your jaw. These fixtures are essentially artificial roots that server as the framework to support the crown, or bridge or denture that will come later. For the first 3-6 months after surgery these fixtures are completely below the gumline gradually bonding with the jawbone. During this time you will be wear a temporary removable bridge or denture, and eating a soft diet. Some patients report minor pain and swelling immediately after the surgery, but the vast majority of patients can immediately return to their normal activities. .

These are the studs that attach to the implant anchor, that have been inserted into the jaw bone.

After the jaw bone grows back and secures the implant anchor, the healing caps are then removed.

Dental Implants to replace 1 or even 2 natural teeth are much more conservative than conventional fixed bridges because in order to do a fixed bridge the adjacent teeth to this missing tooth area must be prepared (drilled) for full coverage crowns in order to serve as anchors for the bridge (false) tooth. Moreover, national studies have shown the average lifespan of a bridge to be 5 years, while studies have shown single tooth implants lasting 20 years and longer.

After healing and bonding to the bone is complete the surgeon then exposes the fixtures and attaches small post to them. These posts act as the anchors for the replacement teeth that will be made by the restorative dentist. These posts protrude through the gum line, but will be invisible once the artificial teeth are attached.

Here in the picture on the right, the implant post has been attached, and is being torque down and tighten to 225 psi. After tightening, the implant post will be keyed and notched so that the crown not rotate on the stud while chewing, brushing or flossing.

The implant stud must now be tighten with a torque wrench to a specifc PSI rating.  After tightening, the stud will now be notched and keyed, so that the crown will stay in proper alignment, and not move when chewing..

This is the new finished implant stud that is attached to the anchor inside the jawbone. This pacticular implant will replace a single molar, and will be fitted with a unique crown.

The restorative dentist then takes over the treatment, and makes custom impressions (molds) of the implant fixtures from which the abutments will be made. These abutments are fabricated of gold or platinum from the impression at a dental laboratory that specializes in implant procedures. The abutments are tried in the mouth by the restorative dentist. The fit must be precise because any torque pressure to the fixture caused by a distorted abutment can cause the bone around the fixture to degenerate resulting in the eventual loss of the fixture if it is not corrected. Once the abutment is properly fitted to the fixture, a final impression of the abutment attached to the fixture is done and the final crown or bridge or denture is fabricated. This final restoration is then attached to the abutment and the procedure is complete.

It is very important that the restorative dentist be properly trained to do implant dentistry because technically each step is very precise, however a well trained, experienced restorative dentist usually finds that implant dentistry is very successful if the techniques are followed with precision.

Dental Implants are the cutting edge of restorative dentistry because they eliminate the day-to-day frustrations of ill-fitting dentures and partials, and they allow people to enjoy a healthy, varied diet without the restrictions of denture and partial wearers. With a sense of renewed self-confidence, shared with family and friends. They can also speak clearly and interact more easily with co-workers. For all these reasons people with dental implants often say they feel better, they look better, and they live better.

To the lower right is  the patient wearing his new dentures that are now attached to the dental implant abutments.

He can now go out the same evening and enjoy a steak dinner, or eat corn on the cobb.

This procedure has now made his life much more normal, and very few people will even be able to detect that he is wearing dentures.

Call Harbour Landing Dental today and make an appointment with Dr. Gary Stewart. He will plan, design and implement a dental implant solution for you, and bring the joy of eating anything back to your life. (714) 846-4414  .

In this case, the implants will support the attachment of a full denture.  A mold is now being made, so that the lab may produce a new lower denture based on the location and postioning, of the custokmers implant studs.  The implant will hold the denture in place.

This is the mold that was made of the abutments. The lab will now take the mold and custom make a denture to these specifications.

This is the denture that the lab created based on the mold of the abutments.  The patient may now insert the denture and eat immediatly.

This is the patient wearing both the new upper and lower denture.  The dentures are held in place by the dental implants, and the fit is much tighter.