St. Louis - Dental Implants
Serving St. Louis and Surrounding Communities
This information provided by Dr. Boyle is designed to help you better understand dental implants. The more knowledge you have about any subject that affects your health, the better equipped you will be to make appropriate and confident decisions.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium - a material that is extremely compatible with body tissues. Implants are used with a variety of dental restorations to replace missing teeth. The original dental implant technique was developed in Sweden in 1952. Dental implants were first placed in humans in 1965, and the procedure was introduced to North America in 1984. Dental implants have had FDA and American Dental Association approval for over 20 years.
When a pure titanium implant is carefully placed in the jaw, the implant surface becomes directly fused with healthy bone. This fusion of implant and bone is called osseointegration and generally requires 1-4 months before it is fully healed. The integration of natural bone and the dental implant creates a rock-solid connection that exceeds the strength of a natural tooth-to-bone connection. Once osseointegration has been achieved, the implant serves as solid supports for crowns, bridges or dentures which are attached to them.
Dental Implant Article of Interest
"Dr. Boyle’s work is not just great. It is perfect. I cannot recommend strongly enough the positive experiences I have had at Clarkson Dental Group."
- DE, Business Owner, Ballwin, MO
Over the 40+ years dental implants have been in use, they have proven to be extremely reliable, harmless to human tissues and long lasting. Since dental implants are freestanding, they do not depend on neighboring natural teeth for support. The most exciting aspects of dental implants are:
- Dental implants CANNOT GET DECAY!!
- Patients say dental implants are virtually PAIN-FREE DURING & AFTER PLACEMENT.
- There is NO LONG RECUPERATIVE TIME as with orthopedic implants (such as artificial hips and knees).
In order to achieve the best results, it is crucial that a high degree of cooperation, communication and experience exist between the restorative dentist and the surgeon. Be sure that the dentists involved have done numerous cases (preferably together), use a proven implant system, and have thoroughly explained the process to you.
As the restorative dentist, Dr. Boyle will assess functional and esthetic concerns. Dr. Boyle will also examine you on a regular basis following completion of treatment to ensure your oral health is properly maintained. Dr. Boyle has restored hundreds of dental implants over a 20 year period and he can refer you to the finest implant surgeons in the St. Louis area.
The surgeon will assess your oral anatomy to be certain you are a good candidate for a successful implant result. The bone in the area where the implant is to be placed must be wide enough, tall enough and dense enough to support the implant. Analysis of each prospective implant patient is critical and may involve special x-rays. Be sure to discuss fees with the implant surgeon so you have an accurate picture of your total financial obligation.
The surgical procedure is typically carried out in two stages. The first is the placement of the implants. At stage two, from 1-4 months later, the surgeon will check for successful integration. This means the surgeon will check the implant(s) and make sure they are fused properly and fully healed. Then you will be released back to Dr. Boyle to begin the restoration of your implants. The restoration phase can take an additional 1-2 months depending on the number and location of the implants involved, complexity of the case, condition of the supporting bone, and type of restoration planned for the implants.
Dental implants offer us options never before possible in tooth replacement. Dr. Boyle has treated hundreds of dental implant patients who all say two things repeatedly; "It was much easier than expected and “It feels like I grew my teeth back."
Please see our Smile Gallery for un-retouched photographs of some of Dr. Boyle’s implant cases.
For more information regarding dental implants, read our article or frequently asked questions. You can also contact us to set up a confidential consultation to see if dental implants are right for you. Please call 636.537.0065 or send us an email.
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