Procedures

• Dental Implants
• Bridges
• Bone Grafting
• Wisdom Teeth
• Impacted Canines
• Facial Trauma
• Jaw Surgery
• Oral Pathology
• TMJ Disorders
• Consent for Surgery Videos

Dental Implants

Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for the replacement of teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. The person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.

Once you learn about dental implants, you finally realize there is a way to improve your life. When you lose several teeth – whether it’s a new situation or something you have lived with for years – chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself.

Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind.

What are Dental Implants?

The implants themselves are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into the jawbone.  These dental implants restore the root of the tooth where teeth are missing. The bone bonds within the titanium post after 3-4 months, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. After the 3-4 months a small post is then placed on the implant which requires no numbing medicine.  This post provides a stable anchor for your dentist to place a crown.  Your dental implant now acts and functions like a natural tooth.

Implants also help preserve facial structure, preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.

SUCCESS RATE OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

About 97% and longevity is lifetime. The failure of an implant may be due to infection, diabeties, osteopenia, osteoporosis but especially smoking. Even though a dental implant fails it does not mean that you are no longer are a candidate for them.

The Surgical Procedure

For majority of Dr. Cardenas’ patients, the placement of dental implants involves one surgical procedure. However, in rare cases two surgical procedures may be indicated. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are beneath the surface of the gums gradually bonding within the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. At the same time, your dentist is forming new replacement teeth.

After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Dr. Cardenas will uncover the implants and attach small posts, which will act as anchors for the artificial teeth. These posts are visible near the gums. When the artificial teeth are placed, these posts will not be seen. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Majority of Dr. Cardenas’ patient experience 1-2 days of discomfort however, most patients experience less than 1 week of disruption in their daily life.

Surgical Advances

Using the most recent advances in dental implant technology, Dr. Cardenas is able to place single stage implants which he prefers. These implants do not require a second procedure to uncover them, but do require a minimum of 8 weeks of healing time before artificial teeth are placed. There are even situations where the implants can be placed at the same time as a tooth extraction - further minimizing the number of surgical procedures. Advances in dental implant technology have made it possible, in select cases, to extract teeth and place implants with crowns at one visit. This procedure, called “immediate loading,” greatly simplifies the surgical process but, not all are candidates for this..

Who actually performs the implant placement?

While Dr. Cardenas performs the actual implant surgery, and initial tooth extractions and bone grafting if necessary, the restorative dentist (your dentist) fits and makes the permanent prosthesis. Your dentist will also make any temporary prosthesis needed during the implant process.

What types of prostheses are available?

A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant. A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more teeth and may require only two or three implants. A complete dental prosthesis (fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended. A removable prosthesis (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachments, whereas a fixed prosthesis is permanent and removable only by the dentist.

Dr. Cardenas performs in-office implant surgery in a hospital-style operating suite, thus optimizing the level of sterility. Inpatient hospital implant surgery is for patients who have special medical or anesthetic needs or for those who need extensive bone grafting from the jaw, hip or tibia.

Why would you select dental implants over more traditional types of restorations?

You must first know that Enamel is the hardest substance in your body until decay sets in. Why sacrifice the structure of surrounding good teeth to bridge a space? What is a bridge?

In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night may be inconvenient, not to mention that dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and rather embarrassing.

What type of anesthesia is used?

The majority of dental implants and bone graft can be performed in Dr. Cardenas' office under local anesthesia, with or without light or deep sedation.

Do Implants need special care?

Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists.

Teeth-In-An-Hour™

TEETH-IN-AN-HOUR™ is a revolutionary concept providing patients with fully functioning teeth on dental implants in one single procedure that lasts about an hour. However, not everyone is a candidate for this procedure. This technology was recently developed by Nobel Biocare and allows for collaboration between both the restorative dentist and the oral surgeon. This merging of knowledge and experience achieves not only increased safety, but also a more precise implant placement. In addition, the fabrication of a final prosthesis is completed prior to the surgery. The computer-guided implant surgery is done in an arthroscopic fashion without requiring any flap reflection. This benefits the patient in that there is less postoperative discomfort, less swelling and less bruising. Patients can often resume their normal activities the next day.

The process starts when a CAT scan is taken of the patient's jawbone. This CAT scan allows for the generation of a three-dimensional model of the jawbone that can then be used in virtual reality software to plan the implant placement without the presence of the patient. The results are more accurate implant placement, and less chair time for the patient at the surgery office.