Dental Implants, Bone Grafting, Sinus Lift, Oral Surgery Hamilton ON

Although you have a number of restorative options for the treatment of missing teeth, none have proven to be as functionally effective and durable as implants. In many cases, dental implants may be the only logical choice for the restoration of all necessary functionality of the teeth and supporting structures.

What are Dental Implants ?

Dental implants replace missing roots and support false teeth, which can be set to the implant(s).

What Causes Tooth Loss ?

Teeth are lost because of:
°	Tooth decay
°	Root canal failure
°	Gum Disease
°	Trauma to the mouth
°	Excessive wear and tear
°	Inherited defects

What Happens if I Don’t Pursue Treatment ?

You will feel self-conscious when you smile or talk. Tooth loss will have a negative effect on your eating habits, which could lead to health problems like malnutrition.

Figure 1: Teeth Moving to Fill in Space Where Tooth is Missing.

Why Should I get Dental Implants ?

Dental Implants are stronger and more durable than bridges and dentures. Single implants can serve to support your crown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also support a dental bridge for replacement of multiple missing teeth.

How Do I get Dental Implants ?

The importance of this procedure is to create a functional and structural connection between your bone and the dental implant. This process is done through what is called Osseointegration, which anchors the root of the dental implant to your jaw bone.

Step 1:	The dental implant (a small metal post) will be placed in your mouth and allowed to anchor and heal to the jaw bone, which takes about 3 – 6 months.A temporary tooth will be placed in your mouth while your implant heals.
Step 2:	Once the implant has anchored to your jaw bone, the permanent false tooth can be placed over the implant.

*Osseointegration must be done or the implant will fail.

Are Dental Implants Successful ?

Studies have shown a 5-year success rate of 95% for lower jaw implants and 90% for upper jaw implants due to it being less dense than the lower jaw, making successful implantation and osseointegration potentially more difficult to achieve.

How do I Take Care of My Dental Implant ?

Because implants bond to your bone, false teeth attached to your implants look and act similar to natural teeth. However, implants do not have as much strength as natural teeth. When brushing and flossing your implants you must be very careful. Be gentle, and make sure you brush your entire implant(s).

Once a day, floss very carefully. You will need to be gentle with the floss where the implant meets your gum. A floss threader may be more useful for cleaning your implant.

Why do I need Bone Grafting?

Your jawbone is stimulated by your tooth roots; much like exercise stimulates your muscles. When you have missing teeth, your jawbone is no longer stimulated by the tooth roots, and it will shrink over time. When this occurs, there may not be sufficient bone required to place dental implants. Bone grafting is also used to repair supporting bone around your teeth that has been damaged by periodontal disease.

What is Bone Grafting?

Bone grafting is a procedure to rebuild bone in the bone deficient areas of your jaw. This allows for the placement of dental implants and for repair of the supporting bone around your teeth damaged by periodontal disease.

What does Bone Grafting Involve?

The bone used in the bone grafting procedure is either taken from your jaw, hip, or tibia (below the knee), or obtained from a tissue bank. Special membranes may be used to protect the bone graft and promote natural healing and bone growth – this is known as guided bone regeneration.

Figure 1: Bone Loss Due to Missing Teeth

Figure 3: Implants Placed After Bone Regeneration

What are the Benefits of Bone Grafting?

By regenerating bone tissue, patients who previously did not qualify for the placement of dental implants due to insufficient bone, can now become candidates for this tooth replacement procedure.

For patients affected by periodontal disease, bone grafting will repair the supporting bone around your teeth significantly improving your oral health. Bone grafting will also increase the stability and strength and increase the longevity of your natural teeth as they will now be supported by adequate bone in your jaw.

Overall, the functionality of your teeth and your esthetic appearance will dramatically improve.

Why do I need a Sinus Lift?

If you have lost bone in the upper back jaw due to tooth loss or periodontal disease, there may not be enough bone for the placement of dental implants.

A sinus lift (or sinus augmentation) can correct this issue by lifting the sinus floor and placing an adequate amount of substitute bone to make dental implant placement possible.

Figure 1: Implant Placed into Sinus Cavity

What is Involved in Getting a Sinus Lift?

In order to add bone to your upper jaw, between your jaw and the maxillary sinuses, the sinus membrane is lifted, and the bone is placed.

Figure 2: Sinus Cavity has Sunken Due to Bone Loss

Figure 3: Beneath Sinus Cavity is Filled With Material

As with bone grafting, the bone used in the sinus lift is either taken from your jaw, hip, or tibia (below the knee), or obtained from a tissue bank.

Figure 4: Implant Placed After Bone Development

After the sinus augmentation, the bone will integrate with your jaw. This takes anywhere from four to twelve months, depending on the type of bone material used and on your individual needs.

What are the Benefits of a Sinus Lift?

Patients with missing teeth or inadequate bone loss due to periodontal disease may not qualify for the placement of dental implants, and may have to resort to alternate teeth replacement options like loose and uncomfortable dentures.

Sinus lifts can provide such patients with adequate bone in the upper jaw for the placement of dental implants.