Dental Implants

The implant post is the first part of a dental implant added to the smile, serving as an artificial root. Dr. Jobst surgically places the implant post, which supports the rest of the restoration; he can also provide bone grafting and sinus lift procedures to add bone material where it's needed to fully support the post's placement. Once situated, the implant post fuses into the jawbone over a healing period — the titanium has a natural ability to integrate into bone tissue in a process called osseointegration, which is why the post can serve effectively as an artificial tooth root.

After the post finishes fusing into the jawbone, Dr. Jobst adds the visible restoration — a crown or bridge responsible for both the appearance of the smile and your ability to chew. Dr. Jobst uses porcelain, the standard crown restoration material, because it matches the color, sheen, and feel of natural teeth while remaining strong enough for daily use.

For qualifying patients, we can extract a tooth and place the implant post within the same appointment. Adding an implant right after a tooth is removed helps prevent shrinking of the jawbone and can reduce the need for bone grafting or a sinus lift. After placement, a temporary restoration protects the site while it heals. Once the post has fully integrated into the jaw, your permanent restoration replaces the temporary.

Patients missing most or all of their teeth in an arch may be candidates for implant-supported dentures, sometimes called All-on-4 — using several strategically placed implants to anchor a full arch of replacement teeth that look and feel more natural and stay securely in place at all times.

Grand Lake Dental helps restore missing teeth through the use of dental implants. For more information, call our practice today and schedule your next appointment.