Boulder, CO Dental Implants

Dr. Rathburn has been placing dental implants here in Boulder, CO since 1991 and marvels at the benefits his patients gain on a regular basis.

Dental implants are becoming more popular in today's dental practices for a number of reasons. Implants are utilized to offer patients a sound foundation for new prosthetic teeth where natural teeth are missing. The implant offers a patient the opportunity to regain normal function of the teeth without being forced to resort to a bridge or a denture. Research has confirmed implants to be predictable and a viable treatment option.

The patient below was happy she did not have to involve the adjacent teeth in a bridge (ie. cutting the teeth down so the bridge can fit over the top). The result appears quite natural.

Benefits of Dental Implants

• The implant will osseointegrate (bond) with the existing bone.
• The new implant will support your teeth firmly and safely.
• Your new implants are aesthetically pleasing.
• You will no longer have to damage adjacent teeth for a bridge.
• The dental implant will prevent progressive bone atrophy.
• Implants have a proven scientific basis, and highly predictable.

Below is an image of the implant, abutment and crown in place:

Procedure
A tooth has two main sections, the root and the crown. The root is the section of the tooth that is below the gumline, and a dental implant acts as the root. The first step of the procedure is surgical placement of the implant. Under regular dental anesthetic or IV sedation, the gum tissue is opened and the implant is placed into the jawbone. When this is accomplished, the tissue is then sutured closed. Often times there is little discomfort associated with this procedure. This process can take anywhere from 20 minutes to 3 hours, depending on the number of implants being placed.

Implants are left submerged for a period of 3-6 months. During this time, the bone will grow around the implant in a process called osseointegration. A temporary crown may be utilized during this time period to allow for chewing and to preserve the cosmetic appearance. In some circumstances the submerged healing step can be avoided and the abutment is placed thru the gums.

The next step in the process is to uncover the implant and attach an abutment. This is achieved by exposing the top of the implant and then placing the abutment. This is the part of the implant that will support the final crown. Finally, after the gums heal, an impression is taken of the implant and a final restoration is crafted. This restoration will be comfortable and cosmetically pleasing. The completed implant will be fully functional, allowing the patient to resume normal activities.