What are dental implants?

Dental Implant Diagram

A dental implant interface is actually comprised of three separate parts – implant, abutment, and the implant crown. The implant is a small post made of titanium that replaces the root of a tooth. The abutment acts like a prepared tooth that is ready for a crown. A crown is then placed on the abutment as the final restoration to act like a complete tooth.

Dental implants can act to replace one tooth or several missing teeth. They can also be used to support dental fixed bridges and even dentures.

Most people don’t know that when you lose a tooth you lose 50% of your bone in the first 2 years. When there is no root, there is no stimulus in the bone when chewing. This causes your bone to go away. This is also why dentures only last a few years. There is no bone! When you place implants and attach restorations (either crowns or dentures), chewing sends feeling into the bone and prevents the bone from going away.

Once your implant is placed, we allow it to heal and your body to accept the implant for about two to four months. Atlanta dentist Dr. Ronak Patel and his team will then make a mold and have a lab fabricate the crown and abutment specifically to your mouth. These are typically screwed in and cemented on.

Where do we place dental implants?

Most general dentists will refer their patients to either an oral surgeon or periodontist (gum specialist) to surgically place the tooth root aspect of the implant. At Heart of Vinings Dentistry, Dr. Patel has attended rigorous training courses to place dental implants for his patients right in our state-of-the-art office. He uses the most up to date treatment methods and technology to ensure your procedure is done correctly and accurately. Another great benefit is that our fees are quite a bit lower than what a specialist would charge. We also utilize your medical insurance to help with your out of pocket costs.

What kind of technology?

Dental Implant CT Scan

Dr. Ronak Patel utilizes 3D CAT scans for diagnosis and treatment planning. This scan allows Dr. Patel to digitally perform your surgery before even touching the mouth. Advantages of this technology are:

  • Allows us to three-dimensionally map out critical landmarks, such as nerves and sinuses, to stay away from during the procedure.
  • Allows us to examine the quality of the patient’s bone. This allows us to plan if we need to prepare your implant site with more bone before placing your implant.
  • Allows us to create a custom surgical guide for dental implant placement in areas where there are critical landmarks we want to avoid.

Connect With Us

We’d love to meet you. Call (678) 355-8980 or request an appointment online to set up your first visit. We’ll be in touch soon.