Preliminary Treatments at ART Dentistry
We offer a wealth of pre-dental implant procedures, including bone grafting & extraction.
What are Preliminary Treatments?
In order to enjoy the full potential of your dental implant, it’s important that your smile be as healthy as possible. However, for patients who have been missing teeth for a number of years or for individuals suffering from certain oral health conditions, the mouth may not be able to immediately support dental implants. During your consultation, Dr. Martin might determine that supplemental procedures are needed to help make you a candidate for dental implants.
Preliminary treatments are supplemental dental procedures used to treat any conditions that are keeping patients from receiving dental implants. This can include bone grafts for deteriorated jawbone tissue, sinus lifts for enlarged sinus cavities, and even gum disease therapy. As a full-service dental office, ART Dentistry offers a full range of preliminary treatments.
Bone Grafting
When teeth have been lost or missing for an extended period of time, the jaw bone begins to weaken and deteriorate during the process of resorption. As successful fixture placement requires sufficient bone density, our dentist will often recommend bone grafting for patients who’ve shown signs of resorption. During this procedure, we will take a small piece of tissue and attach it to the portion of your jawbone where the dental implant goes. Over the course of recovery, existing bone tissue grows around the new donor tissue, reinforcing the density of the bone. Once healing is complete, patients are ready for dental implant placement.
Sinus Augmentation
Missing teeth on the upper arch create a unique obstacle for dental implant placement. As the bone of the upper arch deteriorates, the sinus cavities enlarge. This weakens the amount of bone available for dental implant placement. To help patients qualify for treatment, Dr. Martin may perform sinus augmentation. This is a type of bone grafting procedure where bone is donated to the upper jaw to prepare the patient for implant placement.
Ridge Modification
Dental ridge augmentation is a bone grafting technique that refers to re-growing a damaged jaw bone so that it can accept a dental implant. In order to place a successful dental implant, the jaw bone needs to be of adequate volume and consistency. If the tooth has been missing for a long time, or the bone was lost as a result of an infection or trauma, then the bone volume is usually unable to support a dental implant.
Extraction
In order to effectively restore your smile, it may be necessary to remove some or all of your remaining teeth. Extractions are a pretty standard procedure that can help prepare you for implants by removing teeth that can or are causing problems and make your smile pretty and healthy once your implants are in place.
Gum Therapy
Gum therapy is the most effective way to treat gum disease. During gum therapy, Dr. Martin uses root planning and scaling to clean between the gums and teeth as well as the roots of compromised teeth. Dr. Martin and his team may need to use a local anesthetic to numb the gums and the roots of your teeth while the procedure is performed.
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Ask About Dental Implants Today
Qualifying for dental implants is possible even if you aren’t in perfect health. Dr. Martin can help plan a course of treatment to help prepare you for your implants and be on your way to a healthy smile for life. Contact us today for your complimentary consultation.