Description
A dental implant is a small titanium post that is placed directly into the jaw bone to serve as an artificial tooth root. Atop this post, a dental prosthetic - such as a crown, bridge, or denture - can be secured to serve as the artificial tooth. Quite simply, dental implants provide the most stable, long-lasting, and durable solution for missing or severely damaged and decayed teeth.
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Dr. Collier: Simply stated, an implant is a titanium prosthetic tooth root.
The implant itself is surgically placed within the patient's bone, and
allowed an appropriate time to heal, which is usually about 12 to 16 weeks.
Once the implant has integrated to the bone, an abutment is placed. The
abutment is the part of the implant that supports the final prosthesis.
Different styles of abutments may be used, depending on whether we're
replacing one or multiple teeth. At this time the patient is ready to
proceed with their final prosthesis, either performed by us, or by the
referring dentist. The implant recovery time is usually quick, easy, and
relatively painless.
A: The recovery was amazing. I had a procedure on a Tuesday afternoon. I
was back at work on Wednesday. And unless I shared with people that I had
had the procedure, nobody would have ever known. I felt great. I was able
to operate as normal. And so that whole piece of the experience was really
quick, painless, and easy.
B: I feel good. I feel like now I can smile, and I don't have to do a half
a smile.
C: I have a daughter who's getting married in December. So, I'm so excited
that I'll actually smile. She's laughed because she's like, mom, I've never
seen you smile so much. You always want to go, OK, I'll just stand here and
go, with your mouth closed, but fake smile, kind of things. It's been an
unbelievable experience. It really has.
D: In the past, I would talk with my lip down so my teeth wouldn't show. So
now I'm able to smile and articulate with people and talk to them now in
the way that I used to do years and years ago. So he gave me my smile back,
and my confidence back to communicate with people.
E: I've had two implants done here at Southern Dental. And, of course, if I
have any more done, I will be coming back here. You want to continue doing
business where things have proven to be good. And if you can say that
dental work is good, I can say this was good.
F: I don't worry about it being where it will come out, or anything.
Because I feel like it's very strong. It's very good.
G: And now, as you can see, I'm totally fine. Everything is great. I'm
talking fine. I can eat whatever I want. It's just been great.
B: He always makes sure that when I'm home that I'm feeling well, that I'm
feeling good, He checks on me.
G: Dr. Collier was very good with follow up. He actually called me the same
day as my procedure, which I'm not used to at all. I was shocked. And I was
like, oh, wow.
E: That was above and beyond. Probably within 48 hours, he had called me,
called me personally, after hours. Very few people work after hours. But he
was calling me to see how I was doing, if I had any problems, any
difficulties, any discomfort, just to be sure that everything was just
exactly right.