Dental Implants in Comox – Courtenay

Dental Implants

Dr. Phil Nasralla and his dedicated team provide general dentistry services, including dental implants, at our Comox Valley location. There can be several reasons for tooth loss or irreversible tooth damage. However, you don't have to sacrifice your quality of life with missing or damaged teeth. Dental implants can restore the appearance of your smile and improve your comfort so you can go about your daily life.

We aim to provide a luxurious environment at our clinic where you feel empowered to discuss your concerns. When you visit us, you'll notice that we take the time to assess your dental history and requirements to recommend the best potential course of action.

Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to learn more about dental implants in Comox - Courtenay.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root used to support restorations by replacing one or more teeth with crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Treatment planning for implants typically involves a CAT scan of the jaw (3-D x-ray imaging), a review of one's medical history, digital photos, and impressions of the teeth.

Uncomplicated procedures are performed with local anesthetic in a relatively quick, clean, nonsurgical manner that is virtually pain-free.

The success rate of implants, when followed over a 10-year study, averaged 85-95%.

Contraindications for implants may include:

Smoking
Severe gum disease
Uncontrolled diabetes
Severe clenching and grinding
The use of Bisphosphonate drugs (which delay bone healing and cause implant failures)

If you are interested in dental implants, please contact us to book a consultation with a dentist.

The History of Dental Implants

The earliest example of dental implants (seashells) have been found in Mayan jawbones dating circa 600 A.D. However modern implant dentistry is credited to Dr. Branemark, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon who in the 1950's was conducting research on rabbits. One day he observed that titanium metal placed in the bone was not easily retrieved and consequently the bone had grown and adhered to the titanium surfaces (osseointegration). Dr. Branemark carried out further studies both in animal and human subjects and confirmed this phenomenon of osseointegration with regular consistency. In the past 40 years over 7 million Branemark-type dental implants have been placed in people around the world.

Types of Dental Implants

Dental implants are an effective treatment for tooth loss. They closely mimic the look and feel of natural teeth and can last for years. There are two primary types of dental implants and two primary types of procedures.

The two types of dental implants are:

Endosteal: We anchor an endosteal implant shaped like a screw into your jawbone to function as a natural tooth root. This method is preferable because it addresses the problem of bone loss and shifting in the teeth adjacent to the missing one. The endosteal implant in the missing tooth root will maintain the jawbone and your face's structure.

Subperiosteal: Subperiosteal implants are similar to endosteal implants, but dentists anchor them on the jawbone or under the gum tissue. This treatment is generally for clients who don't have healthy jawbones to support an implant. Another alternative to address the problem of a lack of healthy jawbone is bone augmentation.

Implant Procedure: What to Expect

The two main types of procedures for dental implants are:

Single-stage: As the name suggests, a single-stage procedure requires only one appointment. We will put the longer implant into your jaw in a way that exposes the top of the implant. After that, we will place the connector and the crowns over the exposed part of the implant. This procedure is generally for those with bone loss or special needs.
Two-stage: his procedure requires at least two surgeries and takes longer than single-stage implants. In the first phase, we will put the base of the implant into your jawbone and then wait for the area to heal. After the healing period, which can take a few months, we will expose the implant's base to attach the connector and the crown. This procedure might be more complex, but it helps create a strong base.

Would you like to learn more about which type of implant and procedure is suitable for you? Please contact our team. We'll be happy to schedule a consultation to review your history, and discuss your potential treatment options.

Speak With a Dentist to Learn if You’re a Good Candidate

There can be several reasons for missing or damaged teeth. Whether a patient has lost their tooth due to disease or injury, dental implants may be the right choice. The ideal candidate for dental implants should:

Have decent all-around oral health
Not have periodontitis
Have adequately healthy gum tissue
Have enough bone density to anchor the implant

The only way to know whether you will be a good candidate for a dental implant is to schedule a consultation with us.

The Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants have the following potential benefits:

Prevention of bone loss: Losing teeth means losing bone mass in the jaw. The jawbone requires the stimulation it receives from the tooth connected to it. Dental implants replace this function of natural teeth, providing your jawbone with stimulation and preventing bone loss.
Restoration of appearance: Dental implants very closely replicate the look of natural teeth. They come in numerous colours and shapes, allowing us to provide you with dental implants resembling adjacent teeth.

Restoration of bite force: Dental implants are anchored into your jaw with a titanium post replacing the tooth root. This allows you to bite with the same force as you would with your natural teeth.
Prevention of changes to facial shape: Your existing teeth support your face's structure and losing teeth causes changes to it. Dental implants will provide adequate support to your facial structure.
Maintaining natural speech: Tooth loss can affect your ability to speak. Dental implants feel like natural teeth, allowing for natural speech.
No slippage: Dentures can sometimes move and slip while speaking or eating. Implants will never cause this problem because we permanently anchor them in place.