Center for Implant and Reconstructive Dentistry

Dental Implants: Are They for Me?

By Thomas D. Taylor, D.D.S., M.S.D., and William R. Laney, D.M.D., M.S.

What Is a Dental Implant?

Click on images for detailed views.

When natural teeth are missing from the mouth, artificial substitutes to replace the root portion of teeth are put into the bone and gums of the mouth. Replacement teeth are then fixed onto these new roots. Dental implants allow people who are missing teeth to be able to smile, speak, and chew well and comfortably.

These pages will help you understand the benefits and risks involved with dental implants. Your dentist can give you complete information on your specific situation and help you decide if dental implants are for you.

• What Mouth Conditions Might Require a Dental Implant?
• What Are the Types of Implants?
• Who Should Place Implants?
• How Long Will Implants Last?

Are Dental Implants for Me?

Are you missing all natural teeth in one or both jaws?

Are you missing one or more teeth in a jaw?

Are you having difficulty wearing a regular removable denture because you gag, find the denture is too bulky, feel pain, or generally dislike something movable in the mouth?

Do you have an oral defect or missing mouth part because of an injury, surgery to treat disease, or birth defect?

If you answered yes to any of the above conditions or preferences, you may be a candidate for dental implants.

Your age generally will not prevent the placement or use of dental implants. However, pre-adolescent or very elderly persons may not be good candidates for treatment.

• Who Should Not Have Dental Implants?
• Are There Any Risks to My Health with Implant Treatment?
• Cost

What Is the Typical Course of Implant Treatment?

On the following pages, a description is given of how implants are placed in the mouth. The type of implant shown is the endosseous implant, because it is the most common and probably the most successful type of implant used today. Treatment for your individual situation may vary, and your dentist will discuss this with you.

• Timetable of a Typical Course of Implant Treatment
• Examination and Diagnosis
• Surgery
• Restorative Treatment
• Aftercare

All material is copyrighted by Quintessence Publishing Co., Inc. and reproduced with permission.