Dental Implants

Dental implants are a common dental procedure known for treating tooth loss as a result of tooth decay, gingivitis or injury. Over time the health of our teeth may decline due to many outside factors. Frequent coffee or wine drinking and severe tooth decay contribute to the aesthetic deterioration of tooth structures. These implants provide a stable foundation or root for permanent and temporary replacement teeth. Dental implant treatments offer convenient and affordable solutions.

Benefits of Dental Implant Treatments

There are many benefits to choosing the dental implant method for your dental repairs and restoration. Dental implants keep your healthy teeth healthy! One of the drawbacks of dental bridges is the common practice of altering the teeth surrounding the space of the missing tooth or teeth. This can cause damage to the neighboring healthy teeth. Dental implants offer a less intrusive solution. Dental implants are installed without impacting your healthy teeth at all. They also prevent healthy teeth from shifting into the open space left by the missing tooth, responding as a spacer with aesthetic benefits. Dental implants are a reliable treatment. They are highly noted for their consistent reliability above other restoration solutions. They produce increased predictable results and measures of success over many other repair methods. Each method presents a unique approach to restoration. Over the years, dental implants have become increasingly popular due to the long-term success they offer patients. Implants are time tested. Dental implants offer patients durable long-term solutions. Traditional restoration methods have dependable life spans with proper care ranging from seven to ten years but properly placed and maintained implants can last a lifetime with limited adjustments required. This is a huge benefit saving you time and money!

Learn more about the benefits of dental implants during your free consultation with Dr. McCauley including complimentary x-ray exams.

Conventional Dental Implants - The Benefits

With millions of Americans suffering from tooth loss as a result of gingivitis, injury and tooth decay each year dental implants are great tooth root replacements. Over the years studies have shown that dental implants provide a strong foundation for permanent and removable replacement teeth. The science and design of dental implants has greatly improved. Modern implant molds are made to match your natural teeth. Implementing new approaches to your dental health routine is crucial for the successful transition into life with your new implants. After receiving dental implants people have been known for not only improving the appearance of your smile but more importantly improving one's self esteem.

Dental Implants are substitutes for teeth and they are today's best alternative to your/ natural teeth. They offer you a permanent or secure solution for replacing one or more teeth. They are made of biocompatible materials, just the same as hip implants or similar orthopedic devices, and function as anchors or support for traditional forms of dentistry, such as crowns, bridges or dentures.

Many of our patients will tell you that implants have changed not only their smiles and their overall appearance, but also even their lives! There are numerous other reasons to choose dental implants:

• Esthetically, they support teeth that look like real teeth. Functionally, dental implants feel and act like real teeth.
• Implants eliminate the need for distasteful adhesives. There is no longer a need to use "glue" when your prosthesis is anchored to implants.
• Implants can actually improve the taste of food. With less plastic covering the roof of your mouth, you can enjoy natural flavors and sensations again.
• Lastly, implants can help maintain your bone structure and support your facial tissues. They can reduce or eliminate bone atrophy, which causes "shrinkage" or facial cosmetic changes.

Most people should be able to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery can be considered for dental implants. It is important for the patient to have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. Also, the patient must be committed to good oral hygiene and should get regular cleanings at the dentist. Dental implants aren’t for everyone. If you’re a smoker, suffer from a chronic disorder like diabetes or heart disease you will have to be evaluated to see if treatment is right for you.

There are many benefits to dental implants. Dr. McCauley is committed to performing an in-depth consultation with you to evaluate your specific dentistry needs. We can sit down with you to discuss your options.

Mini Dental Implants

What Are Mini Dental Implants?

Mini dental implants are ultra-small diameter (l.8 millimeter width), biocompatible titanium alloy implant screws, conceived and designed over 20 years ago by a dentist, Victor I. Sendax, DDS. Dr. Sendax originally created the unique design of this unique dental product as a transitional device to help support fixed bridge replacements for lost teeth. His novel theory was that mini implants could function free standing by themselves or in combination with natural tooth supports and/or larger conventional type dental implants. This was a revolutionary concept in dental science.

When can Mini Dental Implants be used?

When critically needed for support purposes, and where solid bony adaptation (integration) has clearly occurred, mini implants can function as long-term supporting structures rather than as short-term or medium term devices. In fact, some have been successfully functioning in patients´ jaws for several decades. In the past several years, some clinicians have been utilizing MDI´s for single tooth replacements and in crown and bridge cases.

The most effective use of this unique dental product is stabilization of a lower denture.

What´s the primary and most effective use for Mini Dental Implants?

There are approximately 50,000,000 people in the United States who are edentulous" (literally meaning lacking teeth) who struggle daily with prosthetic devices. A majority suffer a great deal of discomfort as a result of loose or ill-fitting dentures. Many denture wearers simply withdraw from any type of social engagement as a result of being compelled to wear them. Moreover, it´s not uncommon for family members to complain about a denture wearer's disagreeable breath as a result of food being trapped and decaying under their denture prosthesis. Successful placement of the Mini Dental Implant addresses and solves all of these social and practical problems. Denture patients all over the world have experienced relief from loos or fill-fitting dentures from doctors who are trained to place the MDI. Uniquely, the MDI can be utilized to stablilze a denture in a couple of hours by a trained doctor, with the patient leaving the clinic with a stabilized prosthesis.

Mini dental implants and traditional implants utilize the same technique to amalgamate with the bone. While sharing these foundational similarities the obvious difference between the two methods is the actual size of the implant itself. Conventional implants can range from 3.7mm in span or higher. Mini implants are normally smaller than 3.0mm in diameter. This unconventional size allows the procedure to be completed faster, reduces the amount of drilling needed and the postoperative discomfort normally experienced by patients.

What is the Mini Dental Implant procedure?

Mini dental implants are growing in popularity because of the accelerated time reduced for each procedure and the elimination of surgery. The overall procedure time normally equates to one hour. Your dentist will employ the use of several planning tools to aid him/her in choosing the best place to install the implants. The patient will receive an anesthetic, and a small hole is drilled in the assigned jawbone for the mini dental implants. The implants are tightened into place with a dental tool called a winged wrench. As a final attempt to secure the implant, a ratchet wrench is also used to tighten the implant. The denture is measured and modified according to the placement of the implants. The denture is attached to the mini dental implants with circular shaped rubber placeholders, which give the dentures the perfect fit on the gum tissue. The mini dental implant procedure is highly effective and provides a secure fit for the remainder of the patient's lifetime. Even with its advantages, the mini dental implant procedure should be recommended by an experienced cosmetic dentist. A knowledgeable dentist will be able to analyze the best dental implant method for each patient’s specific dental needs.

At McCauley Dental, we specialize in cosmetic dentistry and oral surgery. Dr. McCauley is highly experienced in the preparation, procedures and post-operative care for mini dental implants. He will conduct an in-depth consultation, free of charge, to evaluate your dental health and recommend the best dental treatment. Our consultations also include complimentary dental x-rays. Call (561) 272-8555 to schedule your consultation with Dr. McCauley.

Dental Implant Frequently Asked Questions