Single Tooth Implants

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, dental implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the dental implants are beneath the surface of the gums, gradually bonding (integrating) with the jawbone. You should be able to wear a removable prosthesis during this time. In certain, select cases, dental implants can be placed in a single surgical procedure.
After the dental implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. The dental implant will be uncovered and a tooth abutment will be connected to the implant. Dr. Apfel can then start making your new teeth. An impression will be taken. Then final implant abutments (posts) or attachments can be connected to the dental implants. The replacement teeth are then made over the posts or attachments by our prosthetic dental laboratory. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily lives.
 
 In select cases, the dental implant can be inserted and loaded with its abutment and temporary crown in a single surgical procedure. There are very specific requirements for achieving the best prognosis in these cases. We will assess whether you are a candidate for this “single stage” implant and discuss it with you. Please call the Huntington dental office of Dr. Apfel to see if dental implants are right for you.

Replacing a Single Front Tooth With an Implant

The thought of losing a front tooth can be very frightening. Happily, we can replace that tooth with an implant that supports an abutment with a very natural looking crown. However, for the replacement tooth to be most natural, the dental implant must be precisely placed at the right angle with the correct depth. In addition, the abutment needs to be custom fabricated and the crown, itself, must be fabricated with internal coloration with enough translucencies to match to the adjacent teeth.

This 37 year-old man presented to us with a fracture and infection of his maxillary central incisor failing. The tooth was replaced with a bone graft and a removable appliance which provided a temporary replacement tooth. A dental implant was inserted using a special CT Scan generated surgical guide so that it was placed at a precise depth and angulation. After waiting for the dental implant to integrate, his dentition was rejuvenated with the implant abutment and crown.

The female patient (below) had a fractured lower front tooth which required removal. A dental implant was inserted after the tooth was extracted. The patient’s extracted tooth was actually bonded in place temporarily while the dental implant was healing in her jaw bone.

After her dental implant had integrated with her jaw bone, a new porcelain crown was fabricated and secured to a “custom abutment”. This abutment is screwed tightly into the threads of the dental implant. Her new tooth will function just like a natural tooth, and has the added benefit of never being affected by dental decay.