Dental Implants
The Permanent Solution for Tooth Loss
Wouldn't you like to eat a sandwich knowing your partial or full denture won't slip? Go to sleep each night without removing your teeth? Replace a single tooth without needing bridge? Smile with confidence? Then dental implants may be the solution for you.
Dr. Hanneman and Dr. Dustrude successfully perform dental implants, enabling people to eat, smile, and speak without worrying about dentures slipping or gaps showing from missing teeth.
Whether you're missing one or all of your teeth, you may find that dental implants give you comfort and confidence again. Patients who have undergone this procedure are among the most satisfied of all dental patients.
When Teeth Are Missing
Several problems can occur when you're missing teeth:
- Discomfort - Many people find that their partial or full denture is uncomfortable and rubs against their gums, even to the point where they are unable to wear their denture.
- Embarrassment - Gaps where teeth never grew in or were removed can be embarrassing. Yet many people don't want to have healthy teeth filed down to support bridgework.
- Loose Dentures - Many people wear dentures to replace teeth removed due to gum disease or tooth decay. Eventually, dentures may slip out in public or become painful. Loose dentures also destroy valuable bone in your jaws.
- Malocclusion - When teeth are missing, drift causing a multitude of clinical problems.
- Bone Loss - After teeth are removed, (unless replaced with implants) the body will absorb valuable bone in that region.
"Implant dentistry has been a life-changing experience for many of my patients. Dental implants are so natural-looking and feeling; you may forget you ever lost a tooth."Michael Hanneman, D.D.S.
Your Dental Evaluation and Process
After a thorough workup, Phase I is performed, which is the surgical
placement where Dr. Hanneman and Dr. Dustrude, working with area
surgeons, place the implants into the remaining bone of your jaw.
In certain cases, bone grafting is necessary. After a 4-6 month
healing process, the implants are uncovered and Phase II, the restorative
phase begins. The entire process can take 6-12 months to complete.
In some cases, the completion time can be much shorter and your
crown can be completed in a much shorter time frame.
Caring For Your New Teeth
To keep your implants clean and problem free, you'll need routine dental checkups and pay extra attention to your oral hygiene. Your new investment requires extra care.
There are many advantages to replacing missing teeth with implant retained crowns:
- Implants help preserve the bone where a tooth is missing
- Adjacent teeth need not be disturbed for implant placement
- Implant teeth can be flossed normally without using a threader
- Implants don't get cavities
- Implants are well tolerated by the surrounding gum tissue.
These photos show one way in which dental implants can be used to make your denture function similar to natural teeth. The "snaps" on the under side of the denture snap right over the bar assembly in the mouth, which is firmly attached to dental implants.
"In 1995, at the recommendation of Dr Hanneman, I had 4 dental implants put in my lower jaw. After they healed, Dr Hanneman fitted me for dentures both upper and lower. I have been very pleased with them, in fact, I love them! I can eat everything I couldn't before with ease, the implants make eating very enjoyable, I would recommend implants to anyone who needs dentures.
Through these years with checkups every six months, Dr. Hanneman makes sure they are still tight. He is an outstanding dentist, very personable, kind and considerate. His office staff is fantastic, very nice and friendly. Sandy, one of his dental hygienists, is just great! She makes my implant and dentures clean and look like new. I enjoy coming very much."
Jean H., Oshkosh
For more information on dental implants, please call us at (920) 233-6001 or contact us.