Who can benefit from Implant Dentistry?

Anyone who has lost one or more teeth can have dental implants. The only limiting factor is that there must be sufficient bone to place the dental implant. However, with modern bone grafting procedures this is almost never an issue. Also, even if you have lost all of your teeth Dr. Nugent can have you eating like you have never imagined.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a small titanium cylinder that is placed into the jaw bone. There the bone fuses to the implant in a process called Osseointegration. One the titanium implant has integrated into the jaw bone the implant can be restored.

An abutment is screwed into the implant and serves as the base for a porcelain crown. Furthermore, special abutments can be used to secure implant dentures.

Are Dental Implants safe?

There is over thirty years of clinical research showing that implant treatment is both safe and reliable, even in medically compromised or elderly patients. Age is not a discrimination factor to implant dentistry. Dr. Nugent has completed a dental implant in a 97 year old patient.

Does Dental Implant surgery hurt?

This is the most commonly asked question about the procedure. The placement of the implant is done with conventional local anesthesia. Therefore, the patient feels no pain. Some of Dr. Nugent’s patient opt to use Sedation Dentistry to help calm them during the implant surgery. There is minor discomfort after the surgery. However, almost all of this post surgery discomfort is taken care of by over the counter Advil. With very few exceptions, Dr. Nugent finds that most patients remark that the surgery was much easier than they expected.

Dental implants are the most predictable, long term option available and are by far the greatest change in reconstructive and cosmetic dentistry to date.