Dental Implant Restoration in Chapel Hill

If you are considering dental implants to replace missing or damaged teeth, understanding the collaborative nature of the process is crucial. Dental implants are a joint effort between an oral surgeon and the restoration dentist. The oral surgeon places the implants in the jawbone during outpatient surgery, usually performed in the oral surgeon’s office. After 3-6 months, the implants fuse with the jawbone, and the gums heal.

Studio G’s prosthodontists work closely with oral surgeons to custom-design and fabricate the restorations that are then attached to the implants. These prosthetic restorations may be crowns, bridges, or a full arch of replacement teeth. We work closely with your oral surgeon to ensure a successful restoration, yielding beautiful and long-lasting results.

The Importance of Proper Restoration

The prosthodontists at Studio G are uniquely qualified to design and create dental restorations. With advanced training in dental prosthetics, they can design, fit, and customize restorations that look natural and function seamlessly. Their expertise extends beyond aesthetics; they are trained to balance the bite, account for jaw movements, and select the appropriate type of implants for each patient’s specific needs.

Instead of focusing solely on replacing the missing tooth, we consider the entire oral system, including how teeth, gums, and bone interact. This allows us to create implant restorations that seamlessly blend with your natural teeth while promoting long-term oral health. Choosing us for implant restorations ensures the highest standard of care, combining function, comfort, and aesthetics to achieve a lasting, healthy smile.

Evaluation for Dental Implants

If, like many others, you feel implant dentistry is the right option for you, consulting an oral surgeon who specializes in placing dental implants is the first step. They will evaluate your health history and conduct an oral examination to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. If you are, the next step is an appointment with our office to discuss your implant restoration needs. Throughout the process, we will collaborate with your oral surgeon to determine the most suitable type of implants and restorations for your specific needs. Your questions and concerns are important to us, and our team will work closely with you to help ensure the success of your procedure.

Dental Implant Procedure

Your oral surgeon may perform implant placement in one or two procedures, depending on the type of implants used. We can provide a temporary crown or bridge to wear over the implants. At the same time, they fuse with the surrounding bone, so you don’t have to go without teeth while your permanent restorations are being made in our dental lab. While the implants heal, you will follow a soft diet and adhere closely to your oral surgeon’s instructions. During this time, we will design your restoration, which could be a crown, permanent bridge, or fixed denture.

Creating Implant Restorations

The first step in creating your restoration is taking an imprint of your mouth so we can design a crown, bridge, or full arch of replacement teeth that will look, feel, and function like your natural teeth. Types of dental implant restorations we can create include:

• Implant Crown: When a single tooth is replaced, an individually made crown is attached directly to an implant that mimics the missing tooth root.
• Implant Bridge: If several teeth in a row are missing, we create an implant bridge that attaches to two implants located on either end of the section of missing teeth.
• Snap-On Denture: A snap-on restoration is created much like a denture but is designed to fasten onto bars, balls, or clips on the top of the implants, eliminating the need for individual implants. Snap-on dentures can be removed for cleaning and when sleeping, but are more stable and less bulky than traditional dentures.
• Fixed prosthetic: A permanent denture, bridge, or full arch of replacement teeth is designed to replace the missing teeth permanently. It does not have to be removed and is cared for like natural teeth. When the prosthetic is attached to the implants using an abutment (usually a slender pin that fits into the center of the implant), the prosthetic looks and feels like natural teeth.

We will take the initial impression soon after your dental implants are placed. The impression will be used to design your crown, bridge, or a full arch of replacement teeth while you are healing from implant surgery. Once the area is sufficiently healed, you will return to our office to have the restorations attached to the implants. If any part of the restoration requires adjustment or trimming for an ideal fit, these changes can be made in our office. When finished, you will leave with a lovely, functional smile.

We work regularly with oral surgeons in Chapel Hill and the surrounding areas. If you are interested in custom dental restorations for your dental implants, please get in touch with our office at Studio G Aesthetic & Family Dentistry Phone Number 919-942-7163 to schedule a consultation.