DENTAL IMPLANTS
Dental Implants
Dental implants are small metal posts that are inserted into the jaw to replace lost tooth roots making them intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. As a board certified periodontist, Dr. von Lackum is the dental expert who specialize in precisely these areas of the mouth. She is the ideal member of your comprehensive dental team for implant placement. Dr. von Lackum will collaborate with your general dentist to create a personalized treatment plan to provide a lifetime of unparalleled support for dental implant. To learn more about the benefits of choosing Dr. von Lackum as your implant surgeon, contact Modern Periodontics today.
Candidates for Dental Implants
There are many factors that are taken into consideration for ideal dental implant placement. First, in order to qualify for dental implants you must have a sufficient amount of healthy jawbone to support the embedded posts. Using cone beam computerized tomography (CT) scans, we can create a three-dimensional view of your jaw to evaluate your candidacy and identify the best locations for your implants. If we find that you lack the necessary jawbone density for treatment, Dr. von Lackum can perform a bone grafting or sinus augmentation procedure to restore strength to the area. Additional, the ideal candidate is in good general and oral health, has healthy gum tissues, is a non-smoker.
Planning Your Procedure
Your dental implant treatment plan will be custom-tailored based on your unique needs. During your implant consultation with Dr. von Lackum, she will discuss your goals for treatment and your budget. Furthermore, she will also review the types of implants we offer.
Before your treatment ever begins, Dr. von Lackum will take a CBCT scan and digital intra-oral impression. She then uses advanced software to perform what is known as "virtual surgery," helping her plan your implant placement procedure with exceptional accuracy. Once the surgery is planned virtually, a surgical implant guide is 3D printed which is used during the implant surgery. One of the main advantages of utilizing a surgical guide is to increase accuracy and consistent optimal implant placement. Additionally, it reduces time during the surgical appointment, reduces trauma, pain, and swelling for patients and leads to a shorter recovery time.
Implant Placement and Restoration
When you arrive at our practice for implant placement surgery, Dr. von Lackum numb the area before placing the surgical implant guide. Next, using the guide she will place a single post, called the body of the implant, into the jaw to replace the missing root of the tooth. A cover screw is placed in the implant body and then a radiograph is made to ensure the accuracy of placement of the implant.
The implant will be left to heal for an extended period of time. Implants can heal in as little as eight weeks, while traditional types are typically left to heal for four to six months. We can provide or work with your dentist to provide a temporary restoration for you to wear during this time. After the implants have integrated with the jawbone, you will return to our office to have an abutment placed, which is a connector that rests above the gum line.
To ensure that your implant-supported restoration matches your smile, Dr. von Lackum will work closely with your restorative dentist to ensure implant crown will blend flawlessly with your smile. Once your permanent crown is placed by your dentist, we will check the health of the implant restoration and its relationship with your opposing teeth. We recommend an annual examination of your dental implants by Dr. von Lackum for a lifetime of oral health.
Schedule a Dental Implant Consultation
After undergoing a dental implant procedure at Modern Periodontics, you can enjoy a smile with renewed strength and aesthetic appeal. Contact our practice today to schedule your dental implants consultation at 859-269-0070.
