Implant dentistry is the discipline concerned with replacing teeth lost to decay, disease or injury. Most commonly, if you lose a tooth for any reason, a dentist can replace the tooth by implanting a new, artificial tooth directly into the bone from which the old tooth was lost. Implant dentistry in its most modern form was developed by a Swedish professor named Per-Ingvar Brånemark in the early 1950s, and has been growing ever since.

Just a minute. Implant dentistry involves drilling into my bone? Won’t that hurt?

Implant dentistry hurts about as much as any anaesthetized dental procedure – that is, hardly at all. At Comprehensive Family Dentistry, Dr. Mark Weglos and his staff pride themselves on their implant dentistry – and on making sure the procedures are as painless as possible. Our patients will back us up on that – just take a look at our “testimonials” page.

How does implant dentistry work?

Implant dentistry makes use of osseointegrated implants – small, man-made titanium fixtures that replace the root portion of the missing tooth. Professor Brånemark discovered that titanium is more compatible with the human body than most metals, because the osteoblasts of our bones – the cells responsible for new bone formation – graft easily onto its rough surface. Implant dentistry works because bone grows easily around the implants.

What are the possibilities of implant dentistry?

Implant dentistry covers a range of possibilities. At Comprehensive, Dr. Weglos and his staff can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or even all of them, if necessary. If you’re missing more than one tooth, we might not be able to replace all of the roots, but we probably won’t need to. Implant-supported bridges and dentures can cover for a series of lost teeth.

Am I a good candidate for implant dentistry?

Determining who is eligible for implant dentistry must be done on a case-by-case basis, but most patients with missing teeth are good candidates. The procedure might be more complicated if you’re suffering from substantial bone loss, but Dr. Weglos and his staff can augment facial and jaw bone material that has worn away or been lost to trauma.

OK, I’m convinced. How do I get started?