The first dental implant is credited to the Mayans in 600 BC! All over the world, medically-minded people were trying to find a solution for missing teeth. In Egypt, they used gold wire. In Rome, they used iron, but the Mayans were using seashells. Thankfully, the placement of dental implants has improved greatly since these rudimentary attempts.
In 1965, the first titanium dental implant was placed. Since then, the world of dentistry has been transformed! You can have a restoration that actually replaces the entire root of the tooth as well as the crown, adding stability and longevity to your tooth replacement.
Your teeth are held in place by your tooth roots. Those roots are connected to your jaw bone to create a solid foundation for chewing and speaking. In the past, the only option to replace a missing tooth was to use a bridge. A bridge is three crowns that are connected as one piece. In order to place it, a dentist would have to remove healthy enamel from the healthy teeth on either side of the gap. This would do damage to the healthy teeth and would allow for future problems down the road.
Now, there is a better solution with the use of a dental implant. Dr. Komarnyckyj is a board certified surgical specialist who focuses on dental implant placement. He will use a small titanium post and insert it into your jawbone as a replacement tooth root. Your general dentist will then work with you to create and place a permanent crown that will ultimately replace your missing tooth. The results are fantastic because it is truly the closest thing you can get to having a natural tooth.
You can see that a dental implant is great to replace one tooth, but what about multiple teeth? In the past, your dentist would have crafted a partial or full denture for you to pop into place each morning. Throughout the day, you would struggle to keep those false teeth in place. Your gums would be sore and uncomfortable. You would lose your self-confidence. The worst part about this is that most people who lose multiple or all of their teeth are still living this way!
Dental implants offer solutions for missing teeth. Whether you are missing a few teeth or all of your teeth, there is a dental implant solution. We can use implants to secure a bridge in place, or we can secure bridges all the way around your mouth in order to replace all of your teeth! We can also use dental implants to stabilize a denture so you can trust that your teeth will stay in place throughout the day!
At Dental Implants and Periodontology of Arizona, we offer several dental options to replace full arches of missing teeth. We offer All-on-4 and All-on-6 dental implant options, which are permanently secured in your mouth and cannot be removed. We also offer removable options, like implant-supported dentures and implant-retained dentures.
Maintain Your Youth – Your teeth play an important role in the way you look because your profile depends on your jawbone. However, when you lose teeth, your jawbone begins to lose mass, which leads to sunken cheeks and thin lips: signs of being old. Dental implants stimulate the jawbone so that it doesn’t lose mass after your natural teeth are gone, and you are left with your youthful look!
The Success Rate – Expertise in placement and implant brand are key to long term success. Dr. Komarnyckyj is very particular about implant brand! With these factors in mind, dental implants have a 96+% success rate. That’s a huge vote of confidence in this procedure. With great oral care, the percentage goes up to 98%!
Practically Pain-Free – With the ability to be completely numb, there is no reason to expect a dental implant procedure to hurt any more than any other procedure. Even after you go home, you can expect discomfort similar to having a cavity filled. If you feel nervous about your time in the office, we can offer dental sedation to help you feel more relaxed.
A Lifelong Solution – While a traditional bridge will last only 10-15 years, a dental implant will last for the rest of your life! You’ll never have to worry about replacing a dental implant, and with good care, it will feel just like your natural tooth for decades to come!
Dr. Komarnyckyj has been placing dental implants to replace missing teeth since in 1987. He not only stays abreast of the most advanced techniques in his field (like 3D planning and a CAD/CAM guide) by participating in continuing education classes and conferences, but he also is a cofounder of the Implant Prosthetic Study Group and is a local facilitator for the Spear Study Club. Additionally, Dr. Komarnyckyj is a frequent lecturer on dental implant placement and the connection between oral and general health.
You couldn’t ask for someone more trustworthy to help you find a dental implant solution. Contact our office today to set up your FREE consultation or exam. Call 602-842-6841 or contact us using our online form. We have your solution right here in our office!
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