Dental Implants at our General Dentist Office

Are your missing teeth preventing you from eating the foods you like?

Speaking with confidence? Smiling?

If so, dental implants may be the solution you've been looking for.

Dental implants are small titanium posts surgically implanted into your jaw bone that replace missing tooth roots, helping to preserve the bone in your jaw and the original shape of your face. Best of all, dental implants look, feel and function so much like your natural teeth, you may even forget that you lost a tooth at all!

If you have any questions about how dental implants can change the function and aesthetics of your teeth, call us to book your implant consultation today with Calgary dentist Dr. Dirk Thompson!

Discover the difference that dental implants can make in the look, feel and function of your smile today!

Implant Retained Dentures by Calgary General Dentist, Dr. Dirk Thompson, D.D.S.

Denture wearing patients sometimes report that, after time, their dentures become progressively loose and do not fit as well as they once did. This may be due to bone loss caused by the natural ageing process, or, as the direct result of chewing forces which cause slow resorption of supporting bone as the dentures move around.

Dental implants can, depending upon the patient, provide a comfortable and natural looking tooth replacement alternative and may actually help stop bone loss and jawbone shrinkage by mimicking the roots of your natural teeth.

The additional benefits of dental implant retained dentures can be:

• the dentures will not move or loosen as conventional dentures do
• no denture adhesive is required
• there are no unsightly and uncomfortable hooks or clasps visible when smiling

The stability of the implant denture is ideal when four to six implants are placed per arch. Typically more implants are required on the top jaw because the bone is generally less dense.

Alternatively, a patient can still get significant improvement with a removable overdenture with as little as two implants in the bottom jaw and three implants in the top jaw. Using these techniques, implants make the denture much more stable and comfortable.

As each patient's treatment needs are individual, a personal consultation appointment with our Calgary dentist, Dr. Thompson (a general dentist), is recommended to discuss all of the available treatment options, together with the associated risk and benefits, anticipated treatment times, as well as whether you are a suitable candidate for implant retained dentures.

Call our Calgary dental clinic to schedule an appointment today and let us show you what we can do for your smile!

Dental Implants FAQ

What do dental implants do?

Dental implants can:

• replace one or more teeth without affecting bordering teeth
• support a bridge and eliminate the need for a removable partial denture, and
• provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.

What is treatment like?

This procedure is a team effort between you, Dr. Thompson, and Dr. Thompson's team of dental hygienists and dental assistants.

You will first meet with Dr. Thompson to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant, and, if so, where and how your implant should be placed. A treatment plan will then be created, tailored to meet your specific needs. An assessment will also be done to determine whether bone grafting is necessary.

Generally, you can expect the entire treatment process to take from approximately three to six months. If bone grafting is required, the overall expected treatment process is approximately one year.  The first part of the treatment consists of placing the implant. After allowing sufficient time for the implant site to heal, your artificial tooth will be placed on top of the implant site.

What can I expect after treatment?

Dental implants are to be treated just as you would your own natural teeth. Brushing, flossing, and regular follow-up visits to monitor your implant, teeth and gums are absolutely necessary!

Are Dental Implants Right for Me?

The ideal candidate for dental implants is someone in good general and oral health. As adequate bone in the jaw is needed to support a dental implant, the best candidates have healthy gum tissue that is free of periodontal disease.

Dental implants are closely connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth. Therefore, prior to proceeding with dental implants, Dr. Thompson, a general dentist, and his team will carefully evaluate your overall oral health. An assessment will also be made to determine whether you will require bone grafting.

A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed.

The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity. When there is insufficient bone in either the upper or lower jaw, bone or bone substitute is used to build up the jaw. This process is called bone grafting. Bone grafting has been shown to improve the chances for a successful implant.

If you're interested in finding out whether you're a suitable candidate for dental implants, we invite you to book your personal implant consultation with Dr. Thompson at which time we'd be pleased to answer all of your questions!