Implants & Restoration

Dental implants are the gold standard for tooth replacement — but the outcome depends entirely on the precision of planning and placement. At Oral Plastic Surgery, we use 3D cone-beam imaging and computer-guided surgery to plan every implant case digitally before a single incision is made.

Why Implants?

Unlike bridges, which require grinding down adjacent healthy teeth, or dentures, which rest on gum tissue and tend to slip, dental implants integrate directly with your jawbone. The result is a restoration that:

• Looks and functions like a natural tooth
• Preserves the surrounding bone (which is lost when a tooth is missing)
• Requires no alteration of adjacent teeth
• Can last a lifetime with proper care

Our Implant Process

1. Comprehensive Evaluation

Every implant case begins with a 3D cone-beam CT scan. This gives us a precise picture of your bone volume, density, and the location of critical structures like nerves and sinuses. We review this data alongside your medical history and restorative goals before finalizing a plan.

2. Digital Surgical Planning

Using specialized implant planning software, we virtually position each implant in three dimensions — optimizing the angle, depth, and emergence profile for both function and appearance. This digital plan drives the surgical guide used during placement, significantly improving accuracy.

3. Placement

The implant — a titanium post that acts as an artificial root — is placed in the prepared bone site. In straightforward cases, this can sometimes be done simultaneously with extraction ("immediate placement"). In cases where bone grafting was needed, we wait for graft maturation before placing implants.

Most placements take 1–2 hours and are done under local anesthesia, with oral sedation available. Recovery is typically 3–7 days of mild soreness.

4. Integration and Restoration

Over the next 3–6 months, the implant integrates with your bone in a process called osseointegration. Once integrated, we work with your restorative dentist to place the final crown, bridge, or overdenture.

Peri-Implant Disease

Implants can fail — and when they do, it is often due to peri-implantitis, an infection of the tissue and bone around an implant that closely resembles periodontal disease. Left untreated, peri-implantitis destroys bone and ultimately leads to implant loss.

As periodontists, we are uniquely qualified to diagnose and treat peri-implant disease. We offer:

• Mechanical debridement and decontamination of the implant surface
• Laser-assisted therapy for peri-implant infection
• Regenerative procedures to rebuild lost bone around failing implants
• Explantation and reimplantation for cases where the implant cannot be saved

Are You a Candidate?

Most adults who are missing one or more teeth and have adequate bone health are candidates for implants. Patients with certain medical conditions (uncontrolled diabetes, history of radiation to the jaw, bisphosphonate use) require more detailed evaluation. We will give you a clear, honest assessment of your candidacy at your consultation.

Discuss implant options →