Dental Implants

Dentist Towson, MD

Dental implants are changing the way people live! With dental implants, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh, and enjoy life.

Today’s dental implants are typically made of titanium and may be parallel-sided or tapered and may or may not have threads. These fixtures are placed into the jawbone and allowed to heal until they are integrated into the bone. Once the implant has integrated into the jawbone, an abutment or healing collar will be placed on the implant and impressions will be made in order to fabricate the final visible prosthesis which may include a crown, bridge for overdenture. Dental implants may be utilized to replace one, many or all teeth.

Dental implants are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, function and even feel like natural teeth. With the help of Drs. Ousborne and Keller, a person who has lost teeth will regain the ability to eat virtually anything. The patient will be able to smile with confidence, knowing that their teeth appear natural and that their facial contours will be preserved. Dental implants can help to aid in preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.

Procedure

Dental implants are titanium metal anchors that act as tooth root substitutes. They are surgically placed into the jawbone. Small posts are then attached to the implant which protrudes through the tissues (gums). These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

For most patients, the placement of dental implants involves two procedures broken into multiple appointments each. The clinical team of Ousborne and Keller does offer the latest in sedation technology to ensure your comfort, should you desire it.

First, a surgical guide or template is fabricated to assit the surgeon in the exact placement of the implant(s). Then the implants are surgically placed within your jawbone. For the first three to six months following surgery, the implants are integrating with the jawbone. After the implant surgery, you can to experience some minor bruising and swelling in the gum and soft tissue afterwards. Postoperative discomfort can generally be treated with ibuprofen and you should expect to be able to return to work the next day.

After the implant has integrated to the jawbone to the dentist’s specifications, the second phase begins. The implants will be uncovered and a small healing collar (abutment) will be attached. At this point, Ousborne and Keller will be able to begin the fabrication of your new teeth. Most patients do not experience any disruption to their daily life and discomfort is generally minimal.

The routine use of dental implants has revolutionized prosthodontics and the way missing teeth are replaced. Dental implants have become the standard of care for the replacement of teeth because dental implants allow a missing tooth (or teeth) to be restored to optimum function and appearance without invading or damaging any other teeth or tissues.

You will need to brush the restored implants as our would natual teeth, and regualr visits to Ousborne and Keller are recommended for professional cleanings. Proper maintenance contributes to the longevity and comfort of your implant.

Reasons for Choosing Dental Implants

In the past a patient missing a single tooth would often receive a fixed bridge where the teeth on either side of the space are prepared for crowns and a false tooth suspended between them. With today’s technology a crown supported by a dental implant ideally treats each patients particular situation, avoiding the need to compromise adjacent

natural teeth. Dental implants are the ultimate solution for young people with congenitally missing teeth such as lateral incisors.

When both the tooth and root are damaged, often times the best permanent replacement is a dental implant in conjunction with a ceramic crown. This solution both looks and functions just like a natural tooth.

Having dental implants replacing your lost back teeth will give you new, unparalleled strength and stability that allows you to eat what you want. It will also preserve your jawbone and facial appearance.

You may have wondered about the advances made in dental technology over the last 30 years. The use of dental implants greatly increases comfort and stability for denture wearers today. In the past, tooth replacement options were limited, and patients with full dentures are now experiencing soft tissue and bone loss. Because titanium implants fuse naturally to your jawbone, a greater level of support can be achieved. It’s easy to see why dental implants have been such a popular alternative to traditional denture procedures. This safe and effective process is sure to give you the confidence and stability you’ve always desired from your dentures.

Ousborne and Keller utilizes dental implants to offer patients the latest in dental technology. They have helped numerous patients to achieve a more natural and functional smile. Drs. Ousborne and Keller are true experts in the field of cosmetic implant dentistry, and they have all the tools necessary to create a smile that is uniquely yours. Our doctors perform this minimally invasive surgery regularly, and will work with you to determine what procedures suit your specific needs.

If, like so many of other patients, you feel implant dentistry is the right choice for you, just let any member of our staff know! We will schedule a consultation to address your specific needs and considerations. Drs. Ousborne and Keller will do a complete evaluation and determine if your implants should be placed in our office or if you might be better served being referred to one of our many trusted specialists (an oral and maxillofacial surgeon or periodontist).

Your questions and concerns are important to us. Have confidence that Drs. Ousborne and Keller will work with you very closely to help make your procedure a lives up to our motto of “Excellence by Choice”.

Key Benefits

  • A stable, secure solution that lets you eat what you want
  • Preserves your facial appearance and prevents bone loss
  • In some instances, immediately functioning teeth
  • Excellent esthetic result
  • Life long, stable solution
  • Improved form, function, and speech, so you can confidentaly smile, and comfortably chew, and speak.
  • A reduction in upper and lower bone recession, which prevents facial shape change and continual dental adjustment.