Guide to Replacing Partials
The information in the Guide to Replacing Partials provides a comprehensive explanation of the consequences of missing teeth, a comparison of dental implants and partials, and a detailed description of implant procedures. We encourage you to review all of the pages to help you make an informed decision about your treatment options.
Anterior Implant Procedures
When anterior teeth have been missing for an extended period of time, the surgical specialist must determine whether there is sufficient bone remaining for placement of dental implants. Both the quality and quantity of bone where the dental implants will be placed must be evaluated. 3D cone beam images with computer-generated scans are often used to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment planning process, as they provide a more detailed look at the existing teeth, bone, nerves, and tissue with both three-dimensional and cross-sectional views.
Bone grafting is often required to create an ideal site for placement of dental implants in the front of the mouth, particularly when a substantial amount of bone has been lost. This is necessary to achieve the ideal functional and esthetic result. Without bone grafting, the bone and gum tissue contours will not look natural.
When the surgical specialist determines that the grafted site is ready for the dental implants to be placed, a delicate surgical technique is used to shape the bone for the precise positioning of the dental implants. The position of the dental implants is critical to ensure that the crowns emerge from the gum tissue exactly like natural teeth.
Options for provisional (temporary) replacement teeth include a bridge or a removable partial denture. The provisional replacement teeth are primarily for esthetic purposes, rather than function. They are placed so that they do not touch the teeth opposite them to keep the forces of biting off of the dental implants, allowing the bone to remodel around the implants without movement or pressure.
The dental implants are left undisturbed for several weeks, or a few months, so that the bone can remodel around, or fuse to the dental implants. Once the bone has formed a strong bond with the dental implants, small connector posts called abutments are attached to the dental implants. The final bridges will be attached to these abutments.
Posterior Implant Procedures
In cases where the teeth have been missing for an extended period of time, the surgical specialist must determine whether there is sufficient bone for placement of dental implants. Both the quality and quantity of bone where the dental implants will be placed must be evaluated. 3D cone beam images with computer-generated scans are often used to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment planning process, as they provide a more detailed look at the existing teeth, bone, nerves, and tissue with both three-dimensional and cross-sectional views.
If a substantial amount of bone has been lost, bone grafting could be required to create an ideal site for placement of dental implants. One of the challenges with replacement of posterior teeth in the upper jaw is the possibility that the sinuses have dropped down into the space vacated by the roots of the missing teeth. In this case, a special bone grafting procedure is required in order to place dental implants. This involves a delicate procedure to gently lift the floor of the sinus to create more space to pack bone grafting material in order to create an ideal site for the placement of the dental implants.
After a predetermined period of time following the bone grafting procedure, usually a few months, a special surgical technique is used to shape the bone for the precise placement of dental implants. If provisional (temporary) replacement teeth are necessary for esthetic purposes, a removable partial denture is placed so that it does not touch the teeth in the opposite jaw to keep the forces of biting off of the dental implants, allowing the bone to remodel around the implants without movement or pressure.
The dental implants are left undisturbed for several weeks, or a few months, so that the bone can remodel around, or fuse to the dental implants. Once the bone has formed a strong bond with the dental implants, small connector posts called abutments are attached to the dental implants. The final crowns or bridge will be attached to these abutments.