Dental Implants

Each and every person that has required a dental implant has different reasons or circumstances that lead them to losing one or more teeth. With the technological advances in today’s dentistry related to dental implants has significantly improved the treatment options for patients that are missing teeth or using traditional dentures.  With Dr. Mirelez’s drive to promote oral health excellence to his patients, he continues to study in the area of aesthetic dentistry, dental implants, full mouth reconstruction, teeth replacement, complete and partial dentures, and much more. With his love for dentistry, Dr. Mirelez is blessed to be able to offer dental implants to his patients in the Fresno, Clovis, Madera areas.

What is a Dental Implants?
Implants are a titanium material screw that is placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root.  Dental Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for artificial tooth or permanent bridge. Because of the compatibility of these structures, the dental implant will fuse with the bone and become a stable anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used for a single tooth or multiple missing teeth.

Why Dental Implants?
Some of the advantages of using dental implants to replace missing teeth include the following:

• Without the structure of a natural tooth in place, the jaw bone that previously surrounded the tooth root may begin to resorb (deteriorate).
• Dental implants integrate with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact, thus maintaining the facial structure of the patient.
• Having a dental implant placed will help support a denture and prevent the denture from sliding on the gum. Having dental implants will also help give a stable anchor for dentures for improved chewing capability and function.
• Placing dental implants rather than placing a bridge will also help preserve the healthy teeth structures that are adjacent to the missing tooth.
• Placing dental implants in the area of missing teeth also help distribute the force of chewing so that the remaining healthy teeth are not weakened by chewing.

How much do dental implants cost?
The fee for dental implants varies from patient to patient. Several factors  to take into consideration include the number of teeth being replaced and the number of dental implants that are required to support the teeth replacement. To obtain an accurate estimate, it would be necessary to have a complete dental examination of your mouth. After a detailed examination, Dr. Mirelez will be able to recommend the best treatment options available to you. We offer complimentary implant consultations where a ballpark figure can be provided, so call today!

Who is a Candidate?
Nearly everyone who is missing one or multiple teeth and are in good general and oral health is a candidate for a dental implant. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant, and the best candidates have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Dr. Mirelez uses 3D tomo-graphic images to allow him to give the best assessment of the bone levels when he is planning for a dental implant.

The most critical factor is the success of a dental implant relates to the healing potential of the natural structures following the procedure.  Corticosteroids or uncontrolled diabetes, moderate to severe anemia, collagen vascular diseases or other disorders that can interfere with healing lessen your chances of a good result. Smoking also is attributed to high failure rates with dental implants and should be avoided following implant procedures. Success rates have shown to be 10% lower than healthy non-smokers due to a diminished healing capacity.

Am I too old for Dental Implants?
Overall health and a desire to improve your quality of life are much more important considerations than age. If you are healthy enough to have tooth extracted, you’re probably healthy enough to have dental implants placed. Dr. Mirelez will be able to determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful examination and evaluation of your dental and health history. To date, Dr. Mirelez’s oldest patient who decided to improve their quality of life with dental implants was 83 years old.

Will my dental implants look like natural teeth?
Dental implants look, feel and function like natural teeth. With your dental implants, you will be able to drink and eat whatever you choose. With the dental implant teeth, the appearance of the smile is more natural and the teeth will function like natural teeth.
Many of the people who now enjoy the benefits of dental implants state that their self esteem and self confidence have restored as a result of improved appearance, function, comfort and health.
In fact, one of Dr. Mirelez’s front teeth is a dental implant (can you tell which one?).

How much time is required for a dental implant?
Following the implant placement, the implants are left undisturbed for a period of 3-9 months so that the bone can fuse around the implants to form a strong biological bond. During this bone “remodeling” phase, you will have some type of temporary replacement teeth, so that you never have to be without teeth during the treatment.

How will I feel after the surgery?
As with any surgery procedure, there can be some post-operative discomfort. Dr. Mirelez uses combinations of local anesthesia, oral conscious sedation and anti-inflammatory medications during implant placement so that you do not feel pain during the procedure. After the initial surgery, discomfort should be minimal. However, Dr Mirelez always prescribes pain and anti-inflammatory medication to relieve any post-surgical pain or discomfort.

How will I care for my dental implants?
Your dental implants MUST be cared for and examined on a regular basis, similar to what is required for natural teeth to ensure their longevity. Two annual cleaning will help preserve the dental implant as well has the home care instructions that will be provided by Dr. Mirelez and his Staff.