Dental Implants

Are you missing teeth? Are you struggling with ill-fitting dentures or failing teeth? Are you tired of social embarrassment? How about the fact that you may look older than you really are, due to missing teeth? Perhaps you want to have a bright, healthy looking smile to match your stellar personality. If this sounds like you, then you may be the perfect candidate for dental implants.

Dental implants are a great way to restore your smile and help you chew comfortably, look younger, and have more self-confidence. Dental implants are an alternative to bridges and dentures, and are essentially a titanium rod that is implanted into the bone of your jaw. The implant replaces the function of the natural tooth root. It is then topped with a crown that is custom fabricated to match the shape, size, and look of your existing teeth so that it blends flawlessly for a natural appearance.

The first step of the process is placing the implant. The area will be numbed thoroughly to ensure your comfort. We also offer sedation for anxious patients. Dr. Martin will gently create a very small opening in your jawbone, and insert the dental implant. He will place a healing cover. Depending on the type of implant, he may close the area with sutures and place a temporary denture.

Immediately after the procedure, the site will begin to heal. Over the next several months, bone cells will begin attaching to the surface of the implant, creating a supremely stable foundation for your new teeth. This process is known as osseointegration, meaning the implant integrates with bone tissue. This usually takes between two and four months. When it is complete, the final restoration will be added.

Dr. Charles Martin is a Diplomate of the American Board of Implantology. He is one of less than 600 dentists worldwide to achieve this honor. He is one of a small handful of dentists in Virginia who performs both the surgery and the reconstructive phase of dental implants for nearly three decades and with an amazing success rate over 90 percent.

If you want a gentle dentist who has plenty of experience and expertise in dental implants, look no further than the Dentists of Richmond Smile Center!