Missing Teeth Affecting Your Confidence? Discover Endosteal Dental Implants

Are you tired of hiding your smile because of missing teeth? You’re not alone. At Zajac Dental, we understand how gaps in your smile can impact both your confidence and oral health. That’s why Oakville implant dentist, Dr. Pawel Zajac offers state-of-the-art endosteal dental implants to help restore your smile to its natural beauty while providing improved oral health and function. Contact us at our Halton Region dental practice by calling 905-901-3824 if you’re a new patient or 905-257-6900 if you’re current to learn more about our comprehensive dental implant solutions.

What Are Endosteal Dental Implants?

Endosteal dental implants represent the gold standard in modern tooth replacement technology. These biocompatible titanium posts are surgically placed directly into your jawbone, effectively mimicking your natural tooth root. At Zajac Dental, Dr. Zajac carefully positions these dental implants to create a robust foundation for your new tooth, whether you need a single crown, bridge, or implant-supported dentures. 

Advantages of an Endosteal Dental Implant

When you choose endosteal dental implants at Zajac Dental, you’ll benefit from:

Lifetime Durability With Proper Maintenance

Endosteal dental implants are dental implant options designed to last a lifetime when cared for properly. Unlike other tooth replacement options that may need replacement every 5-15 years, endosteal dental implants can potentially last for decades or even a lifetime. This longevity is due to the implant’s integration with the jawbone, creating a stable and permanent foundation for the prosthetic tooth.

Completely Natural Look and Feel

Endosteal implants are custom-designed to match your natural teeth in color, shape, and size. The dental crown attached to the implant is crafted to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth. Additionally, because the implant is anchored in the jawbone, it provides a stable base that allows the prosthetic or artificial tooth, to function just like a natural tooth. This means you can eat, speak, and smile with confidence, knowing that no one will be able to tell the difference between your implant and your natural teeth.

Outstanding Success Rates Exceeding 95 Percent

Endosteal implants have consistently shown high success rates in numerous clinical studies. With proper patient selection and skilled placement, success rates often exceed 95 percent over a 10-year period. This high success rate is attributed to the implant’s direct integration with the jawbone, providing a stable and long-lasting foundation for the prosthetic tooth.

Prevention of Jawbone Loss and Deterioration

When a tooth is lost, the jawbone in that area begins to deteriorate due to lack of stimulation. Endosteal implants mimic the root of a natural tooth, providing the necessary stimulation to the jawbone to maintain its density and structure. This helps prevent the sunken appearance that can occur with long-term tooth loss and preserves facial bone structure throughout.

Protection of Surrounding Healthy Teeth

Unlike traditional bridges that require adjacent teeth to be filed down to support the prosthetic, endosteal implants stand alone. This means that your healthy adjacent teeth remain untouched and intact. Furthermore, implants help maintain proper spacing between teeth, preventing shifting that can occur when a gap is left unfilled.

Simple Care Routine

Caring for endosteal implants is straightforward and similar to caring for natural teeth. You can brush and floss as usual, and no special cleaning solutions or tools are typically required. Regular dental check-ups and professional cleanings are still important to ensure the long-term health of both your dental implant and natural teeth.

Enhanced Confidence in Your Smile

With endosteal implants, you can smile, laugh, and speak with confidence, knowing that your replacement tooth looks and functions just like a natural tooth. The stability of the endosteal dental implant also means you don’t have to worry about a denture slipping or clicking while you eat or speak, which can significantly boost your self-esteem in social and professional situations.

The Endosteal Implant Procedure

At Zajac Dental, Dr. Zajac employs a precise, methodical approach to endosteal implant placement. Here is a detailed step-by-step explanation of how an endosteal implant is placed and works:

1. The process begins with an initial consultation and planning. During this appointment, Dr. Zajac conducts a comprehensive oral examination to assess your dental health. X-rays and 3D scans are taken to evaluate the density and structure of your jawbone. Based on this information, a personalized treatment plan is developed to address your specific needs.
2. Preparation for dental implant surgery may involve tooth extraction if you have any remaining damaged or decayed teeth that need to be removed. If there is insufficient jawbone density to support the implant, bone augmentation may be performed to build up the bone before the implant can be placed.
3. The next step is the implant surgery itself. On the day of the procedure, local anesthesia is administered to ensure your comfort throughout the process. Dr. Zajac makes a small incision in the gum tissue to expose the jawbone.
4. Using precise techniques, a small hole is drilled into the jawbone at the predetermined location for the implant. The titanium implant post is then carefully inserted into this prepared site, and the gum tissue is sutured closed over the implant.
5. After surgery, an initial healing period of about 7-10 days allows the surgical site to heal. During this time, it is important for patients to follow post-operative care instructions provided by Dr. Zajac to prevent infection and promote healing.
6. The next phase is osseointegration, where the implant begins to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. This crucial process typically takes between three to six months and involves the bone growing around and integrating with the titanium post, creating a stable foundation for the prosthetic tooth. Regular check-ups are scheduled during this period to monitor your healing progress.
7. Once osseointegration is complete, Dr. Zajac will schedule an appointment for abutment placement. During this visit, the gum tissue is reopened to expose the implant, and an abutment—a small connector piece—is attached to the top of the implant post. After securing the abutment, the gum tissue is closed around it but not over it.
8. To guide proper healing of the gum tissue around the abutment, a healing collar is placed over it. This collar remains in place for about two weeks and helps shape the gum tissue for optimal aesthetics.
9. After sufficient healing has occurred, impressions of your mouth and implant site are taken to create your custom restoration, which may be a crown, bridge, or denture depending on your specific needs.
10. The dental lab uses these impressions to fabricate your custom-fitted restoration, a process that typically takes two to three weeks.
11. Once your restoration is complete, Dr. Zajac will schedule an appointment for final placement. During this visit, he will attach your custom-crafted restoration to the abutment and check its fit, bite, and appearance. Any necessary adjustments will be made to ensure that you achieve optimal function and aesthetics.

Do You Qualify for an Endosteal Dental Implant?

The best candidates for endosteal implants typically have:

Good Overall Oral and Physical Health

This is essential because endosteal implants require a surgical procedure and a healing process. Patients in good health are more likely to heal properly and avoid complications. Certain systemic conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune disorders, can impair healing and increase the risk of endosteal implant failure.

Healthy Gum Tissue

Healthy gums are crucial for successful implant placement and long-term success. Patients with active gum disease are at higher risk for implant failure due to the potential for infection and inflammation around the implant site. Healthy gum tissue also provides better support and integration for the implant.

Adequate Jawbone Density

Sufficient bone density is critical for endosteal implants, as they are surgically placed directly into the jawbone. The implant needs enough bone to integrate with and provide a stable foundation. Patients with significant bone mass loss may require bone grafting procedures before implant placement.

Commitment to Excellent Oral Hygiene

Maintaining good oral hygiene is crucial for the long-term success of endosteal implants. Proper care helps prevent infections and ensures the longevity of the implant. Patients must be willing and able to brush, floss, and care for their endosteal implants diligently.

Regular Dental Checkup Habits

Routine dental visits allow for early detection and treatment of any potential issues with the endosteal implant or surrounding tissues. Regular professional cleanings also help maintain the health of the endosteal implant and natural teeth.

Non-smoking Lifestyle

Smoking can significantly impact the success rate of endosteal implants. It reduces blood flow to the gums, impairs healing, and increases the risk of infection. Non-smokers or those willing to quit have a better chance of successful implant integration and long-term retention.

During your consultation with Dr. Zajac, our oral surgeon, he’ll thoroughly evaluate your oral health to determine if endosteal implants are right for you.

Endosteal Implant Alternatives

Not everyone is an ideal candidate for endosteal implants due to factors such as insufficient bone density, certain medical conditions, or anatomical limitations. Dr. Zajac offers several alternative solutions to ensure that all patients can achieve a functional and aesthetically pleasing smile:

Zygomatic Implants

These specialized implants are anchored in the cheekbone (zygoma) for patients with significant upper jaw bone loss. Zygomatic implants are longer than traditional implants and bypass the maxillary sinus, making them an excellent option for patients who have been told they lack adequate bone for standard implants. They can support a full arch of teeth and often eliminate the need for bone grafting procedures.

Subperiosteal Implants

Subperiosteal implants are placed under the gum but above the jawbone. A custom-made metal framework rests on top of the bone, with posts protruding through the gums to support the prosthetic teeth. Subperiosteal implants are suitable for patients with shallow jawbones who cannot or do not want to undergo bone augmentation procedures.

Custom-fitted Removable Dentures

For patients who are not candidates for any type of dental implant, modern removable dentures offer a non-surgical alternative. Dr. Zajac can create custom-fitted dentures that are designed to maximize comfort, stability, and aesthetics. These dentures can be partial (replacing some teeth) or full (replacing all teeth in an arch).

Modern Dental Bridges

Dental bridges can be an excellent option for replacing one or more missing teeth when implants are not feasible. These prosthetics are anchored to adjacent natural teeth or dental implants and can restore both function and appearance to your smile.

All-on-4 Implants

This innovative technique uses four strategically placed implants to support a full arch of teeth. It’s an option for patients with some bone loss who still have enough healthy bone to support a reduced number of implants.

Mini Dental Implants

These are smaller in diameter than traditional implants and can be used in areas with less bone density. They’re often used to stabilize lower dentures or replace small teeth in narrow spaces.

Bone Grafting with Delayed Implant Placement

For patients willing to undergo a longer treatment process, bone grafting can be performed to rebuild lost bone tissue. Once healed, this can allow for the placement of traditional endosteal implants.

Sinus Lift Procedure

For patients lacking sufficient bone height in the upper jaw, a sinus lift can create more space for implant placement by lifting the sinus membrane and adding bone graft material.

Frequently Asked Questions