Blog Archives

Is there Pain During Dental Implant Procedures?

Posted on November 5, 2014March 28, 2025 by Dr Adams

Does Dental Implant Surgery Cause Pain

Dental Implant Surgery is not a painful process.

The patient is given a local anesthetic prior to the start of Dental Implant placement so the patient does not feel pain during the procedure. For patients who are nervous or apprehensive, laughing gas (nitrous oxide), Oral Sedation Dentistry, and in more severe cases IV sedation dentistry can be utilized. In general, the Dental Implant placement does not take longer than fifteen – thirty minutes for the vast majority of cases, and most patients do not require Sedation Dentistry.

The local anesthesia continues to keep the patient comfortable for about two hours after the Dental Implant placement. The patient is encouraged to begin their medication prior to the anesthesia wearing off for a more comfortable rest of the day. Patients can expect to feel a slight dull ache for a day or two, which can be minimized with a cold compresses the same night of the dental implant surgery. Most patients who have Dental Implant Surgery, go to work the very same day, and day after the surgery. Your Implant Dentist will prescribe the appropriate medications to keep you comfortable before, during and after the procedure.

zirconia full arch implants 3

Permanent Implant Dentures vs Semi Permanent Implant Dentures

Posted on November 5, 2014April 16, 2025 by Dr Adams

Permanent Implant Dentures are more Stable than Semi Permanent Dentures

When speaking about the types of Dental Implant Dentures, there is a distinction between Permanent Implant Dentures and Semi-Permanent Removable Implant Dentures. Semi Permanent Implant Dentures are also called Implant Dentures or Locator Dentures. Both Permanent Implant Dentures and Removable Implant Dentures, can be utilized for replacement teeth in either the upper or lower jaw. Semi Permanent Dentures are also called Implant Dentures or Dentures with Implants.

Permanent Implant Dentures most closely resemble natural teeth. These Fixed Dentures are permanently secured to four to six Dental Implants via a laboratory fabricated precision metal under-casting. A minimal amount of denture material is used to replicate the look of the gum tissue. This type of permanent denture allows for maximal space for the patients tongue. The advantage of choosing to replace teeth with a Permanent Implant Denture is the patient does not have to remove their teeth at night and there is virtually no chance of the denture dislodging during speaking or eating. The only drawback to this type of tooth replacement is the price, generally this the most expensive treatment option due to the amount of laboratory work required. Having said that, the patient never has to worry about taking their teeth out at night and maintenance required involves coming to their dentist every three – six months to have the Permanent Implant Dentures are also called All on 4 Dental Implants.

By contrast, removable Semi-Permanent Implant Dentures are a fantastic treatment option for patients looking to replace their teeth in either the upper or lower jaws. Removable Implant Dentures have the added advantage of securing to multiple Dental Implants, making them incredibly difficult to dislodge during speaking and eating. They are generally less expensive that Permanent Implant Dentures, due to less laboratory work required. Removable Implant Dentures have attachments built into the denture that function like a ball and socket joint. The Implant Dentures clip into place and their strength can be adjusted based on the patients needs. Semi-Permanent Implant Dentures must be removed at night in order for proper cleaning and the attachments should be checked by your dentist every nine to twelve months.

Both Permanent Implant Dentures and removable Semi-Permanent Implant Dentures are great options for patients who struggle with loose or ill fitting dentures, or patients who are looking to restore their mouths without worry of dentures that fly out when eating or speaking. Stop by our office for your complimentary consultation with one of our expert dentists to see if either Permanent Implant Dentures or Semi-Permanent Removable Dentures are right for you.

What is Bone Graft Surgery for Teeth Implants?

Posted on October 29, 2014May 24, 2025 by Dr Adams

What is Bone Graft Surgery?

Bone graft surgery is a procedure to help bone grow or heal where there is bone damage or deficiency. Bone grafting is sometimes called guided tissue regeneration. Whether or not you need bone grafting for dental implants and extractions comes down to many factors.

sinking face

Bone Grafting may be Needed in the Following Situations:

Teeth Extraction sites to help bone grow back properly into the bony socket. Also called socket preservation. Socket preservation helps prevent long term bone loss, and helps grow bone for dental implants to be placed where teeth have been extracted.
Infections caused by failed Root Canals
Implant surgery to help grow bone around implants. Especially helps grow bone when implants are placed at the same time as tooth removal. This is very common when doing full mouth implant cases where several teeth are being removed and implants are being placed at the same time
Grow bone in areas where there is not enough bone for implants
Grow bone to improve gum health and cosmetics around existing teeth and implants.
Wisdom teeth extraction sites
Grow bone in atrophied sinuses

How is Bone Grafting done with Dental Implant Surgery?

The most common reason to perform bone graft procedures is for dental implant surgery. There are two categories: The first is placing the bone graft where implants are done after a healing period. That is bone graft surgery and delayed dental implant placement. This kind of bone graft is considered pre-surgical ridge augmentation. Generally, this is done when the area to be grafted has had an extensive infection which has destroyed the native bone and compromised the success of placing a dental implant. In this situation, the infected area is cleaned, and new bone is added (this acts as a scaffold to allow the persons body to replace it with their own natural bone). The site is revisited for implant surgery after 3-6 months of healing.

bone grafting implants

Bone Loss Occurs After Tooth Loss

In the absence of infection, the area can undergo bone loss simply based off of time without a tooth present. The teeth hold the bone levels and without a tooth present, the jaw bones can become atrophied over time. In this event, pre-surgical ridge augmentation or bone graft surgery may be necessary prior to getting dental implants, as described above.

Immediate Implant Surgery Often Requires Bone Grafting

The second kind of bone graft surgery is when the bone graft is done at the time of implant placement. This type of bone graft is usually done when the site is 75% of the way intact, but with only one portion of the bone in question. The implant is placed and bone graft is added to the area similarly to the way potting soil is added when re-potting a plant. The newly added bone heals around the dental implant and the original defect is repaired.

What Are the Different Ways to Do Dental Implant Surgery?

Posted on October 23, 2014March 28, 2025 by Dr Adams

Same Day Immediate Implant vs After Grafting and Healing

By Dr. Gary Adams who has successfully done thousands of dental implants in Burtonsville near Silver Spring, Clarksville and Columbia Maryland. Dr Adams does single implants and full mouth dental implant surgery.

dr gary adams

Single tooth replacement with a Dental Implant procedure can be in one of two Different Ways:

What is Immediate Dental Implant Surgery:

Immediate implant is where a bad tooth is taken out and an implant is put into the jawbone on the same day. The situation is where there is a bad tooth (the one that needs to be removed) is currently occupying the space where a tooth replacement needs to go. This is opposed to where there is no tooth present and a new tooth is desired.

Immediate implants is often done when replacing a full set of teeth with implants. A full upper or lower set of teeth can be replace with implants in different ways. Some implant teeth are permanent and others such as implant dentures are removable teeth. The implant surgeon will remove all the bad teeth, put in new implants and do any necessary bone grafting at the same time. Usually, the dentist puts in a new set of teeth that the patient will use during the healing period.

immediate dental implant

What is the advantage of immediate implant surgery?

Save time
Only get one surgical procedure when a tooth is removed and an implant is done during the same procedure.
Better gum and bone healing – gum tissue and bone tissue do not collapse into an extraction site when implant surgery is done with tooth extraction
Better gum and bone healing – the body is ready to heal when a tooth is removed. The healing is typically better and can be stronger when a implant is done with the extraction.
Better cosmetic and more natural looking results. If gum and bone are not lost, a tooth implant looks more like a natural tooth with proper gum proportions around the tooth.
Shorter time without a tooth. How long would you want to go without your front tooth? Or any tooth for that matter?

For cases of Dental Anxiety it may be necessary to have sedation dentistry, but it is not required. We offer IV sedation. Anesthesia can be achieved with a local anesthesia just like what is used for a dental filling. Laughing gas aka NO2 can also be used as a twilight sedative for implant surgery.

Delayed Dental Implant Surgery vs Immediate

In the event the dental implant is unable to be placed, due to lack of bone support or a large jaw infection, sometimes the proper clinical decision is to do a bone graft, let the body heal and “delay” the implant surgery to a later date. In some cases a healing period may be necessary to achieve optimal results. In general, the body can take up to 6 months for this to happen, although it is often times a shorter wait.

Delayed placement, or placing an implant where there is currently no tooth, is a usually a straight-forward procedure.

How Long does it Take to get a tooth replaced with Dental Implants?

The first appointment for a dental implant, whether taking the tooth out and placing the implant or simply placing the implant can be conceptualized as replacing the root of the tooth first. The body is allowed to heal for roughly 2-3 months.
During the second appointment, an impression of the surrounding teeth and gums in addition to the dental implant is taken for the lab to craft a new crown (the portion of the tooth one sees.) This appointment does not require dental anesthesia.
The third and final appointment, roughly 1-2 weeks later, the final dental implant crown is delivered to the patient along with a connector called an abutment. The patient’s bite is checked and the esthetics are verified. Some minor adjustments may be necessary but in general, no dental anesthesia is required.

There are also other varieties of the dental implant procedure for other scenarios including replacing multiple teeth at a time or using implants to secure dentures.