Dental implant restoration in South Edmonton

Direct billingCDCP registeredWho you see: Dr. Osborne

An implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a small titanium post in the jawbone. Once the bone has grown around it, a crown is fitted on top. Its advantage over a bridge is that the teeth either side are left untouched.

What it isA post in the bone, with a crown on top How longSeveral months, most of it healing What it costsGone over with you before any work Who you seePlaced by Dr. Osborne, crown by your own dentist

What happens

Start to finish

Most of the timeline is waiting for bone to grow around the post. There is far less in the chair than people expect.

AssessmentWe check the bone with an x-ray and go through whether an implant is the right answer for your case.

A graft, if the bone is thinWhere there is not enough bone to hold an implant, it has to be built up first. That adds months before the post can go in, and we tell you at the assessment if it applies to you.

PlacementDr. Osborne usually places the post himself, here. It is done under freezing and takes about an hour.

HealingThree to six months while the bone grows tightly around the post. You wear a temporary tooth in the meantime.

The connectorOnce the post has taken, a small connector is fitted onto it. A short appointment under freezing, and it is what the crown sits on.

ImpressionWe record the shape here and have the crown made to match the teeth either side.

FittingYour regular dentist here fits the crown onto the connector and adjusts the bite. From then on you clean it like a tooth.

Want to know if the bone will take one?Request Appointment Call 780-434-8749

Why people choose one

What an implant does that the alternatives do not

It is the only option that replaces the root as well as the tooth, and that is what the advantages come from.

Leaves the neighbours aloneA bridge means shaping down the teeth either side. An implant touches neither of them.

Keeps the boneBone shrinks where a root is missing, because nothing is loading it. A post loads the bone much as a root did.

Feels like a toothIt is fixed in the bone, so there is no movement. Most people stop thinking about which tooth it is.

Lasts, if it is looked afterImplants commonly last decades. The crown on top may need renewing sooner than the post beneath it.

An implant, or a bridge?

Implant

What to expect

Neighbouring teeth are untouched.
Keeps the bone where the root used to be.
Cleaned like an ordinary tooth.
Several months, because the bone has to heal.
Needs enough bone, and a graft if there is not.

Bridge

What to expect

Done in about two weeks.
No surgery and no healing time.
Both neighbouring teeth are cut down to carry it.
Cleaning underneath needs a threader every day.
Does nothing to keep the bone under the gap.

If the teeth either side are sound, an implant is usually the better long-term answer. If they already need crowns, a bridge gets more out of the same work.

Is it for you

What makes someone a good candidate

Most healthy adults are. These are the things we check before recommending it.

Enough bone to hold itAn x-ray shows the height and width available. Where there is not enough, a graft can build it up first.

Gums in good conditionActive gum disease has to be treated first. The same bacteria that loosen teeth will loosen an implant.

Smoking makes it harderIt slows healing and raises the chance the post does not integrate. It does not rule you out, but you should know before you spend.

Some conditions need planningUncontrolled diabetes and certain bone medications change the picture. Tell us what you take and we will work around it.

Afterwards

Looking after it

An implant cannot decay. It can still be lost, and almost always for the same reason a tooth is.

Clean it like a toothBrush and floss around it daily. The gum seal at the neck is what keeps bacteria out of the bone.

Watch for bleedingBleeding around an implant is the early sign of the infection that loosens them. Tell us rather than waiting.

A guard if you grindAn implant has no ligament to cushion it, so grinding transmits straight into the bone and the crown.

Keep your cleaningsThe area around an implant is checked and measured at each visit, the same way gums are.

Who you will see

Who does this at Heritage

Dr. David Osborne

General and family dentistry

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Opens at 8am, Monday to Saturday

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We're easy to reach.

780-434-8749

2118 109 St NW, Edmonton, AB T6J 7C1
In Heritage Square, right next to the IDA Pharmacy

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New and returning patients, our front desk will call you to confirm availability.

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FAQ

What does an implant restoration cost?

We go over the quote with you before any work is done. We bill your insurer directly wherever your plan allows it. We make every attempt to work with your insurer so your plan covers as much as it can, and what a plan finally pays is the insurer's decision. The practice is a registered provider for the Canadian Dental Care Plan. There is more on fees and insurance.

How long does the whole process take?

Months rather than weeks. The post needs time to integrate with the bone before the crown is fitted, and that healing is what makes the implant stable. The exact timeline depends on the site and on the bone.

Does everyone qualify for an implant?

Not automatically. There has to be enough bone to hold the post, and gum disease has to be under control first. Smoking and some medical conditions affect healing, so it is assessed case by case.

Can an implant get a cavity?

No, the implant and crown cannot decay. The gum and bone around it can still become infected though, which behaves much like gum disease, so cleaning around it is just as important.

How long do implants last?

Well maintained implants can last decades. The crown on top may need replacing sooner than the post underneath.