DENTAL CARE

Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD

Q: Is An Implant Like A Real Tooth?

A: I hear this question so often and I understand how confusing this can be for everyone. The source of the confusion may lie with the dental profession. After all, we use phrases like “I will replace your missing tooth with an implant” or “I will remove your tooth and give you an implant.” That sure sounds to me like the implant is the actual tooth. What makes it more confusing is that most of us view our teeth as the part that we see in our mouth. It does make sense. What we “see” is what breaks … what we “see” is what we brush … what we “see” is what we want to whiten. We ignore or don’t think about the fact that there is more to the tooth than meets the eye. This question came up in another fashion this week as I was using an implant to help stabilize a partial denture. When this patient looked at in his mouth he didn’t see a tooth. Yet the partial was clicking and clipped into place to help function in eating. “I thought that there was going to be a tooth there” was the phrase that was used to articulate his quandary.

All of this really stems from an understanding of what purpose an implant serves. A dental implant was designed to copy and mimic the part of the tooth that we don’t see. As I frequently say, when we look at a tree it stands firm and tall. When a strong wind comes it doesn’t topple over. It may move and sway but unless we have excessive forces, it stands firm. We all know that this is true. We also universally know why this phenomenon happens. There is an extensive root structure under the ground that anchors the tooth in place. The deeper and wider the base of the roots, the more stability that is given to the tooth. The roots serve as an anchor to hold the tree firmly. In fact, if we were to roll back the hands of time about 65 years and I was on the research team that helped develop and observe the phenomenon of how implants work, I might have suggested that the name we use should be “anchor.” No one would ever confuse anchor with a tooth.

The dental implant actually replaces the hidden part of the tooth. This hidden part is called the root of the tooth. The same term that we use for an anchor of a tree. What I am going to say next is crucial and fundamental to understanding what is happening here. All we replace is the root. All we replace is the hidden part of the tooth. This is why after we place an implant more often than not there is nothing sticking out of our gums to touch with our tongues or see with our eyes. What happens next is individualized and customized to each case. Sometimes we wait a period of time before we see a tooth … sometimes we can see a tooth or teeth that very day … sometimes we never see a tooth at all. My patient whom I saw this week, fit into the latter category. His implant could be used in a few different ways to help support his partial. One way was to actually put a tooth on the implant. This would require a redesign or reworking of his partial. In some cases it could involve a whole new partial. The other way involved using a specialize attachment which would anchor his partial to the implant for support. This could be done with minimal changed or alteration to his partials. This can really be confusing for all concerned. To make it more challenging, adding a tooth may not necessarily give the same grab that adding a specialized attachment would give. The commercials and marketing for dental implants has exploded since I placed my first implant almost 25 years ago. Like anything else, it changes fast and can be confusing for those who hear and read about it. What works and is appropriate for you may not be what your friend needs. My job is to filter through all the extraneous details which may or may not impact your situation and come up with an appropriate plan for you. If you think that you can benefit from this wonderful treatment and want to find out more, please call Megan and come in to meet me. Together we can discuss your concerns and I can address any questions that you may have. Call us at 440.951.7856 I look forward to helping you. Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is on the staff of Case Western Reserve School of Dental Medicine.

The Healthy Smile 34586 Lakeshore Boulevard (¼ mile west of Route 91 on Lakeshore Blvd) Eastlake, Ohio 44095 440-951-7856 Severance Medical Arts, Suite 603 5 Severance Center Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 216-371-2333 www.jeffreygrossdds.com