New teeth in an hour

New teeth in an hour

With the advent of in-house 3D scanners, doctors can perform virtual surgery in an office and see where to place dental implants with a high degree of success.

by Dr. Nicholas Meyer — 

Perhaps you have seen the ads or have heard of someone who had this procedure. So, what is it? It is quite the miracle. Imagine, walking into a dental office and relatively soon thereafter walking out with a new set of teeth. Is it too good to be true? No. In fact, modern root form dental implants have been around since the mid-1980s. They are by far the most common implants in the world.

Doctors who have learned the ins and outs of the implants have discovered that if you stabilize the implants immediately, you can “load” them immediately. With the advent of in-house 3D scanners, doctors can perform virtual surgery in an office and see where to place dental implants with a high degree of success. In micro-milling, small parts and tools have been developed to accommodate the various angles that need to be used during implant procedures. One implant system is called the All-on-4™ in which four implants support an almost complete set of teeth.

Patients need to have initial visits for various measurements and for molds to be made. The dentures that will go on the implants are then processed accordingly. When that is done, the placement (surgical) day is scheduled. If teeth are missing, surgery time can be as little as 45 minutes and the attachment of the denture to the implants can be done in about an hour. If teeth are present, more time will be required. Those teeth do not come out, as they are solid and stable.

This first set of teeth is the healing set. Then a second, more refined set is made about four to five months later. This set will have a higher level of aesthetics and functionality than the initial healing set. The procedure is definitely worth it, as patients begin to enjoy healthier teeth within as little as 24 to 48 hours.

Nicholas Meyer, D.D.S., D.N.M., is a general dentist in Scottsdale, Ariz., who has a special interest in developmental disturbances of the facial complex that contribute to such maladies as TMJ, snoring and sleep apnea. milldental.com, DrMeyer@milldental.com or 480-948-0560.

Reprinted from AzNetNews, Volume 33, Number 2, April/May 2014.