Dental implants are designed to replace the root of a missing tooth, providing a stable foundation for a crown, bridge, or implant-supported restoration.
When a natural tooth cannot be saved, an implant can restore function and appearance while helping preserve the surrounding jawbone.
Dr. Kelleher takes a comprehensive approach to implant placement, evaluating the available bone and gum tissue, bite, neighboring teeth, and overall oral health before treatment. When necessary, bone or gum grafting may be performed before or during implant placement to create an ideal foundation.
Once placed, the implant requires time to integrate with the surrounding bone before the final restoration is completed. It’s important to realize that a dental implant only replaces the root of the missing tooth. After a dental implant is placed, a healing period of 2–4 months is needed to integrate with the surrounding bone, although timing varies depending on bone quality, implant stability, grafting, and location.
