Dental Implants

Dental implants are the single most successful form of treatment your dental professional has to offer. Whether dental implants are used to replace missing teeth or support a denture they provide the practitioner and patient with a predictable and highly successful alternative to traditional dentistry.

Dental implants are placed in the patient's upper or lower jaw to serve as supports for crowns, bridges, or dentures. In many cases, the patients existing bone is of sufficient quantity and quality for the placement of dental implants. If the patient presents to the oral surgeon with insufficient bone due to atrophy, pathology, or trauma various grafting procedures can be employed to augment the bone in order that it will predictably support a dental implant and its restorative components.

Dental implants require a thorough evaluation by oral surgeon and restorative dentist. This evaluation includes x-rays, clinical exam, discussion with the restorative dentist, and selective cases a 3-dimensional CT scan. Dr. Whitesides will work closely with your restorative dentist to properly plan your dental implant case. Should you need a restorative dentist, Dr. Whitesides will refer you to one of the many dentists in the Atlanta area with whom he routinely works.

Dental implants require significant amount of time from both the patient and the doctor if they are to be successful. After your implant surgery, the implant and bone must chemically and mechanically bond in a process known as osseointegration, which typically takes 4 to 6 months. Once osseointegration has taken place, the implant is uncovered, impressions are taken, and a healing abutment is placed on the implant. Two weeks later, Dr. Whitesides will place an Atlantis™ custom abutment and temporary restoration on top of the dental implant. After this, the patient will arrive at the dentist's office ready for the final impression and fabrication of the final implant crown.

Dr. Whitesides performs all dental implant and associated bone graft surgery with patients under general anesthesia. This way he can be assured the patient is experiencing no pain or discomfort during the surgery. Because all surgeries are done under general anesthesia, the patients would be required to arrive with nothing to eat or drink after midnight and a responsible adult who is willing to stay in the office from the duration of the procedure and be able to drive the patient home.

Please call our office today to schedule your implant consult with Dr. Whitesides.