Restore
Dental implants are metal posts that replace missing teeth. Most are made of titanium, a metal that is bio-compatible with human tissues and has been used for decades without any known ill effects. They can be placed in the lower jaw (mandible) or the upper jaw (maxilla).
When it comes to replacing missing teeth, implants are the most conservative, longest-lasting option available — they replace the tooth without altering the healthy teeth on either side.
Healing times are related to human biology and cannot be rushed. Bone grafting, a sinus lift or jaw reconstruction lengthens them.
Step by step
Most of the anxiety around implants comes from not knowing the sequence. Here it is, start to finish.
A clinical examination establishes what is actually happening — how much bone and gum tissue you have, the condition of the neighbouring teeth, and what you want to be able to do that you cannot do now.
Nothing is scheduled at this visit. The fee for your particular treatment is discussed fully before treatment begins. Fees and insurance.
Dental x-rays and clinical exams determine whether enough bone exists to place implants. Our three-dimensional imaging lets most of the planning happen on the computer rather than in the chair, which means fewer appointments for you.
If there is not enough bone, there are predictable procedures to graft and regenerate what is needed — see bone grafting and sinus lift.
The implant is placed in the planned position. Surgery is performed here in our Orem office by a periodontist, not referred out. In some cases the implant can be placed and restored in a single appointment.
Infections after implant surgery are rare. The weight of evidence in the dental literature is against routine antibiotic coverage, so the decision rests with the surgeon and the patient together.
The general rule of thumb is that implants placed in the mandible heal in three to four months, and the maxilla in four to six. Augmenting bone, performing sinus lifts or reconstructing the jaw lengthens that.
Healing times are related to human biology. Healing cannot be made to go any quicker than how we were intended to heal.
Once the implant has integrated, it is restored with a crown, a bridge, or an implant-supported denture. Advances in implant materials and 3D technology make natural-looking results part of our everyday practice.
With regular professional check-ups, you can anticipate dental implants lasting many years, if not a lifetime.
Watch
An interview covering who implants suit, what the surgery is like, and how long treatment takes.
More surgical videos on YouTubeEvery case below was treated in this office. Drag the divider to compare, or use the arrow keys.
Case 01 · Four implants, upper arch
This 30-year-old presented immediately following her orthodontic treatment. Examination showed excessive mobility on her upper front six teeth as a result of that treatment, rendering them hopeless. Her wish was teeth she could bite into an apple with, without fear of them falling out, and a smile she could be proud to show off for years. Four dental implants accomplished it.
Case 02 · Upper front teeth
Treated at Utah Valley Periodontics and Dental Implants by Dr. Alex Bankhead and his team.
Case 03 · Single front tooth
This 29-year-old presented missing her front tooth. Because the tooth had a root canal in the past, she was unaware of any decay until it broke off while she was out to dinner — decay had seeped under her veneer and weakened the tooth. Advances in implant materials and 3D technology allow aesthetic, natural results like this to be part of our everyday practice.
Case 04 · Central incisor
This 25-year-old lost a central incisor to a failed root canal. She wanted a long-term solution that required no alteration of the neighbouring teeth and looked as natural and life-like as possible. With regular professional check-ups, one can anticipate dental implants lasting many years, if not a lifetime.
Case 05 · Both upper lateral incisors
This otherwise healthy, active 21-year-old presented missing both maxillary lateral incisors. His objectives: replace the missing teeth without grinding down the adjacent teeth for a bridge, and explore having the implants placed and restored in a single appointment.
Case 06 · Bar-clip overdentures, both arches
This patient lost his natural teeth to periodontal disease. Clinical and radiographic examination, including a three-dimensional CAT scan, confirmed adequate bone for implants. We recommended a solution that would meet his functional and esthetic goals and still be easy to clean every day: implant-supported bar-clip overdentures restoring both arches.
This approach works well where tooth loss has cost bone volume and the face needs lip support and fullness restored — and because the denture comes out daily for hygiene, it suits patients who have struggled with home care in the past.
Case 07 · Upper full arch
This 59-year-old wanted a mouth and smile to match her vivacious approach to life. She had worn a conventional upper denture for over ten years and had grown tired of the high maintenance and poor results. Her wish list: a more open palate so her mouth felt natural again, more room for her tongue to avoid compromising her speech, and a prosthesis that gave her freedom and confidence day to day.
Case 08 · Replacing a partial denture
Tired of wearing a loose, uncomfortable partial denture? With dental implants your partial can be a thing of the past. Our three-dimensional imaging allows most of the planning steps to be done on the computer, without multiple appointments for the patient.
Case 09 · Congenitally missing laterals
This 17-year-old from Kaysville was born missing his maxillary lateral incisors. Following the completion of his orthodontic care we placed dental implants and plumped out his gums, so the new teeth would look natural without the concavities above the teeth that always distract from a life-like smile.
Case 10 · Permanent replacement for a flipper
This 18-year-old was born missing her permanent lateral incisors. After orthodontic care she wore a retainer to fill in the spaces. She was ready for a permanent solution that looked and felt like her own — and her implants are so natural-looking that nobody can tell.
Case 11 · Correcting another surgeon's implant
This 20-year-old from Mapleton had two implants placed by someone who lacked the proper implant training and experience — the left implant was protruding out of the gum tissue. We removed the ill-placed implant and repaired the hole in the gum tissue before a replacement could be inserted. Trust your mouth to a specialist.
Common questions
Forty answers on periodontal disease, implants, and daily care — written by the periodontists who do the surgery.
Read all frequently asked questionsA consultation includes a clinical exam and, where indicated, 3D imaging — so you leave knowing what is being recommended and why.
