At The Bloor Clinic, we are dedicated to providing a positive experience, and delivering compassionate service with integrity and excellence. We listen to your concerns, help inform you of your options, and guide your decisions to optimize your dental health.
Dental Implants are small titanium screws that are used to replace teeth. They may also be used to retain dentures. These titanium metal posts act as anchors in the bone. Dental implants biologically fuse (osseointegrate) to the bone to provide a strong foundation for new teeth. Dental implants are stronger than natural teeth, prevent further bone loss and will last for many years. For single tooth replacement, dental implants may be placed at the same time as the dental extraction if the bone conditions are appropriate. If immediate placement is not possible, a bone graft material is placed in the extraction socket and allowed to regenerate natural bone over time. The bone graft material typically requires 4 to 5 months time to harden before the dental implant may be inserted.
Temporary single tooth dentures are often recommended for appearance but also to maintain the space and prevent drifting of adjacant teeth. Once the implant is inserted, 3 to 4 months time will be required for the titanium and the bone to fuse. A temporary tooth is often fabricated to attach to the implant while the 4 month healing phase occurs. We will be able to fabricate this tooth with our new Omnicam Intra-Oral scanner. This digital impression is sent to the lab and in a few days the temporary tooth is inserted for you. We will also be able to fabricate your final porcelain tooth in a similar fashion once the implant is integrated.
No more gagging with impressions. No more drooling while you wait for impression material to set.
We use dental implants for both single tooth replacement and for full mouth reconstructions. These implants have an internal conical connection that allows the tooth chamber to be hermetically sealed. This prevents leakage of bacteria and subsequent bone loss around the implant. The implant also allows us to use an Angulated Screw Channel to insert your tooth crown into the implant. This significantly reduces the need to cement (glue) the tooth onto the implant. Cement is toxic to the gum and bone and is responsible for 81% of implant infections (peri-implantitis)
Dental implants may also be used to provide permanent teeth the same day of surgery. No waiting. One procedure. The technique involves placement of 4 to 6 dental implants at the time of extractions. Teeth are rigidly secured to the dental implants that same day, allowing you to smile and eat that day. In the past, patients had to undergo painful, expensive and time consuming bone graft procedures. Treatment took over one year to be completed. Today, that is no longer the case. The Teeth the Same Day technique allows one to return to work, play, live in just a few days. This All on Four or All on Six technique is also valuable for denture sufferers. No more adhesive. No more embarrassing denture moments. Youth and vitality is restored in one day.
Patients that have been told that they did not have enough bone are now candidates for Zygoma Implants. These longer implants allow one to have fixed upper teeth whether their jaw bone is absent or not. Only a few Oral Surgeons perform this Zygoma implant procedure in Ontario.
As few as four dental implants can be used to support twelve teeth in one arch (upper or lower). This reduces the cost greatly for permanent teeth. We also use the unique Zygoma implant from Nobel Biocare for severe cases of bone loss in the upper jaw. How is this possible, you may ask? The research and studies have shown over the last ten years that immediate load is possible with implants as long as they are braced together by a denture bridge at the time of insertion. Teeth are removed, dental implants are inserted and your new teeth are attached that same day. It’s a long day, but an important one for the rest of your life. If you are having dental implants placed, ensure your teeth will be fixed and your smile permanent. If you can afford it, don’t accept removable options. With our technique, you receive your permanent teeth the same day.
The preferred method of tooth replacement is the dental implant. Dental implants are a substitute for tooth roots, and form a stable foundation for permanent replacement of teeth. They also act as a support anchor for dentures.
This Fixed-Removable denture utilizes CAD/CAM fabricated parallel cones that are inserted over the implants. The denture has metal sleeves that firmly retain the denture to the implants. The Conus concept is more retentive than any other removable treatment being offered elsewhere. Conus concept dentures do not need maintenance, and allows the denture to be smaller in size. Also, the denture is supported by the implants, which means the denture acrylic does not sit on the gums/bone).
Dental implants can help preserve the bone by providing stimulation that was previously provided by the natural tooth root system. This helps to maintain the integrity of your facial structure. Dental implants are the closest possible replacement for natural teeth, and the best way to restore your natural smile. The cost of these implants has become affordable.
Implant retained dentures are very stable. Implants are a proven restoration option with a long, clinical history and an excellent success rate.
Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth. Many patients who have chosen implant supported teeth report they are happy and comfortable for the first time since the loss of their natural teeth.
Benefits of dental implants:
SINGLE TOOTH EXTRACTION
Most single tooth extractions are due to toothaches. Teeth also need to be removed for the following reasons:
Single tooth extractions are often performed in the clinic with freezing (local Anesthesia.) For patients that are nervous or fearful (Dental Phobia), various forms of sedation may be used including laughing gas (nitrous oxide) or intravenous sedation. For severe cases, general anesthesia (fully asleep) is also an option.
MULTIPLE EXTRACTIONS INCLUDING FULL CLEARANCE
Removal of multiple teeth is often performed under general anesthesia in the clinic. This includes the use of local anesthesia once you are asleep. This may be performed in the clinic with the help of medical anesthetists. If your health or age is an issue, these extractions may be performed in the hospital. Either intravenous sedation or general anesthesia is used to ensure patient comfort. These hospital procedures are same day outpatient procedures. Admission overnight is extremely rare.
ALVEOPLASTY
Alveoplasty is a common procedure performed when two or more adjacent teeth are removed. This is the process of creating smooth bone surface. This is of importance when all the teeth are removed and dentures are to be inserted. This procedures reduces sharp spots and helps the bone to heal quicker. Vertical reduction alveoplasty is performed for dental implant procedures. This involves reducing the height of the jaw ridges in order to create a solid wide base to place the implants. It is also performed to create the vertical clearance required for both removable implant retained dentures and permanent fixed teeth on implants.
TORI AND EXOSTOSIS
A Torus is a bony protuberance that originates from the hard palate or the inside of the upper and lower jaws. This is normal bone that requires removal for the proper fit of dentures. Exostosis are bony protuberances of the outside surface of the upper and lower jaws. These are also removed for proper fit of dentures.
As we lose teeth, the bone of the jaw resorbs (shrinks) over time. In order to place dental implants, the bone quantity needs to be adequate in order to place a proper size implant in the correct position. When the bone is not sufficient, bone grafting techniques may be used to restore the bone in order to place the implants. After a dental extraction, a bone graft material may be used to help regenerate bone in the extraction socket in order to prepare the bone for a dental implant. Typically four to five months time is required for the bone to harden (consolidate).
SINUS LIFT PROCEDURE (SINUS FLOOR BONE GRAFTING)
Our sinuses are often large and empty and occupy a significant amount of space in our upper jaw. If they are very large, an inadequate amount of bone is available to place dental implants. A Sinus lift is a bone graft procedure to increase the amount of bone in the molar regions of the upper jaw. Dental Implants are often inserted at the same time the sinus lift is performed. This allows the dental implant to fuse (integrate) while the bone graft is hardening (consolidating). Putty Cadaver bone is used along with Bovine collagen membrane to perform this procedure. If the bone is extremely thin, the sinus lift needs to be performed on its own followed by implant insertion 4 to 5 months later. This obviously increases the overall treatment time.
CADAVER BONE
Also called Allogenic Bone. This is a safe and effective form of bone grafting. This prevents the surgeon from harvesting the bone from the patient whereby reducing pain and suffering. This bone is resorbed by the body and new bone is formed in its place. The Cadaver bone has a special protein (Bone Morphogenic Protein) that induces new bone formation when used in an extraction socket OR in a Sinus Lift.
BOVINE BONE
Bovine (cow) bone is a safe and very effective material for bone grafting with dental implants. This material allows the body to form new bone around it, but also offers the advantage of stability and resistance to resorption. This bovine material is often used for grafting of bony defects prior to implant insertion. It is used often with a non-resorbable membrane or collagen membranes to contain and protect the graft from the oral environment. We use this material frequently to reconstruct bony defects and to regenerate bone in extraction sockets. This bovine material is sterilized by the manufacturer and contains no cellular elements. This eliminates the risk of disease.
Impacted Canines are ‘eye’ teeth that are stuck in the jaw bone. They are often impacted (stuck) in the upper jaw bone. One option of treatment is to remove it. The other option is to expose (uncover) the tooth in conjunction with orthodontic treatment. This procedure is performed while the patient is asleep in the clinic.
The Wisdom Tooth is the third molar in each of the four corners of our mouth (called quadrants). These 4 teeth often start to come through the gum in our teenage years. In 75% of the population, there is a lack of space in our mouth to accommodate these teeth. When the wisdom tooth fails to erupt properly and becomes “stuck” in the jaw or behind our second molar, we call this pattern- impacted. Impacted wisdom teeth may cause one of the following problems:
Early removal of impacted wisdom teeth during teenage years (age 17 ideal) is recommended to avoid the problems listed above. Early removal decreases the surgical risks due to the soft nature of the jaw bone during teenage years. Improved and quicker healing is also noticed when young. Delayed removal of wisdom teeth beyond age 21 increases the risks involved and increases the recovery time involved after the procedure.
RISKS INVOLVED WITH REMOVAL OF WISDOM TEETH:
REMOVAL OF WISDOM TEETH UNDER ANESTHESIA
Wisdom Teeth are typically removed under general anesthesia (fully asleep). The local anesthetic (freezing) is injected once the patient is asleep. Medical anesthesiologists (specialists) ensure you are fully asleep, safe and comfortable during the entire procedure. Nurses are also in the operating room helping the anesthetist at all times. The patient is awoken once the procedure is complete. Long acting freezing is used to ensure 6 to 8 hours of pain relief after the procedure. There is no possibility of waking or being aware during the procedure.
We use Medical Anesthesiologists and provide general anesthesia for our patients. In our opinion, intravenous sedation is not recommended due to the possibility of awareness and movement during the surgery, aspiration of fluids, apnea (stopping to breath) and feeling pain during the procedure. Recovery occurs in the Recovery Room under the Supervision of a Registered Nurse. Postoperative instructions and Prescriptions will be given in Recovery to a family member. This often includes pain killers (narcotic), antibiotic and an antiseptic rinse. A follow up appointment will be made for the following week. The stitches (sutures) used are self dissolving and are often gone in one week.
CBCT is a medical imaging technique consisting of x-ray computed tomography. We offer this advanced x-ray technology in our office for our patients. This CBCT technology is critical for Implant Dentistry and proper treatment planning. Bone volume and vital structures are accurately identified prior to surgery. Implant sizes and lengths can be determined prior to surgery. Sinus assessment may be performed prior to Zygoma Implant Surgery. This CBCT technology greatly reduces the amount of radiation exposure compared to a standard hospital C.T. scan. The scan will be performed at the time of consultation and a treatment plan for your implant surgery will be provided. In the past, the patient had to go to x-ray centres or hospital to obtain this critical diagnostic imaging. No longer is that the case.
We will use his CBCT treatment plan for the following: