Dental Implants

Dental Implants

Dental implants are used to replace lost or missing teeth. The high success rate of implants placed by Doctor Guttenberg is continually scrutinized by him. Among the many factors evaluated are the following:

* The number of implants placed and how long they have been in the jaws

* The average period of follow-up

* The gender of the patient

* The location of the implant (upper or lower jaw)

* The length and width of the implant

By the end of 2007, the practice placed more than 10,000 implants with an overall survival rate of 97%. This very high achievement is even more significant when it is realized that some of the patients in the studies have been regularly reviewed for nearly 17 years. In fact, the average length of time that the patients have been reviewed is 66 months. In the investigations, 54% of the patients were women and 46% men. Their average age was 52 years (the youngest 9 and the most senior 94). There was no significant difference in the success rate based on the gender or age of the patients.

The dental implants that Doctor Guttenberg placed into the jaws were used by restorative dentists to create, place crowns (caps), fixed bridges, and implant supported removable and fixed dentures. About 48% were placed into the upper jaw (maxilla) and the remainder into the lower jaw (mandible). The long term survival rate was slightly higher in the lower jaw (98%) as compared to the upper jaw (96%), probably because of the stronger, denser bone in the mandible.

Because of these studies and his results, Doctor Guttenberg has been able to continually refine his techniques to provide his patients with the best environment to receive and maintain dental implants and restore their missing teeth. If you would like more information on dental Implants, call us in our Washington DC office at 202 466-3323.

Dental Implants MultiMedia To provide you with a better understanding of dental implants, we have integrated the module you see to the right with our website. Many of the frequently asked questions pertaining to dental implants are discussed. Click here to launch Implants Module Click here to launch Animated Implant Module

Our Dental Implant techniques ensure success.

As has been noted above, the Washington Institute for Mouth, Face, and Jaw Surgery has a high success rate in the replacement of lost or missing teeth through dental implants. This is due to our broad and long experience and the associated procedures that can be performed in order to ensure survival, depending on the requirements of the implant. These include such techniques as bone and soft tissue grafting, maxillary sinusplasty with grafting, repositioning of the inferior alveolar nerve, and distraction osteogenesis. These are discussed below.

Bone grafting involves the restoration of bone that has been lost from the jaws over time, which allows for the placement of longer, more stable, and more successful implants. The bone used in the grafting process can come from many sources, including freeze-dried sterile bone, anorganic bone matrix, bioactive glass, and autogenous bone, which may be harvested from the chin, maxillary tuberosity, ramus, hip, rib, or tibia from the patient's own body. The advantage of autogenous bone is that it is the only graft material containing living cells.

Soft tissue grafting involves the restoration of soft tissues that have been lost through disease or trauma and can be instrumental in ensuring the success of a dental implant. The soft tissue is typically harvested from the palate, cheek, or skin of the patient. This ensures the strength of the tissue surrounding the implant.

Maxillary Sinusplasty with Grafting is used when bone is missing in the posterior of the maxilla (upper jaw). The bone is replaced by placing new bone into the maxillary sinus.

Repositioning of the Inferior Alveolar Nerve involves moving this nerve (found in the lower jaw) in order to allow more room in which to place longer, more stable, and more successful implants. Doctor Guttenberg has performed research and delivered presentations at major scientific meetings that illustrate the effectiveness of this procedure when implanting teeth in the lower jaw.

Distraction Osteogenesis is a procedure that promotes increasing the volume and dimension of the jaw without the use of grafting techniques. A device is implanted into the bone, which allows the bone to expand. Doctor Guttenberg is among the first surgeons in the world to use this new technology in conjunction with the placement of dental implants.

Working with others.

Dr. Guttenberg always work in conjunction with restorative dentists and other specialists in order to achieve optimum results. After Dr. Guttenberg places the implants, he relies on restorative dentists and prosthetic specialists, who oversee the creation of prostheses (caps, bridges, and dentures). These are either fixed to the jaw or are made to be removable.

Before Dental Implant	Same Patient with Dental Implant and Crown	Diagram showing procedure to replace missing tooth with implant