Hartford Dental Implants
Dental implants are the gold standard for replacing missing teeth. A dental implant is comprised of a root form, a crown, and an abutment that fits the two together. From an oral health perspective, dental implants offer the strength and resilience of a structure that mimics your original tooth. When placed by a skilled dentist, they look natural and beautiful.
Placing Dental Implants
Placing dental implants is a two-part process. First, Dr. Michalski will surgically insert a root form into your jaw. You will receive local anesthetic for the procedure. Dr. Michalski is also qualified to provide sedation. For more information about this, please see our conscious sedation page.
When your gum and jaw have healed, you will have another appointment. At this time, your dentist will attach an abutment to the root form. Abutments can be custom-made to achieve the desired angle and aesthetic effect for each implant. After the abutment is in place, it is time to fit the crown, which will look and feel like a healthy tooth.
Implants are strong like natural teeth because the root forms a bond with the bone around it in a process called osseointegration. If necessary, Dr. Michalski can place a bone graft at the site of the lost tooth before placing an implant. This will build up the bone in your jaw and allow it to accommodate the implant, ensuring its strength.
Dr. Michalski has completed extensive training through the Misch Resnick Implant Institute and through Straumann with the International Team of Implantology. He is a member of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and holds their highest credential level, Diplomate.
When Is a Dental Implant Appropriate?
Implants perform an essential job that other tooth replacement options, like bridges, don’t. They send signals to your body telling it not to absorb bone from your jaw. Bone resorption is a natural consequence of tooth loss, and it’s irreversible. For patients who have lost all their natural teeth, it can lead to a condition called facial collapse. That degree of bone loss can make it impossible to wear a denture comfortably. So while implants are beautiful and convenient, they also protect your long-term oral health.
If you have lost a single tooth, an implant is a good way to replace it without altering any other teeth in your mouth. For patients with no remaining original teeth, implants offer a pathway to normal chewing, eating, smiling, and talking—without discomfort or anxiety. If you need a full-mouth restoration, implants can support larger permanent tooth structures, such as an entire arch of teeth. Dr. Michalski can also place dentures anchored by two or more implants. In addition to protecting you from bone loss, this ensures that your dentures don’t move when you speak or chew.
Once your new teeth are in place, you will need to take care of them just like natural teeth. That means brushing twice a day, flossing, and keeping up with dental cleanings. If you take care of implanted teeth, they can last you the rest of your life. Call Radiant Smiles of Rocky Hill at (860) 563-4544 or use our online form to make an appointment and find out if you’re a candidate for implants.
Dr. Michalski restored this patient’s smile using dental implants: