Dental Implants​​​
The ideal option to replace missing teeth.
Dental Implants in Calgary, AB
What Is a Dental Implant?
Your natural tooth is made up of a crown and a root. The crown is the white part of the tooth you see above the gums, and the root is below the gums and supports the crown.
A dental implant is a small screw that is placed in the jaw bone to replace the missing tooth root. A new crown, bridge, or denture can then be attached to the dental implant to replace the missing tooth or teeth.
The Next Best Thing to Real Teeth
When it comes to taking care of your teeth and gums, preventative care such as gum disease prevention is the best strategy. However, if the damage is too far gone, sometimes replacing teeth is the only option.
Dental implants are the ideal option for replacing teeth as they look, feel, and function just like natural teeth. They allow for you to speak, eat, and smile with comfort and confidence.
Before and After
Note: Photos are for illustration only and individual results may vary.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Do not Depend on Other Teeth
Other tooth replacement options such as tooth-supported bridges or removable partial dentures depend on neighbouring teeth to support the replacement tooth. Therefore, if anything happens to the neighbouring teeth you are now worse off than you were to start. Dental implants are independent of neighbouring teeth, so if a neighbouring tooth gets a cavity, the implant won’t be affected.
High Success Rates
Success rates of dental implants vary depending on the location of the implant and the health of the patient, but in general, dental implants have success rates of up to 98%.
Durability and Reliability
Dental implants are made of titanium or zirconia which means they can withstand chewing forces over a long period of time.
Face Shape is Maintained
When a tooth is lost, the bone around it tends to deteriorate as well. This can result in a change to your face shape that can make you look older. Dental implants replace the support your natural teeth provide, preventing your face from changing shape.
No Cavities
Because the implant-restored crown is an artificial (not natural) material, it cannot get cavities. However, you still need to have regular gum care and cleanings around the implant site just like you would for a natural tooth to prevent bacteria from building up.
Easy to Clean
Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene compared to other methods of replacing teeth.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Implants are made of biocompatible materials such as titanium or zirconia. Due to this biocompatibility, once an implant is placed into your bone, the bone attaches itself to the surface of the implant in a process called osseointegration. An osseointegrated implant is firmly anchored into the bone and can withstand normal chewing forces over a long period of time.
Before dental implants people were stuck with dentures that sit on top of the gums leading to movement, discomfort, and bone loss over time. Now, with dental implants, teeth can be replaced and predictably relied upon for years.
There Are More Options Than Ever to Customize Dental Implants to Suit Your Needs​
Teeth in a Day
Due to the advancing technology and research surrounding dental implants, we can now not only pull a tooth and place an implant right away, but in some cases we can even attach the teeth we are replacing to the implant. This means that you don’t have to worry about leaving our office without teeth. However, this is not appropriate in all cases. Sometimes if there is not enough bone, or the bone is not dense enough, it is more predictable to place the implants and let the bone heal for three months before using them to replace missing teeth. Following an exam, Dr. Gibson can let you know if you are a candidate.
Zirconia Dental Implants
For those missing single or multiple teeth, there are more tooth replacement options than ever. A great metal-free option that has continued to rise in popularity in the dental industry is zirconia dental implants. These are a great alternative to traditional titanium implants. Zirconia implants have the same advantages as titanium implants however they are white in colour and mimic the natural look of the tooth.
Trust Your Dental Implant With a Gum Surgery Specialist​
If you’re looking for a dental implant in Calgary you’ve come to the right place.Â
Long-term predictability of dental implants depends on the surgeon’s ability to manipulate bone and gum tissue. As a periodontist, Dr. Gibson is a gum surgery specialist with years of training and experience performing bone grafts and gum grafts in conjunction with dental implants.
I’m Interested in Getting a Dental Implant. What Should I Expect?
Your first appointment will be an examination. At this time Dr. Gibson will determine if you are a good candidate for a dental implant, go over the procedure with you, and answer your questions. If you are interested in moving forward, a 3D X-ray will be needed so that the surgery can be planned. The dental implant is placed using local anaesthetic, though we have sedation options for patients who need a little help to feel at ease.
1. Exam
2. X-Ray
3. Implant Placed
4. Follow-Up
Ready to Get Started?
Dental Implant FAQs
While dental implants have high success rates, some implants suffer from complications. Although dental implants cannot get cavities, they can get gum disease (peri-implantitis). This means it is important to care for your implants just like natural teeth. They need to be brushed, flossed, and get professionally cleaned on a regular basis. Otherwise bacteria can travel underneath the gums leading to bone loss and even implant loss over time. Learn more about peri-implantitis treatment.
There are two main ways that people with multiple missing teeth can benefit from implants. The first option is an implant-supported denture. This describes a denture that clips on to 2-6 implants providing excellent support and retention. With this option you don’t have to worry about your denture moving when you’re speaking and you can chew hard foods. However, an implant-supported denture is still removable, which means that you will need to take it out at night to keep it clean.
The second option is an implant-supported prosthesis or bridge. This describes a denture that is secured to 4-6 implants with screws. This bridge is non-removable, meaning that it stays in your mouth 24/7 and only your dentist can remove it.
Denture wearers can benefit greatly from dental implants. In the past, dentures were the only method of replacing missing teeth for years. However, denture since dentures sit on top of your gums they can be unstable, causing difficulty chewing and speaking. The dentures also put pressure on the gums, which causes the jaw bone to shrink over time, so the dentures will always become loose, no matter how well they fit at first. Dentures can be attached to dental implants, leading to a significant increase in support and retention. According to a consensus out of McGill University, due to the very poor stability of lower dentures, the use of two implants in the lower jaw to support a lower denture offers significantly better function and is now considered the standard of care.
Most patients experience minimal discomfort after the procedure and are often surprised by how easily they heal. While many choose to have the procedure performed with just numbing the area, we offer sedation dentistry as well. Your comfort is our priority and we will do whatever we can to make your experience as painless and easy as possible.
The price of implants can vary depending on how many teeth need replacing, the current health of your bone and gum, and how long the tooth has been missing. In some cases, a bone graft or sinus lift may be necessary before placing the implant which is an additional cost. Because there are many things to consider when planning for dental implants, a consultation is required before an exact quote can be provided.
During your consultation, Dr. Gibson will perform a comprehensive evaluation, discuss all your options, and review all treatment costs so you know exactly how much your treatment will be before starting. We will also help you maximize any insurance benefits you may have and work with you to help you get the treatment you need.