implants


It is our great pleasure to provide you with the Dear Doctor - Dentistry & Oral Health Digital Library. Written exclusively by the foremost dental educators and clinicians in the field of dentistry, this library provides you with the latest developments and advancements on all aspects of dentistry to help you make the best decisions for your dental health. Such decisions can change not only your smile but your life for the better. If you have any questions after exploring the library, please feel free to ask our team.

You can get started by either searching for a dental term or procedure in the search box or you can view some popular articles below. Once the articles open, please feel free to print, email and share them with your friends and family.


Featured Article on Teeth Whitening - View all
Teeth Whitening - Dear Doctor Magazine Teeth Whitening - Brighter, lighter, whiter...
The subconscious impact of a white smile is radiant health, happiness, warmth and invitation. Today brighter, lighter, whiter teeth have become a norm. Tooth whitening by bleaching is a successful, conservative, relatively inexpensive and safe alternative... Read Article


Featured Article on Porcelain Veneers - View all
Porcelain Veneers - Dear Doctor Magazine Smile Design Enhanced with Porcelain Veneers
In part two of the series on Smile Design, Dear Doctortakes an in-depth look at Porcelain Veneers, a superior yet minimally invasive technique for smile enhancement. We'll explain not only when they're appropriate, but also when they're not... Read Article


Featured Article on Cosmetic Dentistry - View all
Cosmetic Dentistry - Dear Doctor Magazine Cosmetic Dentistry - A Time For Change
Join us as we review the myriad of possibilities available to you for cosmetic dental change. But the biggest part is not just how your smile looks, it's how you feel when you show it... Read Article


Featured Article on Dental Implants - View all
Dental Implants - Dear Doctor Magazine Dental Implants - Your Third Set of Teeth
A discovery fifty years ago paved the way for one of dentistry's most exciting, natural looking and successful tooth replacement systems. Learn how dental implants might just possibly change your life... Read Article


Featured Article on Tooth Decay - View all
Tooth Decay - Dear Doctor Magazine What is Tooth Decay? - And How to Prevent It!
Tooth Decay is an infection, and many people don't realize that it is preventable. This article is the first in a series about tooth decay, perhaps the number one reason children and adults lose teeth during their lifetime. Explore the causes of tooth decay, its prevention and the relationship to bacteria, sugars and acids... Read Article


Featured Article on Restorative Dentistry - View all
Tooth Colored Fillings - Dear Doctor Magazine The Natural Beauty of Tooth Colored Fillings
The public's demand for aesthetic tooth colored (metal free) restorations (fillings) together with the dental profession's desire to preserve as much natural tooth structure as possible, has led to the development of special "adhesive" tooth colored restorations... Read Article


Featured Article on Oral Hygiene - View all
Oral Hygiene - Dear Doctor Magazine Oral Hygiene - Dental Health for Life
The best tools for maintaining your oral health and minimizing dental problems are a quality toothbrush, toothpaste, a roll of dental floss, approved mouthwash and good diet. Unfortunately, myths and folklore abound on how and what to use to best effect. This article cuts through the confusion with a winning game plan for oral health... Read Article


Featured Article on Periodontal (Gum) Disease - View all
Periodontal (Gum) Disease - Dear Doctor Magazine Understanding Gum (Periodontal) Disease
Have your gums ever bled when you brushed or flossed? This most commonly overlooked simple sign may be the start of silent (periodontal) disease leading to tooth loss. Learn what you can do to prevent this problem and keep your teeth for life... Read Article


Featured Article on Smile Makeovers - View all
Smile Makeover - Dear Doctor Magazine The Impact of a Smile Makeover
Americans are catching on to the emotional and social importance of a healthy, beautiful smile, and they're seeking out ways to improve their smiles. Learn why and what a change could mean for you... Read Article


Featured Article on TMD - View all
TMD - TMJ - Dear Doctor Magazine TMD - The Great Impostor
This “chameleon” of dental disorders manifests in a variety of ways, including joint pain, sinusitus, ear pain, tooth and headaches. The causes of TMD, its signs and symptoms and what can be done to treat this common disorder... Read Article


Featured Article on Oral Cancer - View all
Oral Cancer - Dear Doctor Magazine Oral Cancer
This article may just save your life. Learn how to notice any unusual lesions (sores or ulcers) anywhere in your mouth that do not heal within two-three weeks. Early detection is key... Read Article


Featured Article on Dentures - View all
Implant Overdentures - Dear Doctor Magazine Implant Overdentures for the Lower Jaw
Implant overdentures represent a major change for the dental profession and the public. The lower jaw two-implant overdenture may be considered a more appropriate starting point over regular dentures... Read Article


Featured Article on Root Canals - View all
Root Canal - Dear Doctor Magazine “I'd Rather Have a Root Canal...”
A common misconception is demystified. Get the real story about this much maligned procedure that eases pain, rather than causes it... Read Article


Featured Article on Invisalign - View all
Invisalign - Dear Doctor Magazine Invisalign Orthodontics
The orthodontic treatment using clear aligners consists of a series of aligners that you change about every two weeks over a course of treatment lasting six to eighteen months depending on how much movement is needed... Read Article


Featured Article on Dental Injuries - View all
Dental Injuries - Dear Doctor Magazine The Field-Side Guide to Dental Injuries
Accidents to the teeth, jaws and mouth can happen at any time during any sporting activity. Proper attention can save pain, alleviate anxiety and costly dental treatment. A little knowledge, as they say, can go along way. This field-side guide briefly explains some simple rules to follow when dealing with different dental injuries and when you need to see the dentist... Read Article


Featured Article on Porcelain Veneers - View all
No-prep Procelain Veneers - Dear Doctor Magazine Porcelain Veneers - Without A Drill
No drilling - reality or ridiculous? A no-drill technique requires a second look, as new materials and concepts have created new esthetic possibilities. Reactions and opinions among dentists have ranged from absolute disbelief to moderate acceptance. This article gives hope and reasons for patients to get excited about this conservative drill-free cosmetic technique... Read Article


Featured Article on Tooth Decay - View all
Tooth Decay - Dear Doctor Magazine Tooth Decay - How To Assess Your Risk
Don't wait for cavities to occur and then have them fixed — stop them before they start. Modern dentistry is moving towards an approach to managing tooth decay that is evidence-based — on years of accumulated, systematic, and valid scientific research. This article discusses what you need to know to assess your risk and change the conditions that lead to decay... Read Article


Featured Article on Wisdom Teeth - View all
Wisdom Teeth - Dear Doctor Magazine Wisdom Teeth - To Be Or Not To Be
Facts you need to know about these curiously named teeth. They are so-called because a moderate amount of wisdom is supposedly achieved at about the same time these teeth typically make their appearance. This article will review the problems associated with wisdom teeth and whether or not they should be removed... Read Article


About Dear Doctor Magazine
Written by dental professionals, Dear Doctor - Dentistry & Oral Health magazine is packed with informative articles and consultations in all aspects of dentistry including Cosmetic & Restorative Dentistry, Implantology, Periodontics, Oral Health & Hygiene, Oral Surgery & Medicine, Pediatric Dentistry, Endodontics and Dental Hygiene. Dear Doctor also provides you with an opportunity to win a smile makeover.

Copyright © 2011 Dear Doctor, Inc. All rights reserved. Copying or reproducing any text or graphics is strictly prohibited.





Before development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth.

Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.

Implants are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.

Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and place the implant in the mouth. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to take hold and for bone tissue to build up and anchor the device. In some cases, metal posts are inserted into the implant during a follow-up procedure to connect the tooth.

Because implants require surgery, patients are administered anesthesia and, if necessary, antibiotics to stave off infection following the procedure.

Like any restoration, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time.

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