Periotest

 Implant surgery has become more and more common. 

Two reasons: 1.) Many times placing an implant means that other teeth do not have to be involved. 2.) The cost of dental implants has become very affordable.

Replacing missing teeth with an implant is a great way of correcting bite issues, but it also maintains bone that shapes the face. When bone erodes, over time, it changes the shape of our jaw and cheekbones. Keeping bone means keeping a more youthful appearance, too. 

“Many patients who come to my Riverside Periodontal practice are worried over tooth loss,” Dr. Rice says. “They know losing a tooth means a possible change in appearance, change in the ability to eat the foods they like and overall function.” While implants are not always the answer, many times they are. “Patients generally have the same questions about implants.  Can I eat anything I want with it? The answer is yes as long as you are talking about foods. Once integrated into the bone and restored, an implant will need to be brushed and flossed and will function as well as the tooth it replaced. Will it look natural? The answer again is yes. Implants and restorations done well look like natural teeth. Will the surgery hurt? No. In my office, we place implants under a local anesthetic. After the surgery there is generally little if any discomfort or bruising and many return right away to work,” Dr. Rice says.

Then the waiting begins. “We wait to make sure that the implant integrates into the bone. When we think the time is right, I use Periotest to determine if the implant is ready. This ensures a great outcome. It’s one of the reasons I can stand behind my implants,” Dr. Rice says.