New Teeth in Hours – Computer Guided Dental Implant Surgery

Presented by: Sabine C. Girod, M.D., D.D.S, Ph.D.
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
Assistant Professor, Stanford University Medical Center

Lecture Overview:
You may need the services of Dr. Girod, a specialist in oral and maxillofacial surgery, for tooth loss related to a variety of diseases and causes ranging from that well-known culprit, cavities, to far more serious conditions including cancer, head trauma and abnormal jaw syndromes. In her recent lecture, Dr. Girod discussed titanium dental implants that look and act like natural teeth, and are, in fact, harder to remove than natural tooth roots. Today’s dental aesthetics are strictly high-end, with immediate functionality and a quick return to normal life. Research by Dr. Girod and others, spanning three decades, has proven that titanium implants stop bone loss, eliminate pressure and stress from conventional dentures, and eliminate periodontal disease. Today’s surgical recovery times are considerably shorter too. In some cases, patients are in and out in the same day with a new set of teeth.

What Are Dental Implants and How Do They Work?
Dental implants are composed of titanium metal that fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. If properly cared for, dental implants can last a lifetime. A dental implant designed to replace a single tooth is composed of three parts: the titanium implant that fuses with the jawbone; the abutment, which fits over the portion of the implant that protrudes from the gum line; and the crown, which is created by a prosthodontist or restorative dentist and fitted onto the abutment for a natural appearance. When a missing tooth is replaced by a dental implant, the fusion, or osseointegration, of the implant and bone provides stability, just as the natural tooth did.

A successful implant requires that all parties involved — the patient; the restorative dentist, who makes the crown for the implant; and the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who surgically places the implant, follow a careful plan of treatment. The team is organized as soon as the decision for placing a dental implant is reached. Following an evaluation that includes a comprehensive examination, x-rays and a consultation with the patient and members of the implant team, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places the posts, or implants, in the patient’s jaw. When the implants have stabilized in the jaw, the restorative dentist prepares an impression of the upper and lower jaws. This impression is used to make the model from which the dentures or crowns are created.

The teamwork continues after the implant and crown have been placed. Follow-up examinations with the oral and maxillofacial surgeon and restorative dentist are critical, and progress is carefully charted.

For More Information:

Dr. Girod’s Community Academic Profile
http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/Sabine_Girod