Complete Your Smile with Dental Implants in Wilmington, DE
In the past, dentists replaced missing teeth with bridgework, partials, and dentures. These prosthetics are still widely used today, but another, more lifelike option is available. Back in the 1960s, Dr. Mervin Wahl was fascinated by modern dental implants as an excellent alternative for patients frustrated by wearing dentures. After traveling back and forth to New York City for many courses from Dr. Leonard Linkow, he became the first dentist in Delaware to place dental implants, way before they became the common procedure they are today.
Many of the implants Dr. Mervin placed are still in service, outliving him and helping patients to function and smile.
Dental implants mimic natural tooth structure in that they feature a replacement tooth root and crown. A small implant post made of biocompatible metal is anchored to the jaw during a brief oral surgery. Bone tissue fuses to the implant to create a foundation for a replacement tooth. Dental implants can also stabilize a denture. A few strategically placed implants can hold a denture in place, eliminating the need for denture adhesive and providing a solid fit. We offer both traditional dental implants and mini dental implants. Mini implants look like the traditional variety, but they are smaller, allowing them to fuse with the jawbone more quickly.
Types of Implant Supported Tooth Replacement
- Single Crowns – for patients with one missing tooth, an individual dental crown is fixed to a single dental implant.
- Dental Bridges – patients with two to four missing teeth in a row will need a dental crown that’s supported with one or two dental implant posts.
- Partial Dentures – like their traditional counterparts, implant-retained partials are made from a series of replacement teeth set into a gum colored base that fill in the gaps in patients’ smiles. They’re anchored in place with a number of implants strategically separated to support the partial.
- Full Dentures – they replace a full arch of missing teeth with prosthetic replacements set into a gum colored base. They’re anchored in place with 4-6 implant posts.
At Wahl Family Dentistry, we work closely with dental specialists for implant placement and then design and place the final restorations.