Dr. Jafarian is a specialist in the field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The specialty of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS) is the part of dental practice that encompasses the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects affecting the oral and facial region.
    The scope of our practice includes teeth extractions, wisdom teeth surgery, placement of dental implants, facial trauma and infection, orthognathic and reconstructive surgery, TMJ treatment, oral pathology and treatment of facial tumors and other adjuctive procedures.
 

    Many adults have one or more of their teeth missing through accident or disease and there may now be a perfect solution - Dental Implants.

    A dental implant is a small device that substitutes for the root portion of the lost natural teeth. These devices are anchored to the jawbone to provide a stable foundation on which replacement teeth are firmly attached.
A dental implant consists of two main parts; a fixture which is a titanium screw inserted surgically into the jaw; an abutment, which is made of titanium and forms a link between the fixture and the overlying bridge, crown or denture.
    Implants are ideal if single teeth are missing, avoiding the prospect of wearing a removable denture which is often unacceptable. A single dental implant can provide the perfect healthy solution, restoring the gap without cutting or damaging adjacent healthy teeth.
    They are equally effective for large gaps caused by several missing teeth. Missing molar teeth can also be replaced - even though their loss may not be visible, it can result in considerable eating difficulties and long term dental problems.
    Implants are commonly used in patients without any teeth in their lower jaw. A denture is secured by two or more implants, which serve as supporting pillars providing firm anchorage and reducing the worries of denture movement.
 
 
 

    This is a root form implant. These are typically put into place in the bone and covered for 6 months, then re-exposed and a bridge is placed at that time.
 

    The long term success of an implant depends largely on scrupulous oral hygiene and our highly skilled Hygienists can assist you with this. As is the case with your natural teeth, any lack of care can lead to inflammation of the jaw with consequent bone loss and ultimately the removal of the tooth or implant.
 
 

    One of the most beneficial uses of dental implants is in conjunction with existing natural teeth. If only the front teeth are remaining in the upper or lower jaw there are only two ways to replace the missing back teeth. One method is with a removable partial denture, with clasps, wires and plastic over the gums and the other more natural method is with implants and fixed porcelain bridges. The bridgework over the implants eliminates all the hardware that is part of a partial denture. In addition to being more comfortable and stronger than a partial, the implant supported bridge stimulates the bone which helps preserve it and strengthens the remaining natural teeth by its splinting effect. Implant bridges are as close as possible to restoring the mouth with natural looking and feeling non-removable teeth.
 

Fitting an Implant
    Implantology is a team effort, between the Restorative Dentist, Oral Surgeon and Dental Technician.

    An initial examination will decide whether implant treatment is the appropriate solution in an individual patient’s case. This will then be discussed with the Surgeon and Technician as to the suitability and practicality of the planned procedure.
For a single implant the operation may be carried out under local anaesthetic and lasts around an hour. Longer procedures are best carried out with the benefit of intravenous sedation, which enables a patient to remain conscious, yet relaxed and often unable to remember the whole procedure.
 
 

After the Operation
    There is a healing period, during which time the titanium screws take firm root in the jaw bone. This period is usually three months for the lower and six months for the upper, due to differing texture of the bone.

    The fitting of the abutment - the second part of the implant - is a smaller operation, which usually lasts about 15 minutes. After a further healing period of about a week, the surgical treatment is complete and the restorative phase - the actual fitting of the crown bridge or denture, can go ahead.