Implants improve life outlook

Implants improve life outlook
March 03, 2005
By Sharon Klehm
News Tribune Online

Three local dentists, Dr. John Derango of La Salle, Dr. Scott Stanke, a periodontist of Peru and Dr. Brian Billard of Oglesby currently work with dental implants. Derango has put temporary and permanent crowns on dental implant abutments for about 15 years. He recently completed training at the Misch Institute near Detroit, Mich., to install the cylinder, screw insert and abutment covering in routine cases not requiring oral surgery.
Çƒ?From a single tooth to partials to accident-type cases, implants are providing a solution to problems where previous solutions may have comprised other teeth,Çƒ? Derango said.
According to Stanke, dental implants have revolutionized dental treatment and the way dentists think about treating their patients.
Çƒ?However, many patients are not immediate candidates for dental implants due to the lack of bone to anchor them,Çƒ? he said. Çƒ?In these cases, bone grafts may have to be performed before placement of the implants can be possible.Çƒ?
The biggest reason dental implants were developed was because of loose lower dentures.
Çƒ?They are truly a miracle for lower denture wearers who have a high level of dissatisfaction and donÇƒÙt wear their dentures because of looseness, pain or social embarrassment they experience with them,Çƒ? Stanke said. Çƒ?With as few as two implants, these patients can experience a great leap in their quality of life. The future promises simpler, better and faster techniques that will provide an even higher level of patient satisfaction.Çƒ?
Julie Siebert, a La Salle native, who now lives in Germantown Hills near Peoria, was born with a congenital defect that resulted in nine missing permanent teeth that never came down.
When she was 13, she was fitted with braces to push her existing teeth forward. At 16 or 17, the braces were removed and she wore a retainer until she was 18 when a Maryland bridge was put in place. (A Maryland bridge is where metal plates from the false teeth are attached by cement to permanent teeth.)
Siebert said about 2¨? years ago, problems began to develop with the bridge, resulting in several oral surgeries. When deterioration began in her jawbone, she had to undergo bone and skin grafts and the whole process has taken about 2¨? years. The first surgery was in February 2003 with Stanke, who also placed SiebertÇƒÙs three implants. She recently had permanent crowns put in place by Derango, who has been her dentist since she was 4 years old.
Siebert said she was happy with her implants and although there was some discomfort, the pain was minimal.
Çƒ?I took a pain pill ahead of time. When the freeze wore off, I didnÇƒÙt need to take any pain medicine.Çƒ?
She also said there was some swelling of her tissues, but not much discomfort.
Çƒ?I didnÇƒÙt have many options when my teeth, where the Maryland Bridge was attached, decayed below the cement and I couldnÇƒÙt put the bridge back on,Çƒ? she said. Çƒ?When I got the Maryland bridge at 18 I thought it would be permanent. My brother, who has the same congenital problem, has a Maryland bridge with no problems.Çƒ?
Siebert has no restrictions are far as eating.
Çƒ?They say the strength of an implant is as strong as a regular tooth, but I donÇƒÙt plan on testing,Çƒ? she said. Çƒ?I donÇƒÙt bite right into apples or corn on the cob, but I couldnÇƒÙt do that since I was 13 anyway.Çƒ?
Siebert also has veneer applied on her two front teeth that she does not want to chance loosening it.
Çƒ?I have received so many compliments on my smile, even with my temporary crowns in place,Çƒ? she said. Çƒ?I think it was a wise choice. I would do it over again.
Çƒ?The result was worth it. I would recommend it (dental implant) to others facing similar problems.Çƒ?
Billard, who has been interested in dental implants for some years, completed his training at Wasatch Surgical Institute in Florida and has performed implants for approximately two years. Billard takes a little different approach. When the tooth is extracted, the cylinder, screw post and abutment immediately are placed in the patientÇƒÙs mouth.