Smile Tip: New Innovative Procedures on Dental Implants with Dr. Leon Chen

We all know the value of a smile.

With this in mind, many of us are fully aware on how distressing it can be when that beautiful smile is compromised. As a dentist, I realize the value of implants, not only aesthetically, but also emotionally, and how it impacts our client’s well being.

Lost a Tooth? Don't Panic

After attending a seminar a few years ago in Miami, I continue to learn the importance of staying up to date on the latest innovative procedures. This is the reason why I wanted to attend a seminar from Dr. Leon Chen, one of the leading experts in performing implants who has performed over 20,000 implants in his career as well as from his associate, Dr. Arun Garg, who has a series on the implant trends and procedures.

For those of you who do not know, a dental implant is the best tooth replacement available today. 

When trauma or disease takes away your tooth, a dental implant can be the most appropriate replacement treatment available. In the past, the most common replacement for a lost tooth was a fixed three-unit bridge. Because a fixed bridge requires tooth removal on both teeth adjacent to a lost tooth, I consider this treatment a second choice to a dental implant. The goal of replacing a missing tooth is to create a new tooth that can look, feel and function as good as or better than the lost tooth.

Many Americans have lost more than one tooth and remain miserable with their removable teeth. Full and partial dentures rarely replace the look, feel and function of a lost tooth or teeth. This is great news for denture sufferers.

Dental implants can be used to replace those lost teeth or used to anchor loose ill-fitting dentures. The best part is that you will be able to look good, feel confident and eat foods that you enjoy once again.

Dental implants - The Good News and the Bad News

However, the bad news for many people is the amount of bone lost after a tooth removal can make them poor candidates for dental implants.  A dental implant needs to be held securely to the bone. After a tooth or teeth removal many patients lose bone height and width, especially in the first six months to one year. Without sufficient bone, an implant cannot be placed ideally to recreate the look, feel and function of your lost tooth.

Yet, here is the good news.

Implant doctors such as Dr. Leon Chen and Dr. Arun Garg have worked tirelessly studying and developing techniques to recreate and grow lost bone. These innovative procedures will allow for more ideal placement of implants. Patients will be able to have teeth replacements that look, feel and function at the very highest level.

Dr. Leon Chen - The Man Behind the Implant

Dr. Leon Chen is founder and CEO of the Dental Implant Institute and world renowned for his development of the techniques of Hydraulic Sinus Condensing, Vertical Translation for Vertical and Horizontal Augmentation techniques. Through his Hydraulic Sinus Condensing and Vertical Ridge Augmentation invention, Dr. Chen developed a 5-in-1 surgical procedure for complicated cases which allows a doctor to combine five surgeries (which previously took 16 months for the patient to heal) into one surgical visit that is less invasive, less painful, with a faster healing time of only four months with the highest success rate. 

For ideal cases, Dr. Chen developed the 15-minute implant, which is performed using the special patented drill he invented for this procedure. He revolutionized the field of implant dentistry, and through his inventions, has changed the dental textbooks on implants.

Presently, Dr. Chen is focusing his efforts on Implant Complication Management.

The Greatest Thing in Dentistry

When asked, "What is a dental implant?" My response is, "It is the best thing that has happened to dentistry."

As you can see, there is more than meets the eye than discussing implants, when it comes to implant procedures. I am thankful to learn from those professionals, such as Dr. Chen and Dr. Garg, who have dedicated their lives to learning, performing as well as teaching the latest, cutting edge procedures that allow me to help my patients to love their smile and live their lives to the fullest.