Our natural teeth do more than just helping us in biting and chewing food. They are meant to help us pronounce few words and letters correctly and they let us maintain the shape of the face by protecting the jawbone. When you lose a tooth, you are at higher risk of orthodontic problems and your supporting bone starts shrinking. Prosthodontics is the area of dentistry dedicated for tooth restorations. There are few types of replacements available for lost teeth. The most advanced and widely-recommended restoration for tooth loss is a dental implant. It is a foundation for the dental prostheses which replace your tooth/teeth. At Global Smiles, we have two dental professionals with a combined experience of over 4 decades who have created amazing smiles for our patients from Sacramento and surrounding communities. Dr. Lilliana Stojic is a specialist in implant dentistry and has several years of experience in performing complex dental implant surgeries. If you or any of your family members are suffering from tooth loss, come and speak to our dental team in Sacramento about dental implants. Our treatment can recreate a wonderful smile for you.
This is one of the most important questions our implant dentist asks you during your visit. This question is crucial because the more you delay in replacing a lost tooth the higher is the amount of jawbone loss due to bone resorp tion. Our natural teeth roots are designed to transfer bite forces to our jawbone which keeps our bone healthy and in shape. When a tooth is lost, the bone under the missing tooth no longer receives bite stimulation, which causes it to shrink over a period of time. This is just one of the few ill-effects of tooth loss.
Tooth loss reduces chewing efficiency which means, a patient needs more effort to chew the same amount of food when he/she has a missing tooth/teeth. Tooth loss can also cause more wear of remaining teeth. The teeth nearby may shift positions and move towards the gap caused by a missing tooth. This can lead to orthodontic problems. If a front tooth is missing, the speech and the smile get affected.
A dental implant is a replacement to lost tooth root. It is normally made of titanium or zirconium since both these materials have the properties necessary to integrate with the supporting bone. The whole idea of inserting an implant into a supporting bone is to create a strong foundation for the prostheses that replace lost tooth/teeth. The implant is specially designed to form a functional bond with the bone. This gives the restoration higher strength. The result of this restoration procedure is a permanent replacement for lost tooth/teeth. The chewing efficiency of implanted tooth is high and the implant is capable of protecting the supporting bone from shrinking. In simple words, an implant can perfectly take over the role of a lost tooth root.
A dental implant can be used to replace one or more teeth. During the first visit, our implant dentist performs a comprehensive dental examination to check if dental implant surgery can be performed. Vital factors such as the size and density of supporting bone and the medical history of the patient are recorded. By the end of the examination, our implant dentist will let the patient know if dental implant surgery is a recommended treatment option. A treatment plan is set based on the number of teeth missing. If a single tooth needs to be replaced, a single implant is surgically inserted into the supporting bone and a crown is fixed over it. If multiple teeth need to be replaced in a row, our dentist may recommend surgical insertion of more than one implant.
If there is insufficient jawbone, bone grafting procedure may have to be performed dental implant surgery. This is the process where our implant dentist rebuilds lost supporting bone. The bone is left to heal after the procedure is complete. Dental implant surgery is performed once our dentist confirms that the bone is healed.
Local anesthesia is used to numb the surgical site and sedation may be recommended to keep the patient relaxed during treatment. Our implant dentist is supported by a team during the simple surgical process. An incision is made in the gums to access supporting bone. A series of drills are used to create a bony recess and the implant is carefully torqued in position. The gums are sutured back after the insertion and the implant is covered with a cap. The restoration is left to heal for next few months.
During the following visits, our implant dentist checks for completion of healing. On confirmation that the restoration is healed, we take impressions of teeth and get a dental crown fabricated in the lab. the implant cap is removed and an abutment is fixed over the implant. we check the fit of the crown and fix it over the implant. our team informs the patient about how to care for the implant.
A dental implant is the standard substitute for tooth replacement. They integrate with the bone to provide support for crowns and dentures.
Dental implants can be placed in most adults. Ask with our dental implant specialist to explain the benefits and risks to see if the dental implant is right for you.
No, there are no age limitations and very few medical conditions that prevent successful dental implant treatment. At our dental office, we provide the implant treatment for all age groups.
Proper home care including brushing, flossing and Regular dental visits are required for long-term dental health success.
Implants can last many years if cared properly. Many implants have been in place for more than 40 years.
Most patients do experience some minor discomfort on the first day of dental implant surgery, and may have a little residual pain the second day, but if you compare to tooth extraction, dental implants are less painful.
Patient Testimonials
Beautiful office, friendly staff, terrific dental care.
by Trevor Derrett
Had a great visit today and got to know the people that work there. They made me feel comfortable as the change of ownership is taking place.
by Bonnie Schrader
I am so impressed with the entire experience. From the friendly reminders, to entering the office, and especially the dentist! My previous dentist Stephen C Ott, DDS, was incredible. I had the benefits of his gift since 1971. I was worried about finding a new dentist. However, I was blessed to have Dr. Ott recommend his dentist: Dr. Lillian Stojic. I recommend her to all!!!
by John Murphy III
I've been seeing dr stojic since I moved to town 18 years ago, my whole family has transitioned over there and I love the whole team! Keep up the great work!
by Carrie Carsell
Dr. Lilliana and her staff make getting teeth cleaned and a cavity filled as good an experience as possible. They get the job done with minimal pain and discomfort.
by Age Advantage S.
I just had a visit to Dr. Stojic's office. My ten year old daughter had an infected tooth that had to be extracted. She was so nervous and scared at the possibility of an extraction. When we arrived we were greeted warmly by her office manager and then by her equally kind assistant who brought us back to her room...
by Kristi L.
Dr. Lilliana and her staff are not only effective and efficient, but they also remove my anxiety. When I had to have a root canal, I was nervous about the pain. I was given the choice of Nitrous oxide gas and that calmed me.
by Gail M.
Dr. Stojic saw two of my children. The youngest was so comforted by her easygoing and confident demeanor that he was the quietest and most still 4 year old I've seen in a dentist chair! Our older son was very afraid of the dentist and has been to a couple other dentists who were unable to treat him because of his scared behavior. Dr. Stojic was very patient and helped him understand what she was doing at every step, which calmed him down so she was able to fill his cavities and even extract a tooth. We were thoroughly impressed with Dr. Stojic and her office and staff.
by Brittani B.
Schedule Your Appointment
Global Smiles Sacramento – Dr. Lilliana Stojic DDS, MAGD
Cosmetic & Family Dentistry
1801 Professional Drive | Sacramento, CA 95825
Phone: 916-487-5147 | Fax: 916-626-4944
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