Placement of dental implants has become the preferred choice for tooth replacement. However, an obstacle for some people is time. Traditionally, a patient might wait 8-12 months from tooth removal to final restoration. At our practice, we offer “immediate implants” when there is an opportunity to do so. This means the placement of implant happens at time of extraction, allowing for shorter treatment time (3-5 months shorter). Many times a fixed provisional (temporary crown) can be placed on top of the immediate implant so you never have to go without a tooth. Please schedule a consultation to see if you are a candidate for immediate implants.

Often times when a dental implant is placed, our patients elect to have a “temporary” crown made (during the few months of healing) to avoid having an empty space. This temporary crown is typically a removable “flipper” appliance or an “Essix” retainer. While these devices help avoid the embarrassment of going without a tooth, they can be uncomfortable and should be removed during meals. Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan can work with your dentist to offer a better solution that is NOT removable. When appropriate, an immediate FIXED provisional can be anchored to your implant. This means that you will not have to worry about taking the tooth in and out. This “provisional” (temporary tooth) also sculpts your gum tissue to where it needs to be while the implant heals. Please set up a consultation to see if an immediate fixed provisional is right for you.

Today there are many dentists placing dental implants. However, only a few have the extensive training and experience to successfully place immediate dental implants in the BACK of the mouth. At our office, Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan have the technology and expertise to perform this procedure and wisdom to know when it is appropriate. With over 25,000 dental implants placed, they can confidently offer you this treatment.

Many times our patients come to us missing more than a single tooth. In this section we have demonstrated several patients who have replaced multiple teeth with dental implants.

People often present to our office having what we call a “terminal dentition.” This means that they are going to lose their remaining teeth due to periodontal disease (gum disease), dental decay, trauma, or a mixture of all of the above. We also have patients that come to us with loose or ill-fitting dentures looking for a fixed solution. Whatever the reason may be, we are not here to judge. Our goal is to make your transition as streamline as possible, as painless as possible, and get you back to smiling as efficiently as possible. Many times we can perform a procedure called an All-on-4 or All-on-6 to rebuild your smile in just a couple of days. The procedure uses fewer implants than traditional approaches and can often avoid the use of bone grafts. Enjoy getting to know the patient’s displayed below and remember to reach out to us if you would like to schedule a consultation to learn more.

Clients often ask us, “What happens if I’ve had an infection that has destroyed my bone? Can I still have an implant?” Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan have developed advanced skills in rebuilding your bone to support dental implants. This avoids having to cut down your adjacent teeth for a bridge. The subsequent photographs depict people just like you that have had bone re-built and implants placed when most other clinicians thought it was impossible. Check out the awesome results!

Sometimes individuals develop with thick gum tissue and very short square teeth. Most of the time the teeth are not actually short they are just buried underneath the gum tissue. Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan can help unveil these natural beautiful teeth with a quick, painless procedure.

Connective tissue grafts are used to cover unaesthetic gum recession, relieve or lessen root sensitivity, and to help protect the teeth from future recession. A graft is simply tissue that is donated from one place to another. Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan use the most advanced and researched techniques to help you meet your needs. They can either use your own tissue taken from a small pouch in the roof of your mouth or from donated tissue out of a package.

Epithelialized Soft Tissue Grafts are used to thicken the gum tissue and to help prevent future recession. There are two types of tissue in your mouth: “Gingiva” and “Mucosa”. Gingiva is the dense pink tissue that wraps around your teeth. It helps protect your teeth when you are eating or brushing and helps prevent infections. Mucosa is the thin elastic tissue that lines your cheeks and lips. It is thin and stretchy and is not meant to protect your teeth. Recession can occur when your teeth do not have an adequate band of “gingiva”. Drs. Crosby, Kolinski and Trahan perform soft tissue grafts to help rebuild this protective band of gingiva around your teeth. While they often do take the tissue from the roof of your mouth, they fabricate special retainers for you to wear to keep you comfortable during the healing process. Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan take pride in keeping your teeth and gums healthy!

Peri-implantitis is infection around an implant. Many of the proposed methods to treat this require surgery (cutting the gum tissue around the implant and cleaning/grafting the area) However, Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan have received extensive training on treating this sort of infection using a minimally invasive approach with a special dental laser called the PerioLase®. This laser kills harmful bacteria and removes inflamed infected tissue, all while leaving healthy tissue alone. No scalpel blades or stiches are used during the procedure, which translates to less discomfort and faster healing.

Creating or restoring a beautiful smile demands attention to detail and a vision. Much like it takes a team to build a house, it takes a team to restore a smile. Drs. Crosby, Kolinski, and Trahan often work with a team of dentists to help you reach your dental goals. Through information gathering, communication, and execution we will ensure that you get the best care possible.