Dr. Nkem Obiechina

Essential Implant Therapy: a Patient's Guide to Understanding Implant Dentistry Dr. Nkem Obiechina

Implants have truly transformed dentistry by giving people safe, stable, and esthetic replacements of natural teeth. Since the first implant was placed in 1965, they have continued to increase in overall efficacy and popularity, where currently a large majority people in the United States know what they are, and how they function. Currently there is very little information for patients who are interested in receiving dental implants. Since most of the books on dental implants are designed for dentists rather than patients. Information that is available on line is also geared towards dentists also. The information that is available for non dentists typically is often in the form of brochures comprised of very general information and line drawings which are often simplistic and do not adequately familiarize them about dental implants. As implantologists, by far the most common questions that I have been asked by patients that are thinking of receiving dental implants is what they feel like when placed, how they will work, and their overall safety and effectiveness. In order to try to answer these questions we put together some information on dental implants so that people are made familiar with the implant components, how they are placed and how they will function in the mouth. We also sought to provide information regarding the rationale behind the implant selection process, and surgical aspects of implant placement as well as provide a history and also recent advances that are associated with implant dentistry. Since dental implants are comprised of two components, the root component that is placed surgically, and the restorative component that represents the crown of a tooth. In order to present information on both aspects of implant therapy, information on both aspects of therapy are provided in order to familiarize patients with information on not only dental implant surgery, but also on implant restorations. Line drawings and case studies including before and after pictures of both surgical and restorative procedures are included in order to provide information for patients about the dental implant procedure. The goal of this book is to provide vital information about dental implants in such a way that will aid patients in deciding whether or not to have dental implants.