Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial teeth that are surgically implanted into a patient's mouth to replace teeth that are either missing or too damaged to sustain further use. They typically consist of titanium, stainless steel, or zirconia endosteal posts embedded in the jawbone, an abutment or attachment surface, and the artificial tooth itself.

At some point in our life, most of us will experience some form of dental degeneration. By the time the average American reaches their 30s, they will have already lost five permanent teeth. Losing teeth can be compounded by smoking, poor diet, disease, poor hygiene, accidents, and trauma. For most, some degree of tooth loss is inevitable.

The solution is dental implants. At ArtLab Dentistry, we have helped countless patients restore their smiles with permanent, natural-looking dental implant solutions.

You should consider dental implants if you experience: receding jawline, sinus complications, periodontal disease, tooth decay, susceptibility to jaw fractures, missing teeth, or other dental related problems.

Unlike dentures which rely on suction or adhesives, dental implants are permanently anchored into the jawbone — they look, feel, and function like natural teeth. They also stimulate bone growth, preventing the resorption that causes facial aging with conventional dentures.

Dental implants offer superior stability, longevity (25+ years with proper care), and the ability to eat, speak, and smile with complete confidence.

Conventional Individual Implants: The gold standard for replacing lost teeth. For each missing tooth, a titanium or zirconia post is embedded in the jawbone, topped with an abutment and custom-crafted crown. These look and feel like real permanent teeth.

All-on-X Dental Implants: A revolutionary method replacing a full arch of teeth using only four to six strategically placed implants. The entire procedure can be completed in less than a day with same-day temporary teeth. Ideal for patients with significant tooth loss or bone loss preventing traditional implants.

Implant-Supported Bridges: For patients missing several adjacent teeth, a bridge supported by implants at each end avoids the need for individual implants for every tooth.

Implant-Supported Dentures: A hybrid solution combining the stability of dental implants with a full-arch prosthetic. These snap onto implants for a secure, comfortable fit without adhesives.

When a reconstruction is fixed to implants, what it has to replace depends on how much was lost before treatment began — and the thing that matters most is not the teeth, it is the gum. Dentistry describes that in three classes, FP-1 through FP-3. They are not grades of quality; one is not better than another. They describe how much of the tooth and how much of the surrounding pink tissue the new teeth are standing in for, and the right one for a patient is decided by what their bone and gum look like on the day they arrive.

FP-1 is the conservative, preservative end of the range: you are replacing teeth and nothing else. A patient here has lost one tooth, or two, or three, but the gum around them has not been damaged. What remains of their own dentition tends to be more substantial and stronger, and the new teeth emerge from the patient's own tissue exactly where the originals did. Nothing artificial is visible.

Making a replacement tooth emerge that way is a technique in its own right, and it is one Dr. Reshad has published on. Where a tooth is missing but the ridge has not been rebuilt, the site can be developed without surgery: the working cast is scored where the tooth will sit, a provisional made on that scored cast applies gentle, controlled pressure, and the tissue is shaped gradually over a period in which its health, contour and appearance can all be judged before anything definitive is made.¹

FP-2 begins where the gum starts to go. As more teeth are lost the gum keeps shrinking back, and at some point restoring the teeth alone would leave them looking too long, with dark spaces between them. So a small amount of prosthetic pink is added to make up the difference — a little bit of gum that is not the patient's own, shaped and shaded to sit against what is. The result still reads as teeth; the added tissue is doing quiet work at the margin.

FP-3 is the same problem further along, and it is the more severe of the three simply because there is less gum left to work with. Where a lot of pink has been lost, the prosthesis carries a substantial amount of its own gingiva in ceramic, and the teeth are set at their proper length against it rather than being stretched to reach tissue that is no longer there. Most full-arch reconstructions that follow years of tooth loss fall into this class.

Which class a case belongs to is settled at the planning stage, before anything is placed, because it changes where the implants go. That is the whole argument for planning the finished teeth first and working backwards to the surgery — the classification is a consequence of the plan, not a label applied afterwards.

Traditional Dentures: Affordable and replace all teeth, but require adhesives, cover the palate reducing taste sensation, risk bone atrophy, and need replacement every 2–5 years.

Snap-in Dentures: More secure than traditional dentures and preserve healthy teeth, but may require tooth filing, change fit over time, and need replacement every 2–10 years.

Traditional Individual Implants: Permanent, natural appearance, comfortable, and standard care routine — but expensive, require a 1–2 year process, and not everyone qualifies.

All-on-X Implants: Full mouth restoration via 4 implants per arch, temporary teeth on day one, secure permanent placement, 85% of patients have sufficient bone, and 90% chewing ability restored.

Acrylic Resin: Economical, quick to manufacture, and easy to replace. A cost-effective option for temporary or budget-conscious solutions, though less durable than alternatives.

Porcelain: Superior durability, stain-resistant, easier maintenance, and the most natural feel and appearance. The higher initial cost is offset by longevity and reduced maintenance over time.

Zirconia: The newest material option offering exceptional strength, biocompatibility, and aesthetics. Ideal for patients seeking the most natural-looking, metal-free solution.

Step 1: Initial Consultation — Dr. Reshad evaluates your medical history, takes X-rays, photographs, impressions, and a CT scan to develop a personalized treatment plan.

Step 2: Implant Placement — Titanium or zirconia posts are surgically placed into the jawbone. For All-on-X procedures, temporary teeth are attached the same day.

Step 3: Healing & Osseointegration — Over 3 to 6 months, the implants fuse with the jawbone through a natural process called osseointegration, creating a permanent foundation.

Step 4: Final Restoration — Once healing is complete, your permanent custom-crafted teeth are placed and adjusted for optimal comfort, function, and aesthetics.

Broader Nutrition: Implants support fully functioning teeth that allow a wider choice of foods, enabling diverse nutrient intake that soft-food diets cannot provide.

Bone Preservation: Chewing with implants stimulates the jawbone, preventing the resorption that causes facial structure deterioration — hollow cheeks, loose skin, and weak chins.

Oral Hygiene: Daily care requires only standard brushing and flossing. Unlike dentures, you never need to remove teeth or clean them with harsh chemicals.

Psychological Well-Being: One of the greatest benefits is the increase in self-esteem and confidence that comes from restoring your smile.

Longitudinal studies show patient-related success rates of 94.8% at 5 years and 93.8% at 10 years. Implant-related success rates reach 98.1% at 5 years and 94.8% at 10 years.

With proper care and maintenance, dental implants can last 25 years or more — often a lifetime. Compare this to traditional dentures which typically require replacement every 2–5 years due to bone resorption.

Not all dentists are dental implant specialists. While implant procedures are commonplace, actual specialists with proper training, experience, and a history of successful implantations are exceedingly few.

Prosthodontists undergo an additional three years of specialized training beyond dental school, focusing on the removal and replacement of teeth. There are only approximately 750 trained, licensed, and practicing prosthodontists in the entire nation.

Dr. Mamaly Reshad of ArtLab Dentistry is one of them — and is regarded as one of the finest prosthodontists in the world. When you want the best results, there is no need to look further.