Dental implants can replace one missing tooth, several teeth, or help support a more stable full-arch restoration. At LPS Dental, implant treatment is planned around more than filling a gap. We look at your bone, gums, bite, neighboring teeth, and the final restoration before deciding what makes sense, with implant consultations available in Lincoln Park, Downtown Chicago, and Norwood Park.
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Dental implants can replace one missing tooth, several teeth, or help support a more stable full-arch restoration. At LPS Dental, implant treatment is planned around more than filling a gap.
When one tooth is missing, an implant can replace it without requiring the neighboring teeth to support the new tooth. The implant is placed in the jaw and eventually supports a custom dental crown. The visible crown is shaped and shaded to fit naturally between the teeth around it.
Several missing teeth do not always require one implant for every tooth. Depending on the location and condition of your mouth, implants may be positioned to support an implant bridge that replaces multiple teeth together. The plan is based on where support is needed rather than simply counting the number of spaces.
Traditional removable dentures rest on the gums. Dental implants can provide additional support and stability. For patients who struggle with a loose lower denture or want a more secure way to replace a full arch of teeth, an implant-supported restoration may be worth considering.
Patients who have lost most or all of their teeth may be candidates for a full-arch implant approach. Several implants can be used to support a larger restoration rather than replacing every tooth with its own individual implant. The number and position of implants, type of restoration, available bone, and whether any teeth can reasonably be saved all need to be evaluated first.
An implant needs adequate bone around it for support. If bone has been lost after an extraction, periodontal disease, or years without a tooth in the area, grafting may sometimes be recommended before or during implant treatment. Not every implant patient needs a bone graft. Imaging helps us determine what is actually present.
The implant itself is only the foundation. What you eventually see and chew with may be an individual crown, an implant-supported bridge, or a larger implant-supported restoration. That final tooth design matters just as much as the surgical placement. Shape, bite, color, spacing, and how the restoration meets the gums are all part of the plan.
Comfort, Expertise, And Trust
Patient story from Lincoln Park Smiles
Tell us what you notice. The recommendation comes after we understand the problem.
Treatment should look like your smile, not a one-size-fits-all result.
We evaluate the health of the teeth and gums, existing restorations, tooth position, and bite before treatment.
We explain why something is recommended, what alternatives exist, and what treatment involves before you decide.
How It Works
We start by looking at the missing tooth or teeth, surrounding gums, bite, neighboring teeth, and available bone. Digital imaging and 3D information can help us evaluate anatomy that cannot be judged simply by looking in the mouth. We are already thinking about the final crown, bridge, or denture at this stage because implant position and final tooth position need to work together.
Some patients are ready for implant placement. Others may first need a damaged tooth removed, periodontal disease treated, or additional bone developed in the area. There is no advantage in rushing an implant into a site that is not ready to support it properly.
The implant is positioned in the planned area of the jaw. The exact procedure varies according to the location, amount of available bone, number of implants being placed, and whether other treatment is occurring at the same appointment. Comfort options and post-operative instructions are discussed before surgery.
The implant needs time to become stable within the surrounding bone. This healing process is called osseointegration. It does not happen overnight. Depending on the case, the implant may need several months of healing before it is ready for the final restoration. Temporary tooth replacement may be possible during this period depending on where the implant is located and the treatment plan.
Once the implant is ready, we move into the restorative phase. A single implant may receive a custom crown. Multiple implants may support a bridge. A larger number of missing teeth may require an implant-supported denture or full-arch restoration. This is where the implant begins to look like a tooth again.
Implants do not develop cavities, but the tissues around them still need care. Plaque, inflammation, gum disease, excessive bite forces, and other factors can cause problems around implant restorations. Daily cleaning and ongoing dental visits remain part of keeping the result healthy.
Meet The LPS Dental Team
LPS Dental's roots in Chicago go back to 1999, when Dr. Jack Manikowski opened Lincoln Park Smiles.
Today, LPS Dental has three Chicago offices and a team whose experience extends across cosmetic, restorative, implant, periodontal, prosthodontic, and general dentistry.
Treatment planning that considers appearance, tooth structure, function, and long-term health together.
Dr. Jack Manikowski is a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry.
Digital scanning and planning tools help us evaluate and communicate proposed treatment.
It is normal to have questions before treatment. Here are some of the things patients often want to understand first.
A dental implant is a small post placed surgically into the jawbone to provide support for a replacement tooth or teeth. After the implant heals and becomes stable within the bone, it can support a dental crown, bridge, or implant-supported denture. The implant itself is the foundation. The part that looks like a tooth is the restoration placed above it.
A single-tooth implant restoration commonly involves three main components. The implant sits within the jaw. An abutment provides the connection above the implant, and a custom crown forms the visible replacement tooth. The exact components differ when implants support bridges or larger restorations.
Good candidates generally need healthy enough gums and bone to support treatment and should be medically able to heal after implant surgery. We also consider smoking, medications, chronic medical conditions, periodontal health, oral hygiene, and the forces that will be placed on the implant. When bone is limited, grafting may sometimes create additional treatment options.
There is no simple upper age limit. General health, oral health, bone condition, healing ability, and the expected benefit of treatment are more important than the number on your driver's license. An individual medical and dental evaluation is necessary.
Not necessarily. A bone graft may be recommended when there is not enough bone in the planned implant area to provide suitable support. Some patients have plenty of bone and do not need grafting. Others may need grafting before or at the time of implant placement. Imaging helps us determine which situation applies.
Osseointegration is the healing process in which the bone develops around the dental implant and stabilizes it within the jaw. This process takes time and is one of the reasons implant treatment often cannot be completed from beginning to end in a single appointment.
It varies substantially. A straightforward single implant may follow a different timeline from a case involving extraction, bone grafting, several implants, or a full-arch restoration. Healing after implant placement can take several months before the final restoration is completed. Your treatment plan should include an expected sequence and timeline before surgery.
Sometimes a temporary restoration can be placed at or near the time an implant is inserted. That is not appropriate for every implant. Bone quality, implant stability, location, bite forces, and the type of restoration all influence whether immediate loading is advisable. We would rather give an implant the healing time it needs than force a same-day timeline onto a case that is not suited for it.
You may need one implant. You may need several.
You may discover that a bridge or another treatment makes more sense. The first step is an exam, imaging, and a conversation about what you want the replacement to do for you. We will explain the condition of the area, the available options, the treatment sequence, and the expected cost before you decide how to move forward.
