Stonecrest Oral
& Maxillofacial Surgery
300 Stonecrest Blvd.
Suite 385
Smyrna, TN 37167
Phone: 615-223-1200
Fax: 615-223-1090

The staff treats every patient with respect and concern. All patients are treated as if they were family. Dr. Maloney and her assistants have caring hands and are highly trained in all areas of oral surgery. Thanks for all of the concern, follow up, compassion and attention you have given me over the past year! You guys ROCK!!!! - Benjamin Flatt

Dr. Maloney, you are without a doubt the kindest and most compassionate dentist I have ever met. You and your wonderful staff are truly a blessing to me and my family and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.- Maria Arthur

Dental Implants

What are Dental Implants?

Dental Implants are an alternative to dentures or bridge work for replacing teeth.
The Dental Implant is made from titanium and is surgically implanted in the jaw bone.
An implant functions like the root of your missing tooth.

Stages of a Dental Implant

Sometimes, due to the amount of bone that is removed at the time of tooth extraction, a bone graft may be needed prior to implant placement. It takes, approximately, 6 months for the bone graft to harden in the bone.
An Implant is placed in bone and covered with a protective cap while it is allowed to heal.
Approximately 6 months after the Implant is placed, and healing is finished, a restorative abutment is attached to the Implant. This is what the crown will sit on.
The final step is to cement a crown to the restorative abutment, which is done by your general dentist.

Dental Implants versus Bridges

Recent research reveals, three unit fixed bridges of all kinds were found to have a success rate of 84% at 60 months, while the single-tooth Implant success rate was determined to be 95.1% at 60 months.
In 9 different studies, the 15 year success rate of a fixed bridge was found to be about 66%, while a 20 year study of single tooth Implants had a success rate of 91%.

_{Compendium October 2009- Volume 30, Number 8 www.compendiumlive.com}

A good website to visit for additional information is www.missingteeth.org