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Patrick G. Weakland, D.D.S.
214 5th Street
Windsor, CO 80550
Phone: 970-686-5544
Fax: 970-686-6872
Click
for Google map
Regular Office Hours:
Tuesday - Thursday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
(The office is
open random Mondays and Fridays as well)
Voted Best Dentist
in the
Windsor Beacon's Best of
Windsor Poll
for 6 years
at
The
Windsor Gardener
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Restorative
Dentistry: Implants
Amalgam
Fillings | Tooth
Colored Fillings | Root
Canals | Crowns
and Bridges | Full
and Partial Dentures | Implants
What exactly is an implant?
A natural tooth has a crown - the part
which shows above the gumline, and a root - the anchor hidden below
the gumline.
When a tooth is missing, a dental implant can sometimes take the place of the
missing root and a prosthetic crown replaces the natural crown. The Dental Implant Procedure
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Dr. Weakland does an examination of
the area with x-rays. This allows Dr. Weakland to assess
whether or not the patient is a candidate for an implant.
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The patient is sent to an oral
surgeon or a periodontist to fit the dental implant. A tiny
hole is drilled where there is no tooth. This hole guides a
small titanium screw into the jawbone.
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On top, a protective cover screw is
placed to allow the site to heal. Over a period of several
months, the implant site heals and the dental implant anchors to
the bone through a process of osseointegration.
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The patient will return to Dr.
Weakland's office when the gum tissue is ready and a special
post is attached to the implant. It is the support for the new
porcelain crown.
Today's technologies often include zirconium abutments attached
to the implant post, to assure that the new porcelain tooth
possesses translucency properties similar to a natural tooth.
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Impressions are taken and a shade is
chosen to match the patient's existing teeth. At the next visit with Dr. Weakland, the
crown is then slipped over the post and cemented.
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The porcelain crown now functions
like a normal tooth. Although the dental implant cannot form
cavities, it is recommended to continue good oral hygiene to
protect the surrounding area.
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