MetroHealth offers dental patients a cutting-edge implant procedure which increases the accuracy of placement, often lessens the time patients spend in the chair and improves overall restorative outcomes.

Removable partial or complete dentures used to be the only option for replacing missing teeth. But those slip and can cause clicking sounds while eating or talking. They may also lead to bone loss in the area where teeth are missing. Fixed bridges require adjacent teeth to be cut to serve as anchors, can result in the need for root canals in the future and may need replacement due to recurrent decay. Both options need to be replaced every seven to 15 years.

Dental implants are long-term — likely lifetime — replacements which are surgically placed in the jawbone. The sterile titanium metal base fuses with the jawbone with a high percentage of success. Once the implants are fused, they never slip and bone loss generally isn't an issue. And unlike dentures, implants don't restrict everyday eating and almost always improve overall function.

Matthew J. Kirlough, DDS, is one of several dentists doing computer-assisted dental implants for The MetroHealth System and explained why he prefers implants for some patients. "I saw a kid today who got a permanent tooth punched out. He has no cavities. There's nothing wrong with his surrounding teeth. I wouldn't want to cut on his good teeth to allow for a bridge. "I think an implant is a better option."

Computer-assisted guided implant surgery involves getting a full mouth and jaw scan. A computer program translates that scan into a precise implant plan and maps out the procedure in precise steps. The program allows for a single implant, multiple implants or the entire mouth.

There's no guessing as to how deep a dentist has to drill because of the software preplanning. The planning speeds up procedure time, allows for more exact work and results in more comfort for the patient, points out Dr. Kirlough. "It's great for surgical technique because it improves the accuracy of placement, it decreases the amount of time it takes for the procedure and we can identify problems before the actual procedure through the scan and the computerized planning."

Dr. Kirlough says about five visits total are needed for the implant planning and procedure, and that most work can be done under local anesthesia.

	The MetroHealth Department of Dentistry provides extensive comprehensive dental care for patients of all ages. The department stresses preventative care to include regular cleanings and radiographs based on clinical need as well as sealants and fluoride treatments for children. If additional treatment is necessary, faculty members and residents provide basic restorative services (fillings and crowns); root canal therapy to salvage teeth and treat pain; and, when absolutely necessary, the extraction of teeth from simple to complex impactions. Cosmetic services such as teeth bleaching and veneers are available for patients who desire a change in the appearance of the dentition. Services are delivered at MetroHealth Medical Center, MetroHealth Lee-Harvard Health Center, MetroHealth Broadway Health Center and MetroHealth Old Brooklyn Senior Health & Wellness Center.