DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental Implants

Bring Your Smile Back To Health.

Dental Implants

Bring Your Smile Back To Health.

Dental Implants

Bring Your Smile Back To Health.

Embedded in the Grand Junction Community. Trusted. Maintaining Oral Health through Quality Care.

A Beautiful, Permanent Solution

Dental implants are quickly becoming the solution of choice over traditional dentures because they offer a beautiful and permanent solution to missing teeth. Dental implants feel and look more natural than dentures and can be used to replace one or more of your missing teeth.


Dental implants are changing the way people live. They are designed to provide a foundation for replacement teeth which look, feel and function like natural teeth. A person who has lost teeth regains the ability to eat virtually anything, knowing that teeth appear natural and that facial contours will be preserved. Patients with dental implants can smile with confidence.


At Nock Oral Surgery, Dr. David Nock is experienced in dental implant procedures and is here to help. Contact us at (970) 242-4433 to make an appointment and we’ll be happy to assist you in learning how dental implants could be the best choice for your dental health needs.


"I’ve had more than my fair share of dental procedures, including surgeries. Dr. Nock extracted my tooth yesterday, and it was BY FAR my best dental experience EVER, in my entire 40-ish years on this earth! His staff rocks, too! They’re doing it RIGHT.” ~ Traci L. via Yelp

Smile For Life


What are Dental Implants?
The implants themselves are titanium posts, which are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. Dr. Nock surgically places them into the jawbone. The bone bonds with the titanium surface, creating a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Small posts are then attached to the implant, which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth. Implants also help preserve facial structure by preventing bone deterioration that occurs when teeth are missing.


The Surgical Procedure
The placement of dental implants involves two surgical procedures. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For the first two to four months following surgery, the implants may be under the surface of the gums gradually bonding with the jawbone. You should be able to wear temporary dentures and eat a soft diet during this time. After the implant has bonded to the jawbone, the second phase begins. Because your implants were left to heal under the gum tissue, the second surgery is to uncover the implants. You will then return to your general dentist or prosthodontist for final restoration. The entire procedure usually takes six to eight months. Most patients experience minimal disruption in their daily life.


Who actually performs the implant placement?
Implants are a team effort between Dr. Nock and your family dentist. While Dr. Nock performs the initial tooth extraction, bone grafting, and implant surgery, your regular dentist fits and makes the permanent prosthesis.


What types of prostheses are available?
A single prosthesis (crown) is used to replace one missing tooth – each prosthetic tooth attaches to its own implant. A partial prosthesis (fixed bridge) can replace two or more teeth and may require only two or three implants. A complete dental prosthesis (fixed bridge) replaces all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. The number of implants varies depending upon which type of complete prosthesis (removable or fixed) is recommended. A removable prosthesis (over denture) attaches to a bar or ball in socket attachments, whereas a fixed prosthesis is permanent and removable only by a dentist.


Why dental implants?
As you are learning, dental implants can be beneficial to your lifestyle. When you lose several teeth—whether it’s a new situation or something you have lived with for years—chances are you have never become fully accustomed to losing such a vital part of yourself. Dental implants can be your doorway to renewed self-confidence and peace of mind. A Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Per-Ingvar Branemark, developed this concept for oral rehabilitation more than thirty-five years ago. With his pioneering research, Dr. Branemark opened the door to a lifetime of renewed comfort and self-confidence for millions of individuals facing the frustration and embarrassment of tooth loss.


Why would you select dental implants over more traditional types of restorations?
With implants you are not sacrificing the structure of surrounding teeth, as you would with a bridge. In addition, removing a denture or a “partial” at night may be inconvenient, not to mention that dentures that slip can be uncomfortable and rather embarrassing. Implants are permanent fixtures.


Are you a candidate for implants?
If you are considering implants, we invite you to come in, sit, and talk with Dr. Nock. He will review your medical and dental history to ensure he can address your specific needs. With a careful oral examination and use of our 3-D imaging technology, Dr. Nock will discuss your implant options and use his experience to address your specific needs . If your mouth is not ideal for implants, Dr. Nock has a number of ways to improve outcomes with techniques such as bone grafting.


What type of anesthesia is used?
The majority of dental implants and bone graft can be performed in the office under local anesthesia, with or without intravenous sedation.


Do implants need special care?
Once the implants are in place, they will serve you well for many years if you take care of them and keep your mouth healthy. This means taking the time for good oral hygiene (brushing and flossing) and keeping regular appointments with your dental specialists.


Why opt for an oral surgeon?
Dental implants are a commonly practiced procedure, but as with any surgery, there are risks. By trusting your care to an oral surgeon, you can depend on us to make the right decisions for the best outcomes.


Not only do oral surgeons have more training and clinical experience when dealing with dental implants, but they are also exposed to a wider variety of complications that may arise during these dental surgeries — an oral surgeon will be able to manage these complications themselves, should they occur.
While general dentists do perform dental implant surgeries, The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA), has found that the success rate of dental implants is higher when performed by oral surgeons compared to the same procedures being performed by general dentists.


Whether you were referred by your dentist or not, choosing an oral surgeon to perform your dental implants is crucial to the overall outcome. An oral surgeon has more years of training and experience and can address any complications that emerge. At our practice specifically, Dr. Nock is able to administer general anesthesia that makes the dental implant procedure much more comfortable.


Learn more about our other surgical procedures, tooth extractions and wisdom teeth removal.


Guided Implant Placement Surgery
Guided surgery allows Dr. Nock to perform esthetically demanding and complex cases with minimal invasive techniques. The precision and accuracy with this advanced technology has been successfully used in thousands of procedures. Guided surgery is a remarkable improvement over conventional implant dentistry. By providing Dr. Nock with greater precision, guided surgery makes it possible to perform procedures that are minimally invasive and highly predictable.




Let’s Discuss Your Oral Surgery Needs.

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