Dental Implants
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed surgically in the jawbone to support a removable or fixed tooth replacement. Dental implants are designed to look, feel, and function like a real tooth and replace the natural root to stop bone loss.
Dr. Robert Holland is a Columbia, SC, prosthodontist who has served patients in The Midlands of the Carolinas for over 30 years. He is highly respected in his specialty field and an excellent choice to handle your implant procedure.
Dental Implant Benefits
With a new tooth implant, you can feel confident showing off your smile again. However, the benefits go far beyond cosmetic improvement.
Maintains healthy jawbone — A natural tooth root stimulates bone growth, but the bone starts to shrink after tooth loss. Neighboring teeth become unstable and start to drift and tilt out of position. A dental implant slows or stops bone loss to stabilize surrounding teeth and maintain a healthy jawbone.
Restores comfortable chewing — Each tooth performs a specific job when you chew. After tooth loss, remaining teeth compensate for lost function, making it difficult or painful to eat and chew. A dental implant that replaces the entire tooth, from root to crown, functions like a real tooth and restores full chewing function.
Lasts a lifetime with proper care — Dental implants have an extremely high success rate when cared for properly and can last a lifetime with proper dental care.
Enhances quality of life — You can't enjoy a high quality of life when your teeth hurt, you can’t chew comfortably, and you’re embarrassed to smile around others. Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant allows you to focus on the things in life that matter to you.
Who Needs a Dental Implant?
If any of the following situations apply to you, you may benefit from getting a dental implant:
- I have a single missing tooth — An implant crown is a healthy alternative to a traditional dental bridge.
- I have multiple missing teeth — An implant-supported bridge or partial denture anchored to implants can restore your smile.
- I have complete tooth loss — An implant-supported overdenture or implant denture uses as few as two implants to provide a stable, secure tooth replacement.
- I have decayed or damaged teeth — If it’s not possible to save a severely decayed or injured tooth, removing and replacing it with an implant tooth is the next best option.
Your Customized Dental Implant Treatment Plan
Dr. Holland is a prosthodontist and the team leader for your dental implant treatment plan. He collaborates with specialists like oral surgeons and periodontists to determine if you are currently a good implant candidate or if other procedures are needed first, such as tooth extraction or bone grafting.
Once Dr. Holland has complete information, he develops a comprehensive treatment plan that includes specific unique details about your implant procedure from preparation to placement and restoration. He will present the customized plan, explain what's involved, and answer your questions.
We also offer a free re-consult appointment so you can take some time to think about everything we presented to you. Getting implants is a big decision, and this allows a "second glance" to solidify treatment options, review the cost of your customized plan, and sign the needed documents.
Dental Implant Surgery and Healing
We have relationships with top specialists who we trust to expertly place your implant. They provide the highest standard of care and ensure you have a comfortable, successful procedure.
After the specialist places your implant, bone and tissue in your jaw grow around it, becoming a permanent part of your dental structure. Healing time depends on the individual but typically takes 4–6 months.
Crown, Bridge, or Implant Denture Placement
When osseointegration is complete, our prosthodontist attaches an abutment that connects the crown to the dental implant. Highly-detailed digital impressions allow our dental lab partners to fabricate your implant crown, bridge, or denture.
When the final restoration is ready, Dr. Holland secures it to the abutment, checks it for fit, and makes the necessary adjustments.
Is a Dental Implant Right for You?
If you have questions about implants or want to learn if you're a candidate, please call Dr. Robert Holland, our prosthodontist in Columbia, SC, at (803) 787-5445.
Giving You a Reason to Smile!
Frequently Asked Questions
Dental implants can replace one, several, or all missing teeth. The implant is an artificial tooth root that looks like a small threaded, titanium "screw." It is surgically placed into your upper or lower jawbone, and after it heals and fuses with the bone, Dr. Holland restores it with a customized dental crown.
Are You a Good Implant Candidate?
If you have multiple missing teeth, we do not need to use an implant to replace every tooth! In this case, our prosthodontist recommends using implants with a fixed dental prosthesis like an implant denture or linking them together by a bridge using minimal implants.
Many people are good candidates for dental implants, and the main requirements are healthy gums and jawbone. However, even if you aren't a good candidate now, there are procedures like bone grafting that can make it possible for you to get an implant in the future.
Is a Dental Implant the Right Choice for You?
Dr. Robert Holland is a respected prosthodontist in Columbia, SC, and enjoys helping patients discover their best smiles through restorative dentistry.
To see if you're a candidate for dental implants, please call Carolina Restorative & Implant Dentistry to schedule a consultation with Dr. Holland and his recommended oral surgeon.
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Robert Holland
In private practice since 1992, Robert D. Holland, Jr., DMD, received his Bachelor of Science in Biology at Francis Marion University in 1985. He earned his Doctorate of Dental Medicine with honors in 1989 at the Medical University of South Carolina's College of Dental Medicine. Dr. Holland continued with his studies and training to complete graduate school in the specialty of Prosthodontics at Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, in 1992.
As an accredited prosthodontist with over twenty years of clinical experience, Dr. Holland provides patients with a full range ...