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Trusted. Expert. Confident. Caring. For 35 years, these have been the remarks from Dr. Michael Eklund’s patients and peers. He has paved the way for many in the field, and been a part of some innovative breakthroughs in oral surgery. And now again Dr. Eklund has received top recognition!
The staff at Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery is proud to announce that for the sixth consecutive year, Dr. Eklund was voted by dental peers to be included in Texas Monthly Magazine’s list of Texas Super Oral Surgeons for five years in a row (2005 – 2010). Dr. Eklund was also named H Texas Magazine’s Top Oral Surgeon for the sixth year in a row (2005 – 2010).
At Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery, we celebrate and take pride in a long tradition of excellent service. When your patients have oral surgery needs, you want to refer them to a highly-qualified oral surgeon. Dr. Eklund has received many accolades for his commitment to quality care. Visit our Awards & Recognition page to find out more.
From dental implants and wisdom teeth extraction, to complex facial traumas and corrective jaw surgeries, you can be assured that Dr. Eklund can quickly and expertly handle your most complex cases and then return your patients to you for their long-term care.
You can’t open a newspaper or magazine lately and not run across advertising touting “DENTAL IMPLANTS IN A DAY!” Considering the traditional dental implant process can take anywhere from two months to two years to complete, it’s easy to understand how patients would be interested in walking out with a new set of dental implants in just one day. But is this just marketing hype? And more importantly, would it work for your patients?
First, let’s take a look at the traditional two-stage dental implant process that involves both an oral surgeon and a general dentist. During the first surgery, an oral surgeon places the implant and it is left for the bone to heal and grow around it. Once the dental implant is stable in the jawbone, a second surgery is completed to surgically uncover the implant. The patient is then sent back to his or her general dentist for crown placement.
Single Stage Surgery
Technological advances have allowed for single stage surgery, which requires only one surgical procedure. The patient comes in to have the implant placed and a tall cover screw is used to keep the implant from submerging. After a four month healing period for the bone to grow onto the implant, the abutment post is placed and the patient is ready for the dental crown – no additional surgery is required. The Single Stage Surgery procedure offers a quicker recovery, less time off of work and in the oral surgeon’s office, and minimal pain and overall discomfort.
Dental Implants in Day
The latest evolution in dental implants shortens the process even more. During the “dental implants in a day” procedure, an oral surgeon extracts the tooth, places the implant and coordinates with the patient’s general dentist for fabrication of a temporary crown all in the same day. This procedure still warrants several months of healing before fabrication of the permanent crown. On the day of implant surgery, a patient will leave the office with a temporary crown attached to his or her implant. Once the patient has healed, usually four months, the permanent crown can be attached. The same-day dental implant process offers improved aesthetics, faster results, and the peace of mind of not having to wear a removable replacement tooth.
Dental Implants in a Day – Not for Everyone
Certain conditions must be met in order to receive dental implants in a day. Patients who require significant bone grafting due to bone loss, have uncontrolled diabetes, are post-irradiation for cancer and are extremely heavy smokers are not candidates for the dental implant in a day procedure. But for many patients, the same day dental implant procedure is a viable option.
When your patients require dental implants, referring them to me is the best choice. I have successfully placed over 6,000 dental implants. Additionally, I placed the first temporary anchorage device (TAD) in the world in 1983. This procedure generated a profound paradigm shift in how skeletal anchorage could be used for dental implantology and was the basis for many of the procedures used today.
When you refer your patients to me I can assess their unique situations to determine which dental implant procedure is the best for them. Contact Southwest Oral & Implant Surgery today to schedule a consultation and use our online referral form to speed the process.
One of the most exciting new medical advances in recent years is the introduction of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP). Platelet Rich Plasma uses the body’s own cells to help it heal. When PRP is injected directly into an injured area, it accelerates the body’s instincts to repair muscle, bone, and other tissue. I have been successfully using Platelet Rich Plasma to speed healing in my oral surgery patients.
For dental implant patients, Platelet Rich Plasma invigorates and enhances bone growth around titanium dental implants, as well as other areas requiring additional bone.
PRP Can Be Used for the Following:
- Bone grafting for dental implants – includes onlay and inlay grafts, sinus lift procedures, ridge augmentation procedures, and closure of cleft lip and palate defects.
- Repair of bone defects creating by removal of teeth or small cysts.
- Repair of fistulas between the sinus cavity and mouth.
Advantages of PRP:
- Safety – Because PRP is a by-product of the patient’s own blood, disease transmission, allergic reaction, and rejection are not concerns.
- Convenience – PRP can easily be gathered from a simple IV blood draw during an oral surgery procedure.
- Rapid healing – PRP can speed up bone and tissue growth and wound healing.
- Faster bone growth – Adding PRP to a bone graft will increase the final amount of bone present.
- Ease of application – PRP makes it easier to apply bone substitute materials and bone grafting products by making them more gel-like.
For more information on PRP, including how it is derived and used to help patients, see the Platelet Rich Plasma page on the Southwest Oral and Implant Surgery website.
