Dr. Carl Pogoncheff, DDS, MS, FACP Claimed

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Dr. Carl Pogoncheff was born and raised in Lansing, Michigan and chose to return to his hometown to open his practice.

Dr. Carl Pogoncheff graduated from University of Michigan School of Dentistry and completed three additional years to earn a Masters of Science degree in Prosthodontics at the University of Michigan. He is currently a faculty member at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry and a past chair of the Dental School Alumni Board of Governors. Dr. Carl Pogoncheff is a Diplomate of the American Board of Prosthodontics and is a Board Certified Prosthodontist.

​Carl M Pogoncheff DDS MS FACP is the first Prosthodontist in Lansing to be certified by the American Board of Prosthodontics.

Dental Implants

Dental implants offer a superior option for replacing missing or damaged teeth. Modern technology makes it possible for implants to look, feel, and function similarly to your own natural teeth. Implant dentistry can restore comfort and convenience to those who have experienced one missing tooth or multiple teeth, or complete tooth loss.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an artificial device that helps mimic the entire tooth structure-including the root. Dental implants serve as artificial roots that are anchored into the jawbone and support a crown, bridge or denture that is fixed, snap on and off, or removable. Dental implants are biocompatible cylinder-shaped prosthetic devices made of titanium. They are placed in the jawbone where teeth are missing. They are used to replace the roots of missing teeth and support many different prosthetic solutions.

Are you a Candidate for Dental Implants?

Whether you are missing a single tooth, more than one tooth, or all of your teeth or if you have a broken tooth or decayed tooth that may be beyond repair and needs extraction, you could be a candidate for an implant. If you are having difficulties with your dentures, partial denture or bridge, you could also benefit from using implants as a support to make them more stable and comfortable or by replacing them with implants.

Your prosthodontist will have to examine your mouth, health history and habits to determine if you are a candidate for an implant. First, you must have adequate bone to support the implant. At Advanced Dental Solutions, we use state-of-the-art technology, including our Cone Beam digital X-ray that generates a 3-dimensional x-ray to assess whether a patient has adequate bone. Second, health history and habits are also considered. Smokers and people with diabetes are less likely to heal properly from the implant placement and more likely to have an implant fail over time. If you have diabetes or smoke you may still be a viable candidate for implants, but those health factors are something to discuss with your prosthodontist. In the past, patients with insufficient bone or those with certain health conditions or habits were not considered candidates for implants. Advances in diagnostics and bone reconstruction have made it so that most patients can receive implants.

Dental Implant Pros:

In general, dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth and offer improved chewing and speaking capabilities over dentures and bridges. Dental implants have been used for over 40 years and are a trusted method of tooth replacement. These are a few of the benefits of dental implants:

• Dental Implants behave similarly to your natural teeth and can restore normal chewing power. People with implants don’t notice a difference between the implant and their natural teeth- they can eat, speak, and brush and floss their teeth as they normally would.
• Dental implants can last a lifetime. Dental implants have been shown to have a survival rate of around 95% and with proper care and oral hygiene can last for the rest of your life.
• Dental implants prevent bone loss. The area in the jaw bone where there is no tooth (or teeth) begins to deteriorate and shrink due to lack of bone stimulation. An implant is inserted in the bone and provides the needed bone stimulation to maintain natural bone growth. If no implant is placed in the first year of losing a tooth then that bone area loses 25% of its volume and the bone loss continues over time.
• Dental implants prevent facial sagging and premature aging. People who lose jaw bone volume from missing teeth can develop a sunken-in look around their mouth and chin, additional wrinkles around their mouth, and the appearance of thinner lips, making them look much older than their natural age. Dental implants maintain natural bone and minimize further bone loss due to bone stimulation.
• Dental implants keep adjacent teeth stable and untouched. The teeth next to the missing gap can start to crookedly shift toward the gap. This can pull your teeth out of position to negatively impact your bite, ability to chew, and your physical appearance. An impact on your bite could lead to issues such as TMJ (temporomandibular joint), jaw pain, or headaches. Conventional bridges require grinding down the healthy natural teeth adjacent to the missing gap, but dental implants leave the adjacent teeth untouched.

Dental Implant Considerations:

Dental implants are in some circumstances a more expensive route than other options.

Process

A dental implant is placed in the bone and allowed to heal for an extended period of time. Typically a minor surgical procedure, dental implants can be placed at the time of the tooth extraction depending on your specific situation. Following adequate healing time, Dr. Pogoncheff places a crown on the implant and you leave the appointment with an artificial tooth that looks and feels similar to a natural tooth. Implants can also support other prosthetic solutions such as bridges or dentures.

Maintenance

Unlike natural teeth, implants are not susceptible to dental diseases such as decay. However, the health of your gums is vital to maintaining implants. You need to continue to brush and floss all of your teeth, including the implant so that you do not get gum disease. Studies show that the risk of implant failure is 90% less for patients who actively keep up with home care and cleanings.