With all of the advancements in modern dental care, you’d think that tooth loss would be a thing of the past. Unfortunately, due to gum disease, poor home dental hygiene, and trauma, people still lose their teeth. In the past, the treatment options for missing teeth were dental bridges and false teeth. Today, dental implants provide a more aesthetic and permanent solution.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are prosthetic replacements for missing teeth. Unlike conventional dentures that have been used to replace missing teeth, dental implants are synthetic dental restorations that are secured in place in the patient’s jawbone where the roots of the patient’s teeth were embedded. Dental implants are made of a biocompatible material, usually titanium. A sturdy post acts as the foundation for anchoring artificial teeth or permanent bridges in place. Dental implants can even secure full dentures in place.
A dental implant consists of three main parts — the implant device itself, referred to as the post, that is inserted directly into the bone; the abutment, or the piece that joins the implant device to the dental restoration that is visible above the gum line; and the actual dental restoration — dentures, a dental crown, or a dental bridge — that is attached to the abutment.
Why should I consider dental implants?
Because dental implants completely bond with the underlying jawbone they feel as natural and are as sturdy as a patient’s original teeth.
Dental implants do not cause the bone loss and gum recession that often occurs with bridgework and false teeth.
Because they are designed to essentially take the place of the roots of the teeth, your dental restorations will be firmly anchored in place.
Unlike bridgework that anchors onto adjacent teeth, dental implants do not impact surrounding teeth. Since your natural teeth are left intact, dental implants provide a significant long-term benefit to your oral health.
Dental Implants give patients a boost in confidence. Patients can eat foods they have avoided, smile and talk without being self-conscious, and know that their dental restoration will stay firmly in place.
Dental implants are incredibly reliable. Because they anchor into your jawbone, they become as solid as the original tooth or teeth they are replacing.
Are dental implants right for me?
Generally, anyone fit enough to undergo a routine dental extraction or oral surgery is a good candidate for a dental implant. The patient needs to have sufficient jawbone mass and healthy gum tissue that is free of periodontal disease. Patients who practice good oral hygiene and visit their dentist for regular checkups are good candidates for this procedure. Smokers, people who have uncontrolled chronic disorders, or those who have underlying health conditions may be required to undergo evaluation on an individual basis.
What happens during the procedure?
1. Local anesthesia is usually adequate for these outpatient procedures, but in more involved cases intravenous sedation may also be used.
2. The first procedure consists of surgically burying the implant into the jawbone beneath the gum. This protects the implant from force while it is healing for several months. At the latter part of the curing period, the implant needs to be surgically opened by eliminating some of the overlying gum.
3. The surgeon then fixes posts, or abutments onto the implant. The gum is permitted to settle around the abutment and form a cuff or collar through which the dentist has access to the implant when preparing the final restorative stage.
4. Once the implants have had an opportunity to heal and have been tested for effective integration, the restorative dental work is then affixed to the successfully osseointegrated implants.
Click here to read more about this Dental Implant patient case study.