WARNING:
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek
a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
What
are Dental Implants?
Tooth loss is something
no one looks forward to. If you lose one or more teeth, you
have a number of options, one of which is dental implants. You
owe it to yourself to be informed as possible about these options.
With this in mind, we've created this section on dental implants.
Dental implants are fixtures
of titanium which are surgically screwed into your jaw bone.
The implant is an anchor for a naturally-appearing false tooth
or a set of false teeth.
The success rate of dental
implants depends on where the implants are placed and their
purpose. They are typically best placed in the front portion
of your lower jaw.
Implants are great for
replacing missing teeth. It is important that you have enough
bone in the area of the missing teeth for the implants to be
attached to. Implants are not only used to replace one tooth,
but rather people missing most, if not all, of their teeth benefit
greatly as well. Implants are increasingly being used to replace
certain types of bridges and removable partial dentures.
If you're missing one
tooth or all of your teeth, implants may well be for you. So
long as you have enough bone in the area of the missing tooth
to facilitate the anchorage of the implants, this procedure
can yield terrific results. If you don't have enough bone for
this purpose, a bone graft may be necessary.
If you have a small dental
bridge or partial dentures (removable type), implants will be
a welcome alternative. Implants are an alternative to a fixed
bridge. The implant will last a lifetime, but the crown on top
of it will last ten to fifteen years.
Implants are surgically
placed in your jaw bone while under anesthesia. It is a very
time consuming procedure when having many implants placed. As
this procedure is surgical, it is very important to research
and find a well credited cosmetic dentist that you are comfortable
with. For some people there are varying degrees discomfort or
pain, which subsides in a couple of days. As with similar types
of surgery, bruising and minor swelling might also develop shortly
after the procedure.
How
are Dental Implants Attached in Your Mouth?
The implant procedure
is a surgical placement of the implant or implants in your jaw
bone which requires a three to six month healing period before
the implant restoration to replace the missing tooth or teeth.
During this healing time, the bone grows in and around the titanium
implant creating a very strong support. Dental implants can
be rejected. Usually they are replaced with another implant
of a slightly larger size. The rejection or "failure"
rate is minimal, only 1 to 2% of all implant procedures. You
must go without wearing your dentures for one day to two weeks
after an implant placement. After the implant has "taken"
and you have sufficiently healed, a very natural crown is placed
on the implant.
When missing one tooth,
your cosmetic dentist may use a Flipper to fill the space. A
Flipper is a false tooth to temporarily take the place of a
missing tooth before the permanent crown is placed on the implant.
A Flipper can be attached via either a wire or a plastic piece
that fits in the roof of your mouth. Flippers are meant to be
a temporary solution while awaiting the permanent crown to be
placed on your implant(s).
If you're missing one
tooth or all of your teeth, implants may well be for you. So
long as you have enough bone in the area of the missing tooth
to facilitate the anchorage of the implants, this procedure
can yield terrific results. If you don't have enough bone for
this purpose, a bone graft may be necessary. A procedure of
building up the bone is known as Bone Grafting. Bone grafting
is common with dental implants. The bone that is used is one
of three types. The preferred bone to use is taken from other
areas of your mouth or collected in a suction device as the
drilling of the sites for dental implants occurs. Sometimes
bone is taken from areas such as a hip (this requires an orthopedic
surgeon and an operating room). The third source for needed
bone is a synthetic type. This is the least preferred type of
bone to be used for this procedure.
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Types
of Dental Implant Procedures
Implants rely on titanium
fixtures inserted into the jawbone. Most implants are made of
titanium, which is very effective at fusing with living bone
(osseointegration). There are two types of dental implants which
your cosmetic dentist will discuss with you:
Root
Form Implant
This screw type implant
is shaped like the root of a tooth. This is the most commonly
used implant and is used where there is plenty of width and
depth to your jawbone. If your jawbone is too narrow or short
for placement of the Root Form implants, bone grafting may be
needed to allow for their placement. After you've received anesthesia,
your cosmetic dentist will expose an area of your jawbone and
prepare the bone for the implant. The number of incisions and
bone preparations depend on how many implants you need. The
implant will be set into place and your gums are closed with
stitches. It will take three to six months for healing. After
you've fully healed, your implant is uncovered and an abutment
is attached.
Plate
Form Implant
If your jawbone is too
narrow for bone grafting, a Plate Form implant is placed into
your jawbone. The Plate Form implant is unique for this purpose
as it has a flat and long shape for a better fit into a narrow
jawbone. After you've received anesthesia, your cosmetic dentist
will expose an area of your jawbone and prepare the bone for
the implant. The number of incisions and bone preparations depend
on how many implants you need. The implant will be set into
place and your gums are closed with stitches. It will take three
to six months for healing (some Plate Form implants are
immediately ready for restoration without the long healing process).
Benefits
of Implant Dentistry
There is a clear trend
in both dental implants and prosthetics towards shorter treatment
times, a minimum of pain and high esthetic outcome. Before,
a lost tooth was replaced by something that, in best case, restored
chewing capacity. Today's modern permanent solutions radically
improve not only function and appearance, but generally also
a person's self-esteem and quality of life.
Immediately functioning teeth:
It's possible to have dental implants and new, fully functioning
teeth in just one session.
Preserves facial appearance:
When you lose the entire tooth -crown and root - shrinkage of
the jawbone may cause your face to look older. Dental implants
can stop this process.
Perfect fit -
and smile: A new ceramic crown or bridge can be made
to fit perfectly in your mouth. It is almost impossible to distinguish
a real tooth from a Procera crown restoration.
Eat
what you want: Implant-supported replacement
teeth are like natural teeth because they are anchored securely
|in your jaw. This allows you to eat your favorite foods in
comfort and confidence.
Saves healthy teeth:
With traditional practices, two teeth adjacent to a missing
tooth must be ground down to anchor a bridge. Dental implants
often eliminate the need to modify healthy teeth.
A solution for life:
A dental implant and ceramic crown or bridge offers a long-lasting
solution, often for life.
Boosted self-esteem:
Once you experience the benefits of new and permanent teeth,
you may well experience renewed confidence and improved quality
of life as well.
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2006: The Smiles Dr | All Rights Reserved | Cosmetic
Dentist | Toothache Dentist | Emergency
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