DENTAL
IMPLANTS....................
Healthy teeth make
life more enjoyable, giving you a sense of well-being, and
general comfort. A beautiful smile enhances your appearance
and can provide added confidence and presence.
When teeth are lost…
Are you missing one or more teeth
? Do you suffer from ill-fitting dentures ? Do you often
wish that you could laugh spontaneously, speak clearly,
and eat comfortably again?
…dental implants
can be just the solution for you
Often times it is only after teeth are lost that we realize
the benefits of healthy teeth. Fortunately, the option of
dental implant treatment is available to those suffering
from missing teeth, providing them with replacement teeth
that are closest in look, feel and function to natural teeth.
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.
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What
are 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.
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Who
is a candidate for dental implants?
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.
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Overview
of Dental Implants
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).
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Dental
Implants Frequently asked Questions
Is the concept
of dental implants a new one?
Interestingly, dental implants have been performed for thousands
of years. Egyptian mummies have been found with gold wire
implants in the jawbones. Pre-Columbian skeletal remains
exhibit dental implants made of semi-precious stones. Recently,
a Roman soldier was unearthed in Europe with an iron dental
implant in his jawbone. In the Middle East, implants made
of ivory have been discovered in skeletons from the Middle
Ages.
Modern implantology
began in the United States at the beginning of the 20th
century. However, popularity really grew in the 1980’s with
the increased success of the titanium cylinder. Since then,
many brand name implants with minor variations have been
approved.
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What factors
contribute to long-term success of Dental Implants?
Long-term success
depends on multiple factors. First off, success will depend
on the quality and quantity of bone. The better the bone
and the more available, the greater the chance of long-term
success. Secondly, the experience and ability of the dental
surgeon will be a factor. As with any surgical procedure,
there is no substitute for the experience and individual
talent of the dentist. And finally, the quality of the restoration
placed on top of the implant will play a big role in long-term
success. If the design of the implant crowns or overdentures
are poorly constructed, and biting forces are not balanced,
even the best-placed dental implant will have a compromised
survival rate.
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Who can place
a dental implant in my mouth?
A periodontist, an
oral surgeon, or an implantologist places dental implants.
The periodontist and oral surgeon are teamed with a restorative
dentist. They will place the implants and then the patient
will be seen by a restorative dentist for completion of
the crowns or overlying appliance. There will be two dentists
during the course of treatment. An implantologist is trained
in both dental implant surgery and restoration of the dental
prosthesis. An implantologist will do both the surgery and
the restoration, and there will be only one dentist during
the course of treatment. Click here to find an implantologist
near you.
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Who can
restore the teeth on the top of dental implants?
A general dentist
trained to restore implants, an oral implantologist, or
a prosthodontist can restore teeth. It is the choice of
the patient to use a "one doctor approach," whereby
the oral implantologist does both the surgery and the restoration,
or the "two doctor approach," whereby the surgery
and restoration are performed by two different clinicians.
Click here to find an implantologist near you.
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Are there
any age limitations for dental implants?
No. Any person at
any age can have dental implants as long as there is enough
bone available in which to place the implants.
What might be some
of the factors that would prevent me from being an implant
candidate?
There are some medical
factors that might prevent a person from being a good candidate
for dental implants. Some of these may be uncontrolled diabetes,
chemotherapy or radiation therapy, parathyroid disorders,
blood disorders, rare bone disorders or bone marrow cancer.
Some physical factors may include insufficient or poor quality
bone, low sinuses or nerve bundles.
How often
will I need to have my dental implants checked?
The success of your
implants will depend greatly on how well you maintain them.
They will need to be professionally cleaned by a hygienist
and examined by your implant dentist every three to four
months. This hygienist should be trained in the specific
procedure of maintaining dental implants. Also, brushing
and flossing daily is absolutely necessary for long-term
success.
Is dental
implant surgery painful?
No. An effective
local anesthetic is used during the surgery so that you
do not have any discomfort during the placement of the implants.
The mild discomfort you might experience after surgery can
be controlled with medications.
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When
can I return to work after implant surgery?
You can go to work
the next day, unless some particular surgical circumstance
arises. Your implant dentist will discuss all postoperative
instructions with you.
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Additional Information
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Benefits
Dental implants have
given countless patients many amazing benefits.
You will smile again
Improved appearance
Improved comfort
Improved speech
Eat better, enjoy
more foods, better nutrition
Convenience
Improved self-esteem
Dental implants are
also a great value for your investment. You will be getting
a product that you will be using 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week, 52 weeks of the year, probably for many, many years
of your life.
