What are dental implants?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth. The actual implant is a small metallic cylinder, or screw, that substitutes for the natural tooth root. Inserted surgically into the jaw bone, it provides a stable base upon which a crown or denture can be anchored. But, unlike bridges or dentures, dental implants feel and act more like your own natural teeth.
What is the advantage of an implant?
People who have lost one or more teeth may be candidates for dental implants, eliminating the need for bridges or dentures. Dentures can often fit poorly. This is because once the natural teeth are gone, the jawbone begins to shrink and change shape. This can result in discomfort, pain, impaired chewing and difficulty in speaking. Bridges often require healthy adjacent teeth to be cut down, making them susceptible to decay and resulting in need for additional treatment.
Dental implants allow an artificial tooth (or dentures) to be firmly attached to them, creating stability and better function. Most people with dental implants say they feel like natural teeth. Implants can also improved speaking and chewing ability, elimination of pain, and in some cases, enhanced appearance.
How successful are dental Implants?
Dental implants are designed to be permanent. Dental implants are among the most successful procedures in medical/dental replacement (such as knees, hips, etc.). Long term clinical success rates are well over 95%.
There are numerous factors related to long term success. If a dental implant fails, it is usually for the same reasons that natural teeth fail: bone and gum break down, lack of proper care and hygiene, not returning for your professional checkup, accidents, or a newly occurring medical condition that affects the tissues of the mouth.
Initial healing is a key factor contributing to long term success of your implant. It is a well-established fact that smoking, before or after implant placement, will diminish success. Excessive pressure and/or grinding of your teeth can also cause problems with the implant bonding with the bone.
Is the surgical procedure painful?
Most implant patients report that the discomfort is far less than they expected and is much like having a regular tooth extracted. And although every patient is different with regard to pain, most patients are made very comfortable with minimal pain medication.
What is the procedure like?
The implant process is usually done in two steps. In the first procedure, which can often be done with local anesthetics (just like a filling), the implant is placed in the jaw. The patient will have a few sutures in his/her gum tissue to help the area heal and help the implant stabilize in the jaw.
After three to four months, the second procedure takes place. The time in between allows the bone to grow to hold the implant in place. In this procedure, the dentist places a post into the implant. Shortly after the second procedure, the artificial teeth (or tooth) are made. They are custom designed to your mouth’s exact shape and size, ensuring comfort and proper function. While the artificial teeth are being made, you will have temporary tooth (or dentures).
Does age make a difference?
Age is not the most important factor when considering implants. Overall health and quality of life are of primary concern. In the early 1940s and 1950s implants were originally designed for the aging patient with total tooth loss. Today implants are placed with high success rates in teenagers with sports injuries or congenitally missing teeth. This is also true of patients up to and including patients in their nineties. Age is not a major factor as to whether or not you may be an implant candidate.
Cases
Single Implants
Multiple Implants
Upper and Lower Jaws
