Dental implants
Dental implants have been used to replace missing teeth since the 1960’s, but in the past 20 years their use has become routine. Dental implants are used to support crowns to replace one or more missing teeth, bridges that replace a larger span of missing teeth, or even dentures to replace all the missing teeth in a jaw. The implants are manufactured from titanium, a very safe metal that is compatible with the body and routinely used in orthopedic surgery to stabilize fractures and replace knees and hips. There is over 45 years of clinical evidence to show that dental implants are a safe and convenient way to replace lost teeth with natural-looking results.
Dental implants have been used to replace missing teeth since the 1960’s, but in the past 20 years their use has become routine. Dental implants are used to support crowns to replace one or more missing teeth, bridges that replace a larger span of missing teeth, or even dentures to replace all the missing teeth in a jaw. The implants are manufactured from titanium, a very safe metal that is compatible with the body and routinely used in orthopedic surgery to stabilize fractures and replace knees and hips. There is over 45 years of clinical evidence to show that dental implants are a safe and convenient way to replace lost teeth with natural-looking results.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
Dental implants have a number of important advantages over conventional crowns, bridges and dentures:
Dental implants have a number of important advantages over conventional crowns, bridges and dentures:
- Dental Implants look and feel like natural teeth and DO NOT DECAY!
- Implants function in the same way as natural teeth.
- Healthy adjacent teeth do not have to be filed down to act as supports for the missing tooth or teeth. This means that they are less likely to need root canals.
- Dental implant maintains the jaw bone that usually atrophies after tooth extraction. Chewing forces are transmitted through the implant to the bone and stimulate the natural process of bone remodeling.
- Dental Implants helps preserve a good facial appearance.
- Dental implants provide anchorage for removable dentures.
- Dental implants prevent dentures from dislodging during chewing and speaking.
What does a dental implant consist of?
A dental implant is a specially machined titanium screw which is inserted into a prepared site in the jaw bone acting as a replacement root for the missing tooth. A special connecting part called an abutment is attached to the implant to which the new replacement tooth (crown) or teeth (bridge or denture) are anchored.
A dental implant is a specially machined titanium screw which is inserted into a prepared site in the jaw bone acting as a replacement root for the missing tooth. A special connecting part called an abutment is attached to the implant to which the new replacement tooth (crown) or teeth (bridge or denture) are anchored.
How do dental implants Heal?
During healing, the titanium surface of the implant fuses with the surrounding bone, in a process known as osseointegration, which can take about 3-6 months. After this time, the implant is stable enough to support one or more false teeth.
During healing, the titanium surface of the implant fuses with the surrounding bone, in a process known as osseointegration, which can take about 3-6 months. After this time, the implant is stable enough to support one or more false teeth.
Who is a candidate for dental implant?
Dental implants are suitable for almost anyone who has lost one or more teeth and would like to restore their appearance or chewing ability. To obtain dental implant treatment; your mouth must be healthy, and with no untreated active periodontal (gum) disease. If implants are fitted in the presence of active periodontitis, there is a danger that an infection will develop around the implant, which will lead to its failure and loss. Your oral hygiene must be adequate before implants are placed, because the long-term success of implants depends on good oral hygiene leading to good plaque control. During and after treatment is completed, you must attend regular follow-up appointments so that the implants are checked and monitored in an effort to monitor your healing and plaque control in an effort to prevent any complications at an early stage.
Dental implants are suitable for almost anyone who has lost one or more teeth and would like to restore their appearance or chewing ability. To obtain dental implant treatment; your mouth must be healthy, and with no untreated active periodontal (gum) disease. If implants are fitted in the presence of active periodontitis, there is a danger that an infection will develop around the implant, which will lead to its failure and loss. Your oral hygiene must be adequate before implants are placed, because the long-term success of implants depends on good oral hygiene leading to good plaque control. During and after treatment is completed, you must attend regular follow-up appointments so that the implants are checked and monitored in an effort to monitor your healing and plaque control in an effort to prevent any complications at an early stage.
When are dental implants not suitable treatment?
Dental implant therapy may not be feasible if the jaw bone is not sufficiently thick to accommodate implants and bone grafting is not possible to achieve a proper site for implant placement. Uncontrolled diabetics and patients with untreated periodontitis are at a higher risk of complications due to infection or poor healing; therefore increasing the risk of implant failure. However, once the diabetes is under control, their periodontal condition treated and their home care has improved these individuals may also benefit from dental implant treatment.
Dental implant therapy may not be feasible if the jaw bone is not sufficiently thick to accommodate implants and bone grafting is not possible to achieve a proper site for implant placement. Uncontrolled diabetics and patients with untreated periodontitis are at a higher risk of complications due to infection or poor healing; therefore increasing the risk of implant failure. However, once the diabetes is under control, their periodontal condition treated and their home care has improved these individuals may also benefit from dental implant treatment.
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What does implant treatment involve?
In the one-stage approach, the implant is inserted into the prepared bone and an attachment called a healing cap, which protrudes through the gum, is attached to the implant. The healing cap is removed after a 4-6 month healing period to test the stability of the implant in the bone and confirm the osseointegration of the implant and the bone. If osseointegration is confirmed, you will be scheduled to begin the restorative process. In the two-stage approach, a cover screw is placed flush over the top of the implant and the gum is sewn up over it for the 4-6 month healing period. A second minor procedure is needed to uncover the implant through a small incision in the gum. Once the implant is uncovered the stability of the implant in the bone is tested to confirm the osseointegration of the implant and the bone. If osseointegration is confirmed, a healing collar will be attached to the implant and the gum tissue allow to heal around it for for a few weeks in preparation to begin the restorative phase.
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What is bone grafting?
Bone grafts are very common procedure in conjunction with dental implant treatment or in preparation for it. The purpose is to increase the width and or height of the jawbone to achieve an adequate implant site or to fill bony voids after implant(s) have been placed. Depending on the bone graft used a healing period of 4-6 months is necessary prior to placing implants into the grafted site. There are four types of bone grafts depending on their source.
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How long will my implant last?
Dental implant have the potential to last you a lifetime. Dental implants have been used successfully for many decades and studies show a 95% success rate. With good oral hygiene and maintenance, they can function for many years. To help increase the lifespan of dental implants the following recommendations must be followed: Avoid smoking, continue with a very thorough oral hygiene programme at home and attend regular cleaning visits at our office for careful inspection of your implant, teeth and gums. This will allow you to have your implant and teeth professionally cleaned and enable any problems to be dealt with promptly before they threaten the stability of your implant.
Dental implant have the potential to last you a lifetime. Dental implants have been used successfully for many decades and studies show a 95% success rate. With good oral hygiene and maintenance, they can function for many years. To help increase the lifespan of dental implants the following recommendations must be followed: Avoid smoking, continue with a very thorough oral hygiene programme at home and attend regular cleaning visits at our office for careful inspection of your implant, teeth and gums. This will allow you to have your implant and teeth professionally cleaned and enable any problems to be dealt with promptly before they threaten the stability of your implant.
What might cause an implant to fail?
Assuming there have been no problems with the healing process after implant placement, the most likely cause of failure is inadequate oral hygiene. If tooth cleaning is poor, bacteria will build up on the implant surface and cause mucositis, an inflammatory process of the mucous membrane surrounding the implant. If left untreated, mucositis can progress to a more dangerous condition called peri-implantitis, in which the inflammatory process spreads to the bone around the implant and bone loss around the implant will ensue. If left untreated, enough bone will be lost compromising the stability of the implant until it becomes loose.
Assuming there have been no problems with the healing process after implant placement, the most likely cause of failure is inadequate oral hygiene. If tooth cleaning is poor, bacteria will build up on the implant surface and cause mucositis, an inflammatory process of the mucous membrane surrounding the implant. If left untreated, mucositis can progress to a more dangerous condition called peri-implantitis, in which the inflammatory process spreads to the bone around the implant and bone loss around the implant will ensue. If left untreated, enough bone will be lost compromising the stability of the implant until it becomes loose.
