Dental Implants Basic

Dental implants are permanent prosthetic tooth replacements which can substitute for bridges, crowns, and dentures, although they usually cost significantly more at between one thousand and twenty-five hundred dollars for each implant. The most common type of dental implant is the root-form implant.

In A root-form dental implant procedure, a titanium rod is surgically inserted into the patient’s jawbone, where it is given several months to fuse with the surrounding bone tissue. Then an extension is added to the titanium rod, and a prosthetic ceramic tooth made from a cast of the patient’s mouth is applied to the extension.

Success rates for dental implants are between 85-95%, depending on the locations of the teeth being replaced.

Dental Implants At A Glance:

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root replacement that is used in prosthetic dentistry to hold a replacement tooth or bridge. There are several types of dental implants such as the Osseo-integrated implant (where titanium is incorporated into bone), the implant-supported bridge, and the implant-supported denture.

When people lose teeth, they don’t have to have permanent gaps in their smile. People who have had accidents, diseases, or tooth decay can now erase the effects of these problems from their smile. They can have their dentist do some cosmetic reconstruction in the form of dental implants. Dental implants are a long lasting way to correct any smile. Because dental implants are long lasting and a close representation to a natural tooth and root system, the patient will need to continue habits of good dental hygiene. A dental implant needs to be cared for like a natural tooth. This means brushing and flossing daily in addition to regular visits to the dentist. Artificial teeth still need constant plaque removal to maintain healthy gums and a healthy mouth.

Benefits Of Dental Implants:

Dental implants are an artificial way of recreating a lost tooth or teeth. Implants start with a titanium screw that is inserted into the jaw bone. During the procedure the gums are cut open to expose the bone. To insert the titanium screw or post, the dentist then drills a hole into the bone. Titanium is the metal of choice because it allows the surrounding bone to grow into and around it. The screw is left slightly rough and porous on the edges to encourage the jaw bone to attach to it. This is a vital part of the implant. Once the screw has been inserted, the gums are stitched together. The patient will be under anesthesia at the time to relieve discomfort and pain.

First of all, if we look at what happens when teeth are missing we find that without the pressure exerted by a healthy tooth, the jawbone will begin to deteriorate. In fact, following the loss of a tooth, roughly 60 percent of the bone in that area disintegrates within a year, making the surrounding teeth less stable and more likely to move or lean toward the vacated area. The subsequent loss of bone density is simply a natural process of the body, occurring when there is no longer any stress on that area of the jaw.

Further Advantages:

Once the screw has been securely imbedded into the patients jaw bone, a crown or artificial tooth is attached to the top of the screw. Usually the dentist will put a temporary crown on initially. This is to allow the surrounding gum line sufficient time to adjust and grow in a natural manner around the new tooth. After the gums have healed and grown properly, the dentist will go back and replace the temporary tooth with a permanent one.

Sometimes the jaw bone doesn’t have enough bone material to take an implant. In these circumstances the dentist can do a bone graft to try to help regenerate enough bone material to anchor an artificial tooth.