Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth and also provide a fixed solution to having removable partial or complete dentures. Implants provide excellent support and stability for these dental appliances.
Dental implants are artificial roots and teeth (usually titanium) that are surgically placed into the upper or lower jaw bone by a dentist. The teeth attached to implants are very natural looking and often enhance or restore a patient's smile!
Dental implants are very stong, stable, and durable and will last many years, but on occassion, they will have to be retightened or replaced due to normal wear.
Reasons for Dental Implants:
- Replace one or more missing teeth without affecting adjacent teeth.
- Resolve joint pain or bite problems caused by teeth shifing into missing tooth space.
- Restore a patient's confident smile
- Restore chewing, speech and digestion.
- Restore of enhance facial tissues
- Support a bridge or denture, making them more secure and comfortable.
Types of Implants
There are three main types of implants:
- The root implant
- The plate form implant
- The subperiosteal implant
The root implant—by far, the most popular—is the most effective because it mirrors the size and shape of a patient’s natural tooth. This implant is often as strong as the patient’s original tooth. The implant or artificial root is placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, then allowed to heal and integrate with the bone. Once the healing process is completed and the jawbone is attached to the implant, the patient returns to the dental office where the implant is fitted with the new tooth. This process generally takes anywhere from three to eight months.
The plate form implant is ideal in situations where the jawbone is not wide enough to properly support a root implant. The plate form implant is long and thin, unlike the root implant, and anchors into thin jawbones. It is inserted the same way as a root implant. In certain cases, the plate form implant is immediately fitted with the restoration without waiting for the healing process to run its course.
The subperiosteal implant is used when the jawbone has receded to the point where it can no longer support a permanent implant.
Mini Dental Implants
Mini Dental Implants are great for missing teeth or to stabilize loose uncomfortable dentures. Mini Dental Implants are titanium screws that replace the root of a tooth. The prosthesis is cemented directly to the head of the implant. If the implant is to be used for a removable denture, then housing with a rubber gasket is attached precisely to the acrylic denture and functions like a button that snaps on and off the implant. Mini Dental Implants are placed quickly and easily using a microsurgical technique. The dentist uses a small amount of local anesthetic and makes a pin-sized puncture in the gum and jaw. The Mini Implant is then threaded gently and carefully into the jaw. The heads of the implants protrude from the gum tissue and provide an attachment for securing dentures or cementing crowns or bridges. It is a one step procedure involving minimally invasive surgery.
Post Implant Care
Although proper oral hygiene is always recommended for maintaining good dental health, it is especially important when a patient has received a dental implant. Bacteria can attack sensitive areas in the mouth when teeth and gums are not properly cleaned, thus causing gums to swell and jaw bones to gradually recede. Recession of the jawbone will weaken implants and eventually make it necessary for the implant to be removed. Patients are advised to visit their dentists at least twice a year to ensure the health of their teeth and implants. Dental implants can last for decades when given proper care.