Although dental care has improved in recent years, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss – often due to tooth decay, injury, or infection. The only treatment options available were bridges and dentures. But fortunate enough, we have dental implants today.
What are Dental
Implants?
A dental implant is a
surgical process that provides a long-term solution for a missing tooth. This
procedure requires fusing a biocompatible titanium material to the jawbone,
replicating a natural tooth. The best part about dental implant procedure is
that it offers excellent stability without affecting the neighboring teeth.
You may wonder, “How long does a dental implant last?” Like any other dental treatments,
dental implants require a proper post-treatment aftercare to have long-lasting effects. As it is one
of the most sophisticated long-term solutions if you have a missing tooth.
If you think you need
such a service and are looking for dental implants, here are a few things you
need to know about dental implants:
Types of Dental
Implants
There are two main
types of dental implants that your dentist will recommend:
·
Endosteal
The endosteal implant is usually placed in the jawbone or the
jawline. These implants are made from titanium and are molded as a small
screw-like structure.
·
Subperiosteal
Unlike the endosteal, subperiosteal is not placed in the
jawbone. Instead, they are placed under the gum or on the jawbone. These
implants are typically used for patients with a weak jawbone or for those who
are unwilling to go for a bone augmentation procedure on their jaws.
There are also other
options that your orthodontist may suggest, based on your requirements and
jawbone’s health.
- Mini dental implants
- Immediate load dental implants
- All-on-4®
The Procedure
Here is the complete
process that you can expect during the dental implant procedure:
- Extraction: the damaged tooth is extracted from your mouth
- Grafting: this step only occurs when your jawbone is not strong
enough to bear the chewing pressure and cannot support the implant. To
help this problem, grafting of the jawbone provides a strong foundation
for the implant.
- Placing
the implant: in this step, your
orthodontist exposes the bone covered by the gum. Holes are then drilled
into your bone, and the dental implant is placed.
- Healing
time for bone growth: after
placing the implants, the next step is to wait for the jawbone to grow
back. This process is known as Osseointegration. This may take a few weeks
or months.
- Placing
the abutment: this minor surgery involves
reopening the gum to expose the implant. Your orthodontist will then place
an abutment where the dental crown can fit.
- Placing
the artificial tooth: once
the mouth heals, your dentist will create a close-to-real replacement for
the damaged/missing tooth by taking impressions of your teeth and gums.
Post Procedure
Problems
A few common problems
you might face after a dental implant are:
- Gum/skin bruises
- Minor bleeding
- Pain for the first few days
- Swelling around gums
Read more here: What to expect after dental implant surgery?
Safety Measure
Dental implants depend
on more than one factor. Many dentists suggest you follow the following
evaluations as a safety measure:
- A comprehensive dental exam
- Reviewing medical history
- Planning the treatment
Good news for you, as
the dental implants have a 95% success rate. However, you should know what the signs of dentalimplant failure are before jumping straight into it.
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