Dental implants |
 |
|
Dental implants are frequently the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are long-term replacements that your oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. Professor Branemark performed the first implant surgery in the world in 1965 (Sweden). A natural tooth consists of a crown (the part you see above the gum), and the root (the part hidden under the gum). It is the root in the jawbone that actually holds the natural tooth in place. A dental implant is a small man-made titanium fixture that serves as a replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. The dental implant is placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw and functions as an anchor for the replacement tooth. The effect is that the bone cells attach themselves to the implant and the interface between the bone and the implants is termed osseointegration. After the bone has grown around the implant, implants can hold a crown, bridge or overdenture just like roots hold natural teeth in place. There are many ways to replace tooth crowns, but only dental implants can replace the entire tooth including both crown and root. Dental implants look, feel and function like your own natural teeth.
Fashion and beautiful smiles have now become synonymous; not only with each other, but also with personal health, financial ability and education. However, in many cases, the concept of a beautiful smile includes only those teeth that can be seen. Often, missing a tooth in the back of the mouth is out of sight out of mind and may not be a concern. If others cannot see it, it does not matter. Once these teeth are missing, the facial structure begins to change and the thought of facial cosmetic surgery becomes the initial option. However, there are various dental options available that will make a distinct difference in the facial structure of an individual in conjunction with, or in lieu of, traditional cosmetic surgery. The placement of dental implants is one that has the most distinct impact. The reality is that missing teeth will affect the overall health and aesthetics of the teeth. When a tooth is removed, the bone immediately begins to resorb and the surrounding teeth begin to move. For example, visualize a bookcase, securely end-to-end with books. As a single book is removed, from any location, over time gravity will cause the remaining books to lean toward the space. The placement of an implant will prevent that movement as well as continue to stimulate the bone, especially if a tooth has been missing for a period of time.
Implants provide additional support where teeth are missing without putting forces onto remaining natural teeth. They may be used to support the replacement of a single missing tooth or a complete functional set for individuals who have lost many or all of their teeth. The treatment steps: 1. The first step is the placement of the implant. The implant will remain covered underneath the gum for approximately 3 to 6 months. During this time, the implant should fuse to the bone.
Sometimes the implant procedure may be performed with a tooth crown in place directly after implant placement or within a few days, meaning that you can eat and smile directly after the treatment. It is possible when the bone is thick, bite is correct, there is no implant movement in the bone, implants are placed in the sections where chewing load is not heavy. Candidates for Implants Most patients who are healthy and not restricted from undergoing minor dental surgical procedures, and who have good oral hygiene can have dental implants. Your dentist will assess the potential implant site to determine whether there is sufficient bone volume and gum thickness to allow placement of an implant. We begin by undertaking a clinical examination that will involve inspection, palpation and gentle probing of the potential implant site and adjacent teeth. In straightforward cases, simple dental x-rays are usually sufficient to examine the bone. In more complex cases, specialized implant x-rays, known as tomograms, are usually required (either plain x-rays or CAT scans). Implants Can Be Rejected Implants that fail do so because the bone has not integrated sufficiently with the implant surface. Hence, implants are not "rejected" like an organ transplant; they simply fail to bond with the bone. This may occur if the bone is very soft at the time the implant is placed, or if the implant is initially unstable. Other reasons include inadvertent loading of the implant via a removable denture or by the action of chewing hard food over the implant site at the early stages of healing. Infection may also cause an implant to be lost. Most modern implant systems report success rates of 90%-95% over a 5 to 15 years period. Treatment for Failed Implants In most situations, an implant can be replaced if it fails to bond with the bone provided that adequate bone and gum tissue is present. Failures do not occur very often but they do occur. Home Care for Dental Implants For the implant to function well and to remain healthy, proper oral hygiene must be performed at home on a daily basis. Special cleaning aids (brushes, and floss) are widely available. We will provide instructions on the proper use of these cleaning aids. It is important to note that no metal scrapers should ever come in contact with the implants because metal scalers will scratch the surface of the implants, which is not desired.
|
