If you are missing one or more teeth and would like to smile, speak and eat again with comfort and confidence, there is good news! Dental implants are teeth that can look and feel just like your own! Under proper conditions, such as placement by a periodontist and diligent patient maintenance, implants can last a lifetime.
So what exactly are dental implants?
Almost all dental implants in use today are made from titanium or titanium alloy, materials that have been shown over many years to be well tolerated by bone. The terms 'osseointegrated implants' or 'endosseous implants' are widely used to describe dental implants that can develop and maintain a close union with bone in order to support replacement teeth. A dental implant is essentially a substitute for a natural root and commonly it is screw or cylinder shaped. Each implant is placed into a socket carefully drilled at the precise location of the intended tooth. If an implant has a screw-thread on its outer surface it can be screwed into position and if it does not, it is usually tapped into place. The main aim during installation of any implant is to achieve immediate close contact with the surrounding bone. This creates an initial stability, which over time is steadily enhanced by further growth of bone into microscopic roughnesses on the implant surface.
Placing dental implants
When the team determines the number, type and location of the dental implants, the surgical phase of treatment can begin. From the diagnostic information the prosthodontist determines where the implants should be placed and will most often fabricate a guide for the surgeons from the models of the patient`s mouth. Implants are placed by the periodontist or oral surgeon and the individual teeth or bridgework are restored by a prosthodontist.
Most often, the implants replaced today only require one surgical procedure using a local anesthetic and sedative. However, there are occasions when the implants may require two surgical procedures. This is determined on an individual basis. After the procedure, the gums may be sore during initial healing, usually for seven to ten days. There may be additional soreness in the gums as the bone grows around the titanium posts until they are totally healed. This may take several weeks. If you have worn a bridge or false teeth before the first surgery, you may need to wait seven to ten days before the bridge or false teeth can be adjusted and lined with a soft material to eliminate pressure on the implants.
It takes as little as six weeks to as much as three to four months for lower jaw implants to heal completely and as little as six weeks to as much as six to nine months for those in the upper jaw. The healing time is determined on an individual basis and by the type of implant used. Following adequate healing, the prosthodontist will begin a series of appointments to fabricate the bridges or individual teeth that will be placed onto the titanium posts to replace the missing teeth.
How long can dental implant last?
Dental implants have been used for over 30 years to replace missing teeth and they can last a lifetime depending upon how you look after them. Like any other restoration your implant-supported teeth can still be damaged by trauma and affected by gum disease and poor oral hygiene.
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