Dental Implants: Everything you Need to Know
Gone are the days when losing a tooth prematurely to accident, decay or dental problems was a disaster. Now you can get back that smile better than ever before with one of the most remarkable dental innovations of recent years – dental implants. With modern technology and know-how, dental implant surgery has now become an extremely reliable solution to a number of problems that require tooth restoration.
What is a Dental Implant?
Put simply, a dental implant is a tooth foundation or root that is fixed inside the gum in order to support replacement teeth, or even dentures and crowns, as required by your oral condition. Most commonly, it is used to support an artificial tooth (or teeth), in situations when the permanent one may have got broken or been removed. Some problems that may require tooth replacement include decay, gum disease, root canal failure, and accidents.
An implant typically comes in a screw or cylindrical shape, and it is fitted into a socket drilled at the point where the tooth needs to be replaced. The idea is to fix the implant in close contact with the natural bone. Over time, the bone grows over the implant surface. The most effective material for this is titanium or titanium alloy, since titanium has been found to be well accepted by the human body.
The First Step: Dental Examination
The first thing you should know about the dental implant process is that it takes time. The process begins with a thorough dental examination. Your dentist will check your teeth and gums carefully, examining bone density, the condition of your gums, and the bone structure of your jaw. An implant can only be placed if there is sufficient bone structure and gum tissue to support it. If not, you might need soft tissue or bone grafts before your jaw is ready to accept an implant.
You must bear in mind that the success of this surgical procedure largely depends on your oral habits and commitment to follow the prescribed aftercare plan. Your dentist will have a thorough conversation with you, and recommend the right course of action. The final objective of the examination is to decide the type of implant you need and its exact placement.
The Implant Surgery
The implant surgery is typically a two-step process, and your dentist will give you a date following the examination. During the first session, the implant is placed within the gums at the precise point the dentist identified during the examination. After this, the dentist will allow 3 to 6 months for the jaw bone to bond with the implant surface. During this time, you may need to come for regular consultations, and you will need to follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions very carefully. If the implant does not bond with your jaw bone, it will be a failure and will need to be removed.
Once the implant has bonded, small posts are added as anchors for your replacement tooth (or teeth) during the second surgery. This done, the artificial tooth is fixed in place, and for all practical purposes, you now have a complete set of teeth.
The Advantages
There are a number of advantages of getting implant surgery done. People who have broken, disfigured or missing teeth are often self-conscious and under-confident, and they may hesitate to smile. As a cosmetic process, implants can correct these problems and give you an even set of teeth. You can smile and laugh freely and confidently, without being self-conscious.
With implants, your teeth get back their complete strength and stability, and you can eat anything you want without worrying about how to chew. Furthermore, implants protect against bone loss by stimulating and maintaining the jaw bone. As a final word, if a capable dentist has recommended implants, you should trust his advise. This is an extremely useful and successful surgical process.
