What are Dental Implants?
Dental implant is an artificial structure that replaces missing teeth. This implant is inserted into the jaw bone which support an artificial tooth called crown. Dental implants look and function like natural teeth.
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If the bone in which dental implant is fixed is healthy and strong, it will last as long as your natural teeth. Of course proper care and maintenance is required for its longevity.
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Procedure for Dental Implants
It includes more than one surgical procedure. The whole procedure can take few months for its completion. Many factors such as number of teeth needs to be replaced, condition of remaining teeth and your jaw bone. Most of the time required is for healing and waiting for the growth of new bone. Dental implant procedure includes various steps like:
1. Bone Grafting
Sometimes jaw bone is not fit enough to support dental implant surgery. In such case, bone grafting is done to make a strong base for dental implant. This procedure can take several months for the growth of transplanted bone.
3. Bone Growth & Healing
After the metal post is implanted in a jaw bone, it will take few months to grow & joint with the metal implant surface. Once this base is prepared, it serves as a root for a new artificial tooth.
2. Dental Implant Placement
During this procedure, a cut is made in your gum to expose the bone. Holes are drilled into this bone where dental implant metal post is placed. This metal post will act as a tooth root.
4. Abutment Placement
Local anesthesia is given for this minor surgery to place the abutment. Surgery is done to expose the dental implant. Abutment is placed & then tissue is closed around the abutment. Healing for gum will take about 2 weeks.
5. Artificial Tooth Placement
Once your gums and jaw bone heal and become strong enough to support artificial teeth, crown (artificial tooth) can be placed on it. Artificial teeth are of 2 types:
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Removable Implant Prosthesis &
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Fixed Implant Prosthesis
Why Dental Implant is necessary?
Dental implants restore and maintain dental health by replacing one tooth or several teeth. Teeth implants can strengthen the bone and even help to generate bone growth thus preventing future bone loss.
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Implants can help to relieve the sunken look which occurs due to bone loss in the jaw. It is a restorative dental treatment which provides confidence.
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Dental implants reduce the load on other remaining natural teeth and help to preserve them.
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Advantages of Dental Implant
Dental Implants look and behave like natural teeth. There is no noticeable different between natural teeth and implant.
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Convenient: With dental implant, person can eat, brush & floss normally.
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Durable: The implant is made from Titanium and is inserted into the jaw bone. This makes it strong replacement option.
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Eliminate the problem of Speech: As implants are fixed in jaw bones, unlike sliding dentures they can't slip within mouth and allow you to speak without any worry.
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Improved Appearance & Self-Esteem: As denture implants are fused within the bone, they behave like permanent teeth. They help to enhance your confidence.
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Provide Comfort: They make chewing easy, allowing you to eat food without any difficulty.
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Oral Health: Dental implants reduce the load on the remaining teeth, also reduce bone deterioration thus preserve the overall structure of the mouth.
Post Implant Dental Care
Dental implant can be made to last long by taking following precautions:
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Oral Hygiene: Proper oral hygiene is followed by brushing twice a day and flossing once a day.
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Avoid Bad Habits: Chewing hard food like candy or ice can break your dental implant.
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Avoid using Tobacco & Caffeine: They can stain teeth and can cause infection.
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Regular Check-ups: Visit your dentist on regular base to maintain oral health after dental implants.
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Diabetes under control: If you are a diabetic make sure to take regular medicines to keep your diabetes under control as uncontrolled sugar might lead to implant failure.
