DENTAL
PROCEDURES Dental
Implants
Although
you have a number of
restorative options
for the treatment of
missing teeth, none
have proven to be as
functionally effective
and durable as implants.
In many cases, dental
implants may be the
only logical choice
for the restoration
of all necessary functionality
of
the teeth and supporting
structures.
Strong, durable and
natural in appearance,
implants are among the
most successful dental
procedures performed.
Tooth Loss
Teeth are lost because of:
. Tooth
decay
. Root canal
failure
. Periodontitis
(gum disease)
. Trauma
to the mouth
. Excessive wear
and tear
. Congenital defects
. People
who have lost teeth
might feel too self-conscious
to smile or talk. Additionally,
biting
irregularities caused
by tooth loss can have
a negative effect on
eating habits and this
can
lead to secondary health
problems like malnutrition.
Regardless of the nature
of problems
related to tooth loss,
dental implants may
provide a simple remedy
with proven results.
Advantages of Implant Dentistry
Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative counterparts (bridges and dentures). Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. Additionally, implants may be used in conjunction with other restorative procedures for maximum effectiveness. For example, a single implant can serve to support a crown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used to support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing teeth, and can be used with dentures to increase stability and reduce gum tissue irritation.
Procedural advancements, including the development of narrower “mini” implants, mean that more people than ever before are finding themselves candidates for implantation. However, candidacy for implantation still varies, meaning that your dentist may determine that you should opt for an alternative restoration. Keep in mind, too, that dentists do not need a specific license by law in order to perform implant dentistry. A general or restorative dentist may perform the crown and bridge placement that is associated with implant restoration. However, prosthodontists are the specialists who often complete this crucial procedure.
Periodontists and oral surgeons perform the implant surgical procedure itself.
The Dental Implant Procedure
Today's dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth. This appearance is aided in part by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting but require a period of osseointegration.
Osseointegration
is the process by which
direct anchorage of
a dental implant root
and the
bone of the jaw occurs.
Osseointegrated implants
are the most commonly
used and successful
type of dental implant.
An osseointegrated implant
takes anywhere from
three to six months
to anchor and heal,
at which point your
dentist can complete
the procedure with the
placement of
a crown. Once the implant
has anchored with the
jawbone, artificial
prosthesis may be attached
and the process is done.
If osseointegration
does not occur, the
implant will fail.
Detailed procedural steps are as follows:
Preparing
the Jaw for Implantation: A
dental implant is
commonly composed
of a titanium material
screw and a crown.
A small-diameter hole
(pilot hole) is drilled
at edentulous (where
there is no tooth)
jaw sites in order
to guide the titanium
screw that holds a
dental implant in
place. To avoid damaging
vital jaw and face
structures like the
inferior alveolar
nerve in the mandible
(lower jaw), a dentist
must use great skill
and expertise when
boring the pilot hole
and sizing the jaw bone.
Placement
of the Implant: After
the initial pilot
hole has been drilled
into the appropriate
jaw
site, it is slowly widened
to allow for placement
of the implant screw.
Following this placement,
a protective cover screw
is placed on top to
allow the implant site
to heal and the dental
implant to anchor (osseointegration).
After several months,
the protective cover
is removed and a temporary
crown is placed on top
of the dental implant.
The temporary crown
serves as a template
around which the gum
grows and shapes itself
in a natural way. The
process is completed
when the temporary crown
is replaced with a permanent
crown.
Success Rates of Dental Implants
Dental
implants are among the
most successful procedures
in dentistry. There
is no guarantee that
an implant procedure
will be successful,
but studies have shown
a five-year success
rate
of 95% for lower jaw
implants and 90% for
upper jaw implants.
The success rate for
upper jaw implants is
slightly lower because
the upper jaw (especially
the posterior section)
is less dense than the
lower jaw, making successful
implantation and osseointegration
potentially more difficult
to achieve. Lower posterior
implantation has the
highest success rate
for all dental implants.
Dental implants may fail for a number of reasons. The cause is often related to a failure in the osseointegration process. For example, if the implant is placed in a poor position, osseointegration may not take place. Dental implants may break or become infected (like natural teeth) and crowns may become loose.
If
you are a smoker who
is considering a dental
implant, your dentist
will likely advise you
to
give up smoking before
undergoing the process
because smokers face
a higher risk of implant
failure. Since the procedure
can be extremely expensive,
you risk wasting your
money on
dental implants if you
do not give up the habit.
On the plus side, dental implants are not susceptible to the formation of cavities; still, poor oral hygiene can lead to the development of peri-implantitis around dental implants. This disease is tantamount to the development of periodontitis (severe gum disease) around a natural tooth.
Implant Dentistry: New Procedural Strategies
Dentists trained to perform implants, crowns and/or surgery have begun to use a new strategy for the replacement of missing teeth. Dental implants are placed into locations where teeth have recently been extracted. When successful, this new strategy can shed months off of the treatment time associated with dental implants because osseointegration is sped up. Candidacy for this type of early intervention is dependant upon anatomical factors of the extracted tooth site. For example, in many cases the extracted tooth site is wider than the implant, making it impossible to place the implant into the site immediately after extraction. Dental work would have to be performed first in order to create a perfect fit for the implant.
Another strategy for implant placement within narrow spaces is the incorporation of the mini-implant. Mini-implants may be used for small teeth and incisors. Get more information about alternatives to traditional implants by checking out our mini implant section.
For more information visit our FAQ page.