Dental Implants

Dental implants are fixtures of titanium that are actually screwed into your jawbone. The screw is then used to help anchor a false tooth or a set of false teeth. Implants are usually used for replacing missing front teeth, but they can be used anywhere. Usually though, people do not go through this expensive process to have one or two of their back teeth replaced. In order doe implants to be successful, you need to have enough bone for the implant to attach to.

Anyone who wears partial or full dentures is a good candidate for this procedure. This procedure is also done on people who have had their teeth knocked out accidentally in sports or car accidents. The procedure will give you the appearance of having your own teeth, as long as the dentist has enough bone to work with. If there is not enough bone, you may need to have a bone graft. In a bone graft, the dentist can use one of three types of bones. He/She can take a bone from other areas of your mouth. The bone can also be taken from the hip, but this requires surgery by an orthopedic surgeon. The bone can be a synthetic type of bone, but this is usually done as a last resort. The implants themselves last a lifetime, but the crowns that are placed on top of them last about ten to fifteen years.

In order to have the implant procedure done, you do have to be anaesthetized because the dentist is implanting the screws into the jawbone. If many implants are needed, the process takes a long time. There may be discomfort, pain and swelling for a few days following this surgery. You will need to allow three to six months as a healing period after the screws have been affixed to the bone. This allows the bone to grow around the titanium and provide support for the new teeth. If you wear dentures, you will not be able to wear them for up to two weeks after you have the implant placement done. If you are only missing one tooth, the dentist may use what is called a Flipper to fill the space. This is a false tooth that temporarily fills the space before the permanent crown is placed on the implant. It is attached by either plastic or wire that fits in the roof of your mouth.

There are three types of dental implants:

Root Form Implant. In this type of implant, the screw is shaped like the root of a tooth. This is the most common type of implant and is used where there is plenty of bone. During anesthesia, the dentist exposes an area of the jawbone and prepares it for implant. The number of small incisions and bone preparations depend on how may implants you need. You need one implant for each new tooth. Once the implants are set in, the incisions are stitched together. It will take from three to six months for this to heal. The implants are then uncovered and crowns placed over them.

Plate Form Implant. This type of implant is used when the jawbone is too narrow for the root form implant or for bone grafting. The plate form implant has a flatter and longer shape so it fits better into a narrow jawbone. The insertion and healing processes are the same as for the root form implant.

Subperiosteal Implants. When one of the first two implants will not work, this implant is custom made to rest on the top of the jawbone and under the gums. There are two methods the dentist can choose to insert the implants. The dentist will either make an impression of your jawbone or use an image from a CT scan to make a custom fit implant. This is then inserted into the jawbone.

Most people do not mind the painful procedure because they want to have a more natural smile.