Back to

Homepage

Dental Implants

A natural tooth can be seen as existing of two parts. A root (below the gum) and a crown (above the gum). Lost teeth can be replaced in a number of ways. There are several types of bridges and partial dentures. Each has its own advantages and drawbacks. Another option to add to the list is dental implants.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is nothing more than a metal screw that is placed into the jaw bone. It acts as an anchor for a false tooth or a set of false teeth. An Implant is a substitute for natural teeth, replacing its root. It is a small man-made titanium fixture that serves as the replacement for the root portion of a missing natural tooth. The implant is placed in the bone of the upper or lower jaw and allowed to bond with the bone and serve as an anchor for the replacement tooth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single lost tooth or many missing teeth. Implant supported replacement teeth look, feel and function like natural teeth. Dental implants are a proven restorative option with a long clinical history. Dental implants preserve the integrity of the facial structure and reduce the inconvenience associated with tooth loss.

They are today's best alternative to your natural teeth. They offer you a permanent or secure solution for replacing one or more teeth. Implants are made of biocompatible materials, similar to that found in hip replacements and other orthopaedic devices. The bone grows onto the implant and holds the implant in place, which can then be used to function as an anchor or support for traditional forms of dentistry, such as crowns, bridges or dentures.

Implants, as we know them today, have been in existence for at least twenty-five years. For the last ten years, however, success rates are consistently over 95% with proper personal and professional care.

Initially, you might feel dental implants are expensive. However, they represent a more long-term and natural solution than cheaper treatment alternatives, restoring your bite, your smile and your confidence. Hence, there is a greater initial investment, but they should last for years, particularly if you have an "ideal" case and follow the advice you are given by the dentist and hygienist.

The cost of each implant case is different. Cost is a function of your particular needs. After a complete examination, your dentist will more specifically determine your dental needs and the best treatment alternative(s) for you. At that point, you can specifically address the question of cost and discuss the various financial arrangements that are available to you.

How are Dental Implants Placed?

Prior to the placement of the dental implants, an extensive examination is carried out. The patients' oral and general health are assessed, along with the quality and quantity of the bone. Once the evaluation has been completed, a full written treatment plan can be given.

The treatment is then carried out and is in two phases.

Phase 1: Using very accurate surgical techniques, an incision is made in the gum tissues and implants placed into the jawbone. The gum tissues are then closed and the healing phase begins. This may take anywhere from 1-6 months to ensure a strong base. It is really a simple procedure.

Phase 2: Creating and fixing the new tooth or teeth to the implant structure constitutes the second and final phase. Implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth or all the teeth.

Usually, discomfort is not a problem. In fact, many have said that having a tooth removed was more painful! For the placement of an implant(s), local anaesthetic is often adequate and prevents any discomfort.

Recent advances by implant manufacturers are reducing the time for initial implant procedures. Treatment for the simple cases could take anywhere from 2-8 months, based on where the implants are placed and the type of restoration you desire. Do not compromise because your implants and the new teeth that they support should last for years.

The Advantages of the implant treatment

For many patients, dentures, partials, and bridges simply aren't enough. Loose dentures and metal clasps can cause embarrassment, pain, and difficulties with eating and speech. Crowns and bridges can have limited life expectancies if their supporting teeth aren't strong.

Many patients choose dental implants to replace missing or hopelessly damaged teeth, because: If you have lost a single tooth, whether it be in the front of your mouth or the back, an implant is frequently the best option. The benefits are:

We're living longer. This has created a need for longer-lasting dental replacements.

Cosmetic - Improved Appearance: Dental implants are more stable, more convenient, more practical and more natural. When teeth are lost, ongoing shrinkage of the jawbone occurs making the face look older. Dental implants can slow or stop this process. Dental implants look and feel like your own natural teeth. Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.

Tooth-saving: Dental implants don't sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched.

Confidence: Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence!

Reliable: The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

Improved Comfort: Dental implants eliminate the pain and discomfort of removable full or partial dentures. Since dentures sit on top of the jawbone and gums, continuous shrinkage of the jaw bone alters the fit of the denture resulting in slipping or rocking of the dentures. Exposed nerves and irritation of the gum tissue may add to the discomfort. Removable dentures and partials are inconvenient, less sturdy, and not permanent. Bridges must have strong supporting natural teeth and require grinding of those teeth. Implant-supported replacement teeth are like natural teeth because they are anchored securely to your jawbone. Gum irritation and the pain of exposed nerves associated with conventional full or partial dentures are eliminated.

Improved Speech: With ill fitting dentures, the teeth slip and slide around the mouth. The facial muscles become tense in an attempt to hold the teeth in place. This often results in mumbling, slurred speech or clicking noises. Replacement teeth allow you to speak with confidence in a relaxed and natural tone.

Eat Better: The average denture patient with an excellent fitting denture eats at 15-20% efficiency when compared to a person with natural teeth. As the jawbone shrinks, your chewing efficiency is reduced even more, making it difficult to eat certain foods. Dental implants can restore chewing efficiency comparable to that of natural teeth. This allows you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain, enjoy what everyone is eating and not think twice about it. A full upper denture covers the palate of the mouth and reduces the ability to taste foods. With dental implants, you can have the palate removed from your upper denture so you can taste and enjoy your food.

Convenience: Dental implants can eliminate the numerous embarrassing inconveniences of removable partial and full dentures. You will eliminate the use of gooey denture adhesives that must be re-applied throughout the day. You will no longer need to cover your mouth when you laugh or smile, for fear that your teeth will pop out or fall down.

Improved Self Esteem: Considering all other benefits, dental implants can improve your self-esteem. You may feel better about yourself. You can regain nearly all the capabilities that most people have with natural teeth, giving you renewed confidence, and allowing you to enjoy life, do what everyone else is doing and not think twice about it.

Who is a candidate for dental implants?

Anyone who is missing one or more of their teeth due to injury, disease, or decay may be a candidate for dental implants. If one or a few teeth are missing, dental implants in conjunction with a crown or bridge can replace those teeth without loosing more bone. If all or most of your teeth are missing, the dental implants may be placed to replace a loose fitting full or partial denture. Adequate bone in your jaw is needed to support the implant(s) along (You must have enough bone in the area of the missing teeth to provide for the anchorage of the implants) with healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Occasionally, older patients express concern that their age may prevent them from enjoying the benefits that dental implants offer. However, health is more of a determining factor than age. If you're healthy enough to have a tooth extracted, you're probably healthy enough to receive dental implants. Certain chronic diseases may contraindicate implant treatment. Your dentist will determine if you are a candidate for dental implants after a careful evaluation of your dental and medical health history.

Who should you see about dental implants?

The question is really who should you see about getting missing teeth replaced? Before implants, you went to either your general dentist or, if you wanted a specialist, to a prosthodontist. It's the same today. If you want to replace missing teeth, talk to the people who do that job and they will be glad to discuss the use of dental implants in that process. If you decide that dental implants are for you, then your general dentist or prosthodontist can either place the implants for you or refer you to a qualified surgeon, usually either an oral surgeon or a periodontist, for that phase of the treatment.

Why have dental implants become so popular?

As our lifespan increases, the need for some type of permanent dental replacement system becomes very important to our overall health. Dentures and removable bridges have obvious problems: They are loose and unstable. Implants can provide people with dental replacements that are both functional and esthetic. The demand was always there, we just needed the tools to fulfill that demand.

How long after a dental implant is placed can it be used to anchor my new teeth?

The protocol that was originally developed clearly states that we must wait three months in the lower jaw and six months in the upper jaw before we can begin to construct the new dental prosthesis that will be supported by the implants. In recent years, however, there has been a movement within the profession to sort of speed up this process. Today we believe that it is possible in selected patients to accelerate the healing time. We are even loading implants in very specific situations right away. However, the general protocol that I favor is 1,5 months in the lower jaw and 3 months in the upper jaw.

Does it hurt to have dental implants placed?

The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three or four hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems. Some patients do have varying degrees of pain or discomfort which may last for several days. Swelling and black & blueing may also develop.

In cases where there is prolonged pain, you should see your dentist right away. Prolonged pain is not a good sign with dental implants and although it does not always mean failure, the cause of the pain should be determined as soon as possible. If an implant is not properly integrating into the adjacent bone or if an infection develops, the implant may have to be removed.

What happens if I have dental implants and they are rejected?

Occasionally dental implants do fail or, as some people say, they are rejected. In many instances, they can be replaced with another implant, usually of a slightly larger size. Failure rates should be about 1-5%.

Do I have to go without my “teeth” while the implants are bonding to my jaw bone?

Once again, the original protocol called for patients to go without wearing their dentures for at least two weeks after implant placement. Over the years, this has been modified considerably and in most situations, patients leave the office wearing their teeth the day the implants are placed. Every patient and procedure is evaluated separately and there might occasionally be a recommendation that a patient go without their prosthesis for a short period of time.

Bone Graft

Sometimes when a dental implant is placed, it is necessary to build up the bone in the area to insure success. The procedure of building up the bone is known as Bone Grafting or Guided Bone Regeneration. Bone grafting is a very common procedure in dentistry and it is used quite a bit for dental implants and in periodontal procedures around natural teeth. In order to do bone grafting, we need a source of bone to place in the site. The bone that we use can be one of three types. The best bone is bone that is taken from the patient that we are working on. This bone can be taken from other areas of the mouth or collected in our suction apparatus as we drill into the bone to prepare the sites for dental implants. Occasionally, this bone is taken from areas outside the mouth, such as the hip. When bone is taken from the hip, it is usually done in the hospital by an orthopedic surgeon and transferred to the dentist doing the implant procedure in the office.

Another very common source of bone is bone taken from cadavers. This bone is harvested under very strict supervision at several bone banks around the country and it is used in many dental and medical procedures. There has never been a case of a transmitted disease with this type of bone. It is very safe and very useful in our work to help patients. A third type of bone is a synthetic type of bone taken. This has some use in dentistry but it does not seem to be as useful as the first two types of bone.

A Bridge or a Dental Implant ?

Perhaps one of the most frequently asked questions on this site is whether or not to use a fixed ("permanent") bridge or a dental implant to replace one or two missing teeth. Suppose you are missing your lower left first molar. If a fixed bridge were to be used, your dentist would grind the adjacent teeth (the second molar and the second bicuspid) and fit a three unit fixed bridge over those two teeth. The missing tooth would be called a pontic and it would be effectively replaced by the three unit bridge. If your dentist were to use an implant with a crown on it, he would place an implant in the site of the original first molar. He could do this immediately or at some date after the first molar was removed. There is no time limit here. The implant will take about 3 months to connect with the bone and then at that time, your dentist can construct a single crown on the implant to replace the missing first molar.

The cost of each one of these procedures varies from office to office, but a three unit fixed bridge costs about the same as an implant and a crown. The actual decision to do one over the other rests with you and your dentist. One technique is not inherently better than the other and each depends upon how you present and your dentists skills. All things being equal, I would usually prefer to place the implant and crown over the bridge.

How long does it take?

The complete implant reconstruction process may take from 2 to 9 months and in some cases longer. Time is needed for your jawbone to grow around the implant (osseointegration) and for your replacement teeth to be made. Procedures vary, but it usually includes only one surgical step and then the restoration is fabricated. First, your dentist or a specialist places the dental implants into your jawbone. Bone cells grow around the implants that may take up to six months to occur. Your dentist then attaches a post and makes the replacement teeth. It may take several visits and several months to complete the restoration process.

Are dental implants successful?

Research and documentation studies have proven the effectiveness and long lasting results of dental implants. Dental implants have demonstrated a success rate of over 95% in documented studies. Good oral hygiene is one of the most critical factors to insure the health of your dental implants. Your dentist will instruct you on the proper home hygiene procedures to keep your dental implants and remaining teeth clean and healthy. Regular visits to your dentist are important so your dentist can assess the health of your replacement teeth and gum tissue. You can rely on your replacement teeth to look, feel and function like natural teeth for years to come.