After a tooth is pulled, the adjacent teeth move into the space left by the missing tooth; this is why it is important to replace the missing tooth.
The teeth of the opposite jaw also move towards the space, making it difficult to replace the lost tooth.
Dentures, Implants, and bridges are the alternatives for tooth replacement.
So, what is the best course of action?
Implants are the most effective method of replacing lost teeth. Dental implants are the greatest solution regardless of how many teeth need replacement.
What is an implant for the teeth?
Implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium, placed into the jaw bone, and fused to it.
It improves speech, esthetic, and chewing.
It replaces lost teeth and serves as a basis for crowns, bridges, and dentures.
What does a Dental implant look like?
A dental implant is like a tooth root that looks like a screw and is placed into the jawbone where the tooth root used to be.
On top of that, your dentist may put a custom-made crown to match the colour and form of your natural teeth. It resembles a real tooth in appearance.
How do dental implants work?
Your dentist would first look at your medical history to check any condition that can put you at a higher risk for implant placement and failure.
These conditions include heavy smoking, uncontrolled diabetes, head and neck radiotherapy for cancer treatment, bisphosphonate therapy, a recent myocardial infarction, an allergy to titanium, and drug abuse.
After taking the patient’s medical history, some tests, like X-rays and CBCT, are carried out to find out how much bone is there, how good it is, and if it is enough for an implant.
After the bone is evaluated in height and width, the number of implants and their locations are decided.
During the surgery to put in an implant, an incision is made in the gum to expose the bone so it can be drilled. A cavity is prepared inside the bone where the implant is inserted.
The implant is placed into the bone, and the gum is stitched back together so that the process of osseointegration which involves the formation of bone in close contact with implants and fusion of implant to the bone, can take place. The implant is closely fused to the jawbone, just like the roots of teeth; it can take up to 6 months.
Placement of the implant is the first part of the treatment. After 3 to 6 months of healing, the second part of the treatment begins, which involves the placement of a crown, bridge, or denture.
It can take 3 months for front teeth to heal and 6 months for back teeth.
Why is a Dental implant a good idea?
- They have the best chance of succeeding
- Less a chance that the teeth next to it will get cavities or be sensitive.
- It’s easy to clean the tooth part between the gums and the teeth.
- The jaw bones stay in better shape.
- Better looks and better chewing
- Lessen the chance that the next tooth will fall out.
Is Dental Implant painful?
Placement of a dental implant requires surgery on the gums and bone.
The surgery is painless because your dentist will numb your mouth, but once the anesthesia wears off, you will feel pain.
The dentist will give you painkillers you can take before the anesthesia wears off to lessen the pain.
The pain can be mild and last from 3 to 5 days. There may be bleeding and swelling at the surgery site, but these symptoms will go away after a few days. The swelling will go down if you use ice packs, and your dentist will tell you how to take care of the surgical site.
If the pain lasts longer than 7 days, you should see your dentist immediately because the implant may have a problem.
How long does Dental Implant last?
Depending on how well you take care of your teeth, implants can last a lifetime.
Brushing twice a day for two minutes, flossing, and not letting food get stuck between your teeth.
Oral irrigators are also a great way to keep food from getting stuck between your teeth.
On average, implants can last for 25 years.
Who is best qualified to do dental implants?
1)A dental implantologist who specializes in implantology.
2) Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are experts in oral surgical operations, implant insertion, and bone grafting.
3)Prosthodontists are specialists who focus on tooth replacements like dental implants, crowns, bridges, and dentures.
How much do Dental Implants cost?
After reading about all the good things about implants, you must be wondering how much they cost. Whether they are affordable, implants can cost between $3750 and $5750 depending availability of the bone, grafting etc…
Implants are more expensive than tooth-supported bridges and dentures, but they are an investment that will last for a long time.
Implants can last a lifetime if they are well taken care of, and they stop more teeth from falling out.
What are the best implants for teeth?
Titanium is the most biocompatible material, allowing the bone to develop immediately next to implants. It also enables direct fusing of the implant to the bone and offers permanent attachment to the bone.
There are different implant shapes, such as the screw, the cone, and the hybrid.
The best implants are screw-shaped because they provide a large contact point between the bone and the implant; this makes the implant more stable and relieves stress.
Can you place two teeth on one implant?
Yes, you can place two teeth on one implant, but only for the front teeth because the forces on them are less than those on the back teeth. Back teeth are used more for chewing, so more force is applied to them.
If two teeth are placed on one implant, more force is applied to it because it has to support two teeth used for chewing.
Eventually, the implant will act as a fulcrum and break. Two implants can be used to support three teeth if they are connected to a bridge.