Dental implants are a permanent solution for some dental problems for more than 30 years now. It is implemented according to the need and fit of your mouth. Although it is expensive to invest in these revolutionary substitutes, there are many benefits that make it worth the price.
Here is an in-depth discussion of what dental implants are, how they are made and the benefits:
Dental Implants: An Overview
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are implanted in the same area where your old tooth has been extracted. Dental implants bond with your natural jawbone, giving the same level of support of one or more artificial tooth. There are three main parts involved in this procedure:
- Jawbone: The implants are metal that are drilled to bond it with the jawbone. This prevents bone erosion which is one of its many benefits.
- Connector: Also known as an abutment is adjusted above the implant to connect the crown to the implant.
- Crowns: The crowns are custom made to match the shape of your teeth, colour, and overall structure.
Construction of Dental Implants
Dental implants are created with material that can last a lifetime. Dental implants are stable, realistic-looking, and long-lasting replacement for your lost tooth. They are designed in a way to mimic the actual tooth both in appearance and in functionality.
Dental implants were made possible when a Swedish orthopedic surgeon named Per-Ingvar Brånemark discovered that bone can bond with titanium naturally. Hence the implants are made with titanium. The titanium makes it possible for the bone to bond with it by growing around it. This prevents bone loss and secures the new tooth in its place.
The crown is made from porcelain, or other substance to match the actual tooth’s colour. These materials are durable and, with the proper maintenance, can last a lifetime. Moreover, four crowns can be attached to one connector, which can also be moved around for cleaning purpose.
Benefits
Some of the benefits of dental implants are the following:
- Permanent Solution: Since it is designed to last a lifetime, it’s a permanent solution to an actual tooth.
- No Cavities: You will not have to worry about any cavities. However, basic oral hygiene should still be practised to avoid any infections or oral diseases.
- Easy Maintenance: You can maintain the implants the same way you would with actual teeth.
- Biting Made Easy: It physically supports your jaw like an actual healthy tooth, hence making it possible for you to bite with force.
- No Bone Loss: As it bonds with the titanium implant, the bone grows around the implant hence supporting it like an actual tooth root.
- Natural Speech: Dentures, can affect the speech, but with an implant, you will still retain your natural speech.
- Support Adjacent Tooth: Dental implants act as an anchor and support for other teeth. Hence it will maintain the natural arrangement of the teeth without disrupting it.
- No Embarrassing Slips: Dentures take time to adjust in your natural frame they also cause embarrassing slips. However, with dental implants, this is not the case.
- Cost-Effective: Without having to pay for adhesives, or special toothbrush or floss, dental implants are quite cost-effective.
How to Care for Implants?
Dentures, braces and even filled teeth require proper care. Similarly, caring for implants is quite crucial, as you can attract oral infections if neglected. The common misconception when it comes to dental implants is that they are high maintenance. Fact is, however, that it is quite easy.
Implants are made from durable materials; hence you need to incorporate little amount of care to make it last longer. For starters, brushing with a non-abrasive toothbrush and toothpaste is crucial to protect the crown. Moreover, brushing with a non-waxed floss is recommended to stop food from getting in between the teeth.
Gum disease in people with implants is quite common, and it causes your implants to fall. Hence taking care of these implants is quite crucial. Moreover, you should always visit the dentist regularly just in case to avoid any future trouble.
Moreover, avoid habits that can damage your teeth generally because chances are, they will also damage your implants, such as chipping away the crown while you are chewing on a pen, ice cubes or pencils.
With proper care and hygiene, your implants can last you a lifetime. So, it goes without saying that you should try to maintain optimum oral hygiene to avoid more trips to the dentist. For more information, visit https://www.dentalartistry.co.nz.
Types and Techniques of Dental Implants
Essentially there are two types of dental implants. And these two types have different techniques of implantation. These are:
- Endosteal: Endosteal dental implants are the ones that are directly implanted on the jawbone. Titanium is typically used in this procedure.
- Subperiosteal: These implants are placed on the jawline but not like the endosteal procedure. In the case of subperiosteal, the implants are placed under the gum. This procedure is typically done in the case of patients who don’t have a healthy bone mass in their jawbone. For those who have a low bone mass might require bone augmentation surgery to be able to have endosteal implantation.
Dental Implants Support
To qualify for endosteal implants, one must have a naturally healthy jawbone to support these implants. However, there are other techniques to restore the jawbone to provide a strong foundation to support endosteal implants such as:
- Bone augmentation: Bone augmentation involves a process in which the bone is restored or regenerated to make it healthy and strong enough to support endosteal implants. Additives can be added for bone growth which provides support stronger than natural healthy bone, hence achieving better results.
- Expansion of Ridge: For those who don’t have wide enough jawlines to support dental implants, expansion of the ridge is the method used to widen it. Bone grafting material to a small ridge, and space, which is built on top of the jaw, so the endosteal implants can be added.
- Sinus Lift: In a sinus lift procedure, the sinus is elevated by adding bone just below the sinus if the natural bone has deteriorated when teeth are missing in the upper back area.
With the advent of science and technology, 3D imaging has enabled efficient implant surgical planning. Today, dentists use these tools to examine your jaw’s anatomy and decide which treatment suits you best.
The Bottom Line
A technique that has been used for 30 years has been perfected to a great extent for widespread use. Dental implants have provided a healthy alternative to dentures and braces and this technology is only getting better.
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