Implant Placements

A Dental implant is a titanium-based “root” employed in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth that are used to replace any missing teeth due to periodontal disease, an injury, or some other reason.
Dental implants can be used to support a number of dental prostheses including crowns, implant-supported bridges or dentures. They can also be used as anchorage for orthodontic tooth movement. The use of dental implants permits unidirectional tooth movement without reciprocal action. Implant-supported replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like natural teeth.

Dental Implant Procedure

When speaking about the dental implant procedure, it is performed in successive stages, during which the implant (made up of titanium) is placed in a pre-drilled socket in the jawbone. The complete process may last for several months depending upon the implant type and general health of the jawbone. As per statistics, the success rate of dental implants over a five year study period is about 95 percent for lower jaw and 90 percent for upper jaw. Nevertheless, similar to any surgical procedures, there are certain problems with dental implants.

Advantages

Tooth implants have several advantages over more traditional teeth replacements, such as bridges or dentures. They are permanent and feel natural, while bridges eventually need to be replaced and dentures can have fit problems. Tooth implants are also more cosmetically appealing than bridgework, as they are virtually indistinguishable from regular teeth. They are fixed in place in the jawbone, so they won’t slip like dentures can.

Requirements

In order to be able to have tooth implants, the Mayo Clinic says that a person must be an adult with a fully grown jawbone. He must have enough bone for the doctor to be able to secure the implanted teeth or he should be able to have a bone graft. His oral tissues must be healthy and in good condition, and he should not have any illnesses or conditions that could interfere with bone healing. He must also be willing to stick with the process for several months since it often takes that long to complete the tooth implants.

Reactions

The most common problems that can iccure after implant placement include infections in the area of the implant and nerve damage that can result in numbness, pain and an ongoing tingling in the chin, lips, or gums. Even if you don’t have problems and complications, you may experience some normal but unpleasant reactions to having a tooth implant as you move through each stage of the process. You may also be limited to eating soft foods and liquids for up to a week after the implant.