What is a Dental Implant?
It looks and feels like a natural tooth!
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that replaces a missing tooth. It looks like a screw and is made of titanium alloy, a bio-friendly material. Dental implants are used to replace one or several missing teeth. There are surgically placed in the jawbone to create the basis on which the prosthetic teeth will be built. In time, bone cells develop around the implant, reinforcing it into the jaw and fusing it with the surrounding bone. Dentists use implants to make crowns that have the same appearance and texture as natural teeth.
Dental Implants – the perfect solution!
As opposed to bridgework(partial or complete over dentures), which used to be the solution of choice for the treatment of missing teeth, dental implants do not move and do not damage adjacent, healthy teeth. According to scientific studies, 85% of people who have had bridgework done feel that their dentures are uncomfortable and do not function well on a day-to-day basis.
Risk OR Opportunity
Implants are placed in the jawbone through a minor surgical procedure at the dentist’s clinic, under a local anesthetic, just like in most everyday dental treatments. Long-term studies show that success rates reach 95%. However, implant failure or partial absorption may stem from several reasons, for example, a patient’s health condition that may contraindicate implantation, lack of cooperation from the patient, drug abuse, poor oral hygiene, emotional problems, chronic alcoholism, and problems related to the quality and density of the bone.
Single-Tooth Rehabilitation / Replacement
When replacing a single tooth, a dental implant is the ideal solution. This is because the implant does not need the support of other teeth and therefore does not harm adjacent, healthy teeth. It is recommended not to leave the jaw with a missing tooth but to contact the dentist as soon as possible to make an implant. A jaw with a missing tooth may cause the bone to recede and be absorbed by the gums. This requires bone implantation and impairs the retention of adjacent healthy teeth.
Multiple-Tooth Rehabilitation / Replacement
Rehabilitation with removable prostheses(dentures) requires a special glue or spherical clamp to retain the support in the jaw. In this case, the denture’s retention is not as stable as when it is made over an implant. Sometimes, this makes speaking difficulty and causes discomfort when eating. A denture that is sustained by and anchored in dental implants is more stable and stronger over longer periods of time, and more convenient to use. Moreover, implants help preserve the structure and health of the jaw.
