Dental implants are artificial tooth roots, usually made from titanium, which are inserted into the jawbone to support replacement teeth or bridges. They offer a permanent solution for lost teeth that mimic the look, feel, and function of natural teeth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Improved Appearance: Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. They are designed to fuse with bone, becoming permanent.
- Enhanced Speech: Poor-fitting dentures can slip within the mouth, causing slurred speech. Implants allow you to speak without the worry of teeth slipping.
- Increased Comfort: Implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
- Easier Eating: Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence.
- Improved Oral Health: Dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. More of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health.
- Durability: Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
- Convenience: Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.
The Dental Implant Procedure
- Consultation and Planning: Includes examinations and possibly X-rays and 3D images. Discussion of the number of implants needed and the type of replacement teeth (crowns, bridges, or dentures) that will be supported by the implants.
- Implant Placement: The implant is surgically placed into the jawbone under local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or sedation.
- Healing and Integration: The bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration, which can take several months.
- Abutment Placement: Once the implant has bonded with the jawbone, a small connector post called an abutment is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth.
- Artificial Tooth Placement: After your gums heal, more impressions of your mouth are taken to create the artificial tooth (crown). The crown is then attached to the abutment.
Potential Complications
While dental implants have a high success rate, potential complications can include implant failure, infection, damage to surrounding structures (such as teeth or blood vessels), nerve damage, and sinus problems, depending on the implant site.
Aftercare
Emphasize the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene after the placement of dental implants. Regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.
