What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a structure made up of titanium and porcelain, used to replace a tooth that has been extracted or that has fallen out due to decay or dental trauma. Implants are different to other restorative techniques, primarily because they are fixed directly into the jaw bone, rather than just sitting on top of the gums to create the appearance of a natural tooth. This method is much more durable and by building the tooth from the root upwards it means that the function and appearance are as near to the real thing as you can possibly get. In the dental industry, implants are relatively new and they are steadily growing in popularity, as more and more patients take advantage of a hard-wearing, permanent solution to the problem of missing teeth.

Why are implants better than other restorative devices?

Losing teeth is not something that anyone would particularly enjoy, but there are many ways to replace them; full dentures, partial dentures, implants, and dental bridges. Although these options are each quite successful, it is dental implants that provide a long-term service, without the need for much upkeep or any costly replacements – in most cases. Whether or not your own situation will be suitable for implants depends on several things; where the empty socket is positioned on the jaw, how much damage has been done to the gum area, and what sort of condition your jaw bone is in.

One of the main reasons that implants are better than other devices is that they replace all of the tooth; without teeth, the human jaw bone won’t maintain its health and stability, it needs living teeth to encourage bone growth and keep the structure of the face intact. If several empty sockets are not treated properly, the jaw underneath them will start to break down and eventually fragment into the surrounding tissue. This is not only an aesthetic problem – it shows from the outside as the face changes shape, it can also cause on-going health issues as far as eating and speaking are concerned. Because dental implants are very close to natural teeth in performance and appearance, they help to rebuild the facial structure and keep it strong.

Furthermore, if you decide that the look of missing teeth doesn’t bother you, you should be aware that the gaps can have a detrimental effect on your remaining teeth, over the long-term. Spaces on the jaw bone significantly alter the pressure distribution in your mouth, changing the way your natural teeth function when you are chewing – they have to work harder to make up for the absent teeth. This eventually leads to changes in the jaw muscles and might even cause orthodontic problems like protruding incisors and twisted teeth, as the pressure is forced to the front of the mouth.

Dental implants can also work with other appliances, to rebuild a broken smile and ultimately create the appearance of a full set of natural teeth. Dentures requires one or more anchoring teeth to hold them in place securely, if the anchoring teeth are not suitable, or there are not enough of them, it could be helpful to put an implant in place. A lot of patients might have numerous spaces, but they can’t afford to have them all replaced with a dental implant, so their dentist will use a combination of the techniques to reach the end goal.

How are dental implants fitted?

The first stage of treatment is to examine the current oral condition, and to find out whether or not the jaw bone is strong enough to house the implants. The dentist will take a look at your mouth and the remaining teeth (if any), and then they will perform a series of x-rays, to see what state your jaw is in beneath the surface. If the bone has started to deteriorate after years without any teeth sitting in it, you will need to have a bone graft; this procedure involves cutting away a stronger piece of bone from somewhere else in your body, or taking it from a donor, and surgically attaching it to the remains of the jaw. As time passes, the new section will bond with the tissue and form a stable structure to hold the new teeth. There is a high rate of success with this kind of treatment, but you should know that it will drag out the overall recovery period by at least a few months.

When you have been approved for the next stage, your dentist will administer local anaesthetic and begin by cutting into the gum line, right through to the bone. Using a drill, they will then create an artificial socket for the implant to fit into – this part of the process requires a steady hand and an eye for detail, otherwise the hole will be too big and the implant loose, or too small, which will make the implant tight and uncomfortable. After resizing and measuring the socket, the dentist can fix the titanium root in place; most rods like this will come with a screw thread already cut into them, so that all the surgeon has to do is turn it until it is implanted to the correct degree, with a small portion protruding from the gum line.

If you are having instant implants fitted, the dentist will place a synthetic crown over the top of the rod straight away, which is usually made from porcelain, however, in most cases, the roots will be left to bond fully with the jaw bone, so that they are stable enough to support the crowns. This healing period usually lasts for around six months, and you should be fitted with a temporary veneer for the duration, to protect the implants and to allow you to function as normal. During this time, it is important that you don’t put your new roots under any undue pressure, so you should avoid hard or sticky foods, and don’t take part in any contact sports.

If you are interested in rebuilding a broken smile, talk to a member of the team at the Pearl Dental Clinic today, there is always someone available to explain certain aspects of the procedure to you, and to book a consultation.