Dental Implants are the closest you can get to natural teeth and mimic the latter. They are not only natural-looking but also allow you to live the way you want to. With dental implants, you can enjoy all your everyday activities, such as eating, smiling, and talking, without worrying about your teeth.
So, what exactly are dental implants? Well, they are artificial tooth roots, similar in shape to screws. Dental implants are placed in your jawbone and they bond with your natural bone. They then become a sturdy base for supporting one or more artificial teeth, called crowns.
A connector, known as an abutment, is placed on the top of the dental implant to support and hold your crowns. These crowns are custom-made and match your natural teeth and fit your mouth. Dental implants are the strongest devices available to support replacement teeth and once your artificial teeth are in place, they will look, feel, and function naturally.
Types of Dental Implants
There are two main types of dental implants and they are:
- Endosteal implants: These are the most common type of dental implants and are surgically implanted directly into the jawbone. After the surrounding gum tissue has healed, a second surgery is needed to connect a post to the original implant. After this, an artificial tooth or teeth is attached to the post. These can be attached individually, or grouped on a bridge or denture.
- Subperiosteal implants: These implants are used with patients who do not have enough healthy bone. A metal frame is fitted onto the jawbone below the gum tissue. This frame then becomes fixed to the jawbone, as the gums heal. Posts are attached to the frame and protrude through the gums. Artificial teeth are then mounted to the posts.
Facts about Dental Implants
There are certain facts you need to know about dental implants, which are:
- Dental implants are as strong as the teeth they replace: A Dental implant is the only available tooth-replacement option that closely matches natural teeth in terms of strength and durability. Those who have received dental implants experience an ability to chew and bite that is almost identical to that which they enjoyed with their natural teeth.
- Dental implant surgery is not complicated or dangerous: Surgery to insert a dental implant is not a particularly complicated procedure. It is a routine procedure performed by thousands of dentists. It has a success rate of over 98 percent. Anyone in reasonably good health with enough jawbone to support a dental implant is a good candidate for the procedure.
- Dental implants are easy to take care of: Dental implants are not susceptible to cavities and decay, unlike natural teeth. Once the site of the dental implant has healed fully, normal brushing and flossing is all that is required to take care of your implant.
- Dental implants guard against bone loss: A natural consequence of tooth loss is that there is also bone loss of the bone that supported that tooth. In the absence of a tooth root, the jawbone recedes or resorbs. When the jawbone changes shape, it also changes the shape of the mouth. This loss of bone can result in your mouth looking sunken and may also cause wrinkles and fine lines to form around the mouth and chin. Dental implants mimic the shape and strength of natural tooth roots and help preserve the jawbone.
- Dental implants provide health benefits: Dental implant surgery is not just a cosmetic procedure. Dental implants restore a person’s ability to bite and chew and therefore, restore the ability to maintain a healthy diet. In fact, a study shows that people who have lost five or more teeth by the time they turn 65 run a higher risk of osteoporosis, diabetes, and heart disease.
Are you a good candidate for dental implant surgery?
You are a good candidate for a dental implant if you are in good general and oral health. You also need adequate bone in your jaw to support the implant and the best candidates are those who have healthy gum tissue.
In general, dental implant surgery may be right for you if you:
- Have a jawbone that has reached full growth
- Have one or more missing teeth
- Have adequate bone to support the implant or can have a bone graft
- Have healthy oral tissues
- Have healthy bone healing due to a lack of underlying health conditions
- Are unable or unwilling to wear dentures
- Are willing to go through several months of the process
- Do not smoke tobacco
In order to prepare for dental implant surgery, you will need to consult with different dental specialists as part of an overall team. These dental specialists could include an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, a periodontist, a prosthodontist (a dentist who designs and fits artificial teeth), and occasionally, an ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) specialist.
Your dental team will conduct a comprehensive dental exam, including dental X-rays and 3D images. They may also make models of your teeth and jaw. They will also review your medical history, wherein you need to tell your doctors about any medications you are taking, as well as any health conditions you may be suffering from, such as heart conditions or orthopaedic implants. Once this is done, your team of dentists will draw up a treatment plan that is right for you.
Dental implant surgery is usually an outpatient surgery. It is performed in stages, with healing times between procedures. It involves multiple steps including damaged tooth removal; jawbone preparation or grafting; dental implant placement; bone growth and healing; abutment placement, and artificial tooth placement.
The entire process can take many months. Most of this time is dedicated to healing and waiting for the growth of new bone in your jaw. Depending on your particular situation and the condition of your jawbone, some of the steps can be combined.
At Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic in Hyderabad, India, we specialize in dental implant surgery. We can replace a single tooth, few teeth, or even all teeth. Our dental implant surgery will not only give you an improved appearance, but your dental implant will also look and feel like your own teeth. After undergoing dental implant surgery at Vistadent, you will experience a whole new and improved quality of life.
So, if you are considering dental implant surgery for missing teeth, look no further than Vistadent. You will be treated holistically and as an individual and Vistadent will recommend the procedure and type of dental implant that is right for you. So, do start the process of restoring your overall oral and general health…today!
For more information about dental implants or any other dental procedures, as well as other dental problems, contact Vistadent, the Orthodontic Speciality Clinic, at 040-23388111 or +91 9866572482 or at info@vistadent.net or visit our website at http://vistadent.net/.