In today’s world where a smile has a huge effect on a person’s confidence and self-esteem, implants can help individuals regain their ability to chew and smile in one of the most natural ways possible – whether they are missing a single tooth or multiple teeth. Individuals interested in the implant process must be aware of certain requirements they must meet before receiving them over other options such as crowns or conventional bridges or dentures.
How Dental Implants Work
Dental implants are used to attach artificial teeth to metal anchors that have been surgically embedded into the jawbone, according to Doni L. Bird and Debbie S. Robinson, certified dental assistants and the writers of Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting. These anchors firmly hold the artificial teeth in place, just as the root system holds a natural tooth in place.
The most common type of implant, an endosteal implant, involves a titanium implant that is surgically embedded into the bone. Surgery can take up to several hours, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). About 3 to 6 months later, a titanium screw is placed into the implant after the living jawbone has grown around the implant (a process called osseointegration). Then, a post attaches to the artificial tooth. (Implants also can be used to help retain removable dentures or fixed bridges.)
The gum is allowed to heal for 10 to 14 days before the artificial tooth is made. The entire process can take 3 to 9 months and can be completed by several kinds of dental specialists or in a hospital setting depending on the type of implant required and the individual’s health. If jawbone is lacking, a metal frame (subperiosteal implant) that goes under the gum and on top of the bone also is available, most frequently to support a full denture for the bottom arch of teeth.
Requirements for Dental Implants
An individual must understand the following criteria to move forward with the implant process:
- Treatment can take several months to complete.
- An implant procedure involves surgery, which always poses a risk of infection or other complications.
- No surgical procedure can be 100 percent guaranteed, although implants are usually more than 90 percent successful and can last a lifetime. But an implant might eventually loosen and require replacement, and the artificial tooth might require replacement in 10 to 15 years, according to About Cosmetic Dentistry.
- Implants could be ineffective in those who have problems with gnashing, clenching or grinding their teeth (which usually is linked to stress or tension and happens during sleep).
- Those with cardiovascular, respiratory and gastrointestinal health problems; a compromised immune system; or other conditions that slow healing are not good candidates for implants.
- Implants are more expensive than bridges or dentures. A basic implant can cost $1,250 to $3,000 but can add up to $15,000 to $30,000 for the upper or lower jaw in special situations such as the need for bone regeneration or sinus elevation.
- Before doctors move forward with implants, they will evaluate the interested individuals to ensure they are emotionally prepared and physically ready for implants in both their general and dental health.
How to Maintain Dental Implants
Dental plaque is the soft, sticky, white deposit on the teeth, while calculus – or tartar – is a strong, stone-like material that can only be removed by a dentist or dental hygienist. Both of these materials can form on implants and cause the tissue around the implants to bleed, which is why it’s important that individuals who have implants floss and brush them regularly along with their natural teeth.
Either manual or electric toothbrushes, single-tufted toothbrushes or partial denture clasp brushes can be used to clean implants. Also available for use are brushes that can be used in the spaces between teeth (interproximal brushes), regular floss or dental implant floss with a stiff, curved end. Individuals with implants also must make regular dental visits for check-ups and fixes.
Sources:
About Cosmetic Dentistry (Retrieved 9 October 2009). “Dental Implants”
American Dental Association. (Retrieved 9 October 2009). “Dental Implants”
Bird, Doni L. and Robinson, Debbie S. “Dental Implants.” Torres and Ehrlich Modern Dental Assisting, Ninth Edition, Elsevier Inc. 2009, pp: 182; 849-856
Related Reading:
How to Get Back to Basics to Whiten Teeth
How to Become a Dental Assistant
Disclaimer: The information contained within this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis, care and treatment by a qualified health professional.
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