What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a synthetic replacement for a missing or knocked-out tooth, it functions using a titanium rod that is inserted into the jaw and bonds to the bone, a dummy tooth is then attached to the rod, which looks and feels just like the real thing. Dental surgeons use titanium because it is a very tough metal, and because it bonds well with human tissue, whilst at the same time remaining resistant to bacterial infection. Dental implants are a long-term solution to missing teeth that can also be used to support a bridge or denture, as they are incredibly durable and last for many years – a successfully placed implant can last for decades.

How are dental implants fitted?

Because there is a surgical aspect to fitting dental implants, it’s important that your dentist gives your teeth a thorough examination, before moving ahead with treatment – the implants need to be placed into a healthy environment, otherwise infection is likely to set in fairly quickly. Any gum disease or decay affecting the surrounding teeth has to be dealt with promptly, if symptoms like this are ignored, bigger problems, like pulpitis or abscesses, can develop.

When you have been approved for treatment, your dentist will take x-rays, photographs, and impressions of your teeth, to provide you with the most accurate restoration possible. It may also be necessary to perform a scan of the jaw area, to ascertain whether you have enough bone width to house the implants properly. In some cases, if the jaw is left for a long time without any teeth, it will start to break down under the soft tissue; the teeth are not just for biting and chewing, they also encourage bone growth. If the dentist finds that your jaw bone is not wide enough, you might need to undergo a bone graft operation, where a portion of bone is taken from somewhere else in the body – often the hip – and surgically grafted to the remaining section in the face. This procedure will slow down the treatment, as you wait for the two pieces of bone to fuse together, but it is necessary if the implants are to last for any significant length of time.

The operation itself is normally carried out under local anaesthetic, so you will be conscious throughout, but unable to feel any pain at all – although, you may be aware of vibrations from the drill, or the sensation of pressure as the implant is fixed in place. The dentist will first need to create the socket which will hold the titanium rod, he or she does this by cutting into the gums and drilling a small hole right through to the bone beneath, it’s important not to actually cut any of the tissue away at this point, because the gums have to be sewn up around the root to create a tight seal. Specialist tools and tiny drill bits are used to create the socket, and your surgeon will gradually widen it until it can comfortably fit the new root.

The titanium rods have to be left in place for a period of about six months, in order for them to properly bond with the jaw bone, and for the soft tissue to heal. During this time, you will need to be careful what you eat, avoid anything hard or sticky, and you might have to live on soups or very soft food for the first few weeks. Most dentists will fit you with a temporary veneer, which slips over the top of your natural teeth to protect them, and also to make them appear more normal, but you still have to proceed with caution, you don’t want to damage the implant before it has had a chance to fuse properly. It may be that your dentist recommends you for ‘immediate implants’, which means you can have the root and the synthetic tooth fitted in one session, although most professionals would generally prefer the gums to be fully healed before proceeding – and you won’t be suitable if you have had a bone graft.

When the roots are sufficiently solid, you can return to the clinic to complete your treatment. Your dentist will first have to make sure there are no signs of infection or other problems, and then they can continue with the restoration. The synthetic teeth have to be matched to your natural ones in both size and shade, otherwise it will be very obvious that you have had some work done, which is not desirable at all. Because the porcelain used to create the new teeth is very hard-wearing and natural looking, it should last for a long time, but it will probably need replacing at some point, as the shape of the jaw bone and the colour of the remaining teeth changes with age.

For more information on dental implants and other restorative techniques, book an appointment with the Pearl Dental Clinic today, they offer the very latest in dental treatments.

Are dental implants better than a bridge?

If you can afford it, an implant is much better than a bridge, for many reasons, but the two can often be combined to create a durable, cost-effective solution.

They encourage bone growth – Unlike dentures, which only sit on top of the gum line, dental implants are surgically attached to the jaw bone, so they function in almost exactly the same way as natural teeth.

They can cope with harder foods – Because implants are almost as good as the real thing, they can function better with more challenging foodstuffs, whilst dentures will often crack under the pressure.

They are easier to clean – Dentures definitely have their uses, but they generally come with a list of instructions on how to care for them; from cleaning to repair work, but you can treat your dental implant as though they are your natural teeth, brush and floss twice a day, no special treatment required.

They look more natural and last longer – Well crafted, top quality dentures can last for many years, in good condition, but dental implants outlive their nearest competitors by an impressive amount, remaining in fantastic working order, without any clasps, plastic, or restructuring of the remaining teeth.