Dentists make every effort possible to try and save your teeth. Even with all the advances in dentistry, nature still has an upper hand when it comes to design and execution! Sometimes, it is not possible to save teeth that have been infected, destroyed, fractured, or improperly treated — and these teeth have to be removed.
Missing teeth can lead to a variety of problems, ranging from an inability to chew properly to the development of spaces, to social embarrassment and the alteration of speech.
Traditionally, fixed replacements were provided by using the support of adjacent teeth. This method has served millions of people successfully, but it came with some big drawbacks as well. These "cons" include, but are not limited to grinding away of the adjacent teeth, needing healthy teeth in the first place, pain, sensitivity, and even needing intentional root canal treatment.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are basically screws made out of titanium. They are placed inside your jaw bone. Titanium has the ability to fuse with the surrounding bone and become an integral part of your body. This process of bone formation around the implant is called osseointegration and is fundamental to successful treatment. Once the screw has fused with the bone, it acts as an artificial root, over which we can give a prosthetic tooth.
When are dental implants needed?
Dental implants can be used in many cases, to replace a single missing tooth or multiple teeth. Dental implants are also used to replace all the teeth missing in a single jaw or both the jaws at the same time, making them a replacement for traditional dentures.
Can all dentists place implants?
Generally, oral surgeons and periodontists are the best qualified to place a dental implant. However, with proper training and experience, general dentists too can place dental implants with great success.
Who can get dental implant treatment?
In cases like uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, heavy smoking, and for patients currently undergoing or with a recent history of radiation or chemotherapy, dental implants may not be advisable. Such cases are evaluated individually and treated under the guidance of your physician.
Dental implants are generally placed after the age of 17 or 18 years, once the jaw has fully grown. There is no upper limit of age as implants have successfully been placed in people over 80 and 90 years old, with excellent success rates.
How are dental implants placed?
Dental implants are conventionally done in two phases. The first one is the "surgical phase", which involves placing the titanium screw in the jaw. The second, "prosthetic", phase is typically carried out three to six months after placing the screw in your jaw. The time varies according to the jaw in which it is placed, as well as additional procedures done during the surgical phase.
Surgical phase
Once your physician and dentist have deemed you fit for getting a dental implant, the first and most important part will be treatment planning. Your dentist will advise you to get a number of tests — like X-rays and 3D scans of your jaw — to gain exact knowledge about your jaw bone. Models are made to replicate your jaw and teeth.
Planning of dental implants can involve multiple people including your dentist, physician, oral surgeon, prosthodontist, or a periodontist.
Planning is also important to determine if any additional surgery is required along with placing the implant. These include bone grafting in areas where the bone is insufficient. Or sinus lift in upper jaw when the bone is inadequate in height.
Most implant surgeries are done under local anesthesia and are absolutely painless. You might experience a feeling of increased pressure and mild discomfort after the surgery, but that is pretty much it. A typical single tooth implant can take approximately 30 minutes to an hour depending on additional procedures needed during the surgery.
Once the surgery is done, your dentist will prescribe you medicines as needed and give you instructions to follow for the next few days.
Prosthetic phase
After three to six months, the dentist will attach additional components to the implant, taking measurements for the tooth to be replaced and attaching the finished prosthetic tooth on the implant.
Can dental implants fail?
Dental implants can certainly fail, however, the procedure has one of the highest success rates among all surgical implant procedures. With advances in techniques and sterilization protocols, dental implants have an excellent success rate of more than 95 percent of cases.
The rate of success depends on case selection, proper technique and sterilization, and above all, the patient's ability to maintain proper oral hygiene.
What complications can occur during and after getting dental implants?
Like with all surgeries, dental implants too have certain complications that need to be factored in while planning the procedure. These complications include infection, uncontrolled bleeding during the surgery, damage to the underlying nerve in case of implants in the lower jaw, or sinus-related issues in case of upper jaw implants.
Once the tooth has been placed, if the patient fails to maintain proper oral hygiene, it can lead to infection and pain at the site of implant, and in some advanced cases even loosening of the implant. In case of unnatural biting force, the implant can fracture too — but that is an extremely rare occurrence.
Are implants costly?
Dental implants are definitely a costlier alternative to a conventional bridge. However, the longevity of a well-placed implant far exceeds that of a conventional bridge. Also, the cost is coming down rapidly and all things considered, the cost/benefit ratio is very favorable.
Conclusion
A denture is generally consodered to come close to providing 30 percent of the function of a natural tooth, a fixed bridge 50 percent, and an implant 80 to 90 percent. Dental implants have proven themselves to be safe, reliable, successful in practice, and far superior to other traditional methods of teeth replacement. There is simply no reason not to consider them unless your dentist tells you you are not a candidate.
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