Dental Implants

If you have missing teeth in your mouth, dental implants can help replace them. Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that a dental surgeon will place in your jawbone.

Over these tooth roots,  you will have artificial crowns that resemble the natural tooth in appearance as well as function. Dental implants will give you the feel and comfort of a natural tooth.

You can have a dental implant to replace a single tooth or several missing teeth. If you have multiple missing teeth in an area, the dental surgeon will place implants at either end and use them as supports for a dental bridge.

It is also possible to use dental implants as supports for a complete denture if you do not have any teeth in your mouth.

The surgeon will place the implant in your jaw bone by minor surgery. Once the bone starts growing around the implants and secures it to the jaws, you will have artificial tooth crowns or dental bridges over it.

This way, you will not have to depend on your natural teeth for supporting dental bridges. You also need not depend on those removable dentures, which at times can be a nuisance.

Titanium, Vitallium, Zirconium, etc. are some of the common materials of choice for making dental implants. These materials have high strength and last for a longer time.     

Advantages of dental implants

Apart from dental implants, the other methods to replace missing teeth in your mouth are removable dentures and dental bridges. Both these have certain disadvantages.

If you are using a removable denture, you will have to remove it during the night. It can also interfere with your speech and may not give you the comfort that you expect while eating.

The fit of the denture will also change with time, and you may find it coming off easily from its position. If it falls from your hand, it may break.

Instances of misplacing the dentures are also common. All these can make the use of a removable denture a difficult task indeed!

Coming to dental bridges, they do not affect your speech or comfort while eating. These also will not come off or break very easily. But, you will have to reshape your natural teeth to help the bridge fit over them.

While reshaping, the dental surgeon will remove most of your tooth enamel and some of the structures that lie below it. It can weaken your natural teeth to a very great extent. 

But dental implants do not have any of these problems. Since they fit very snugly to your jaw bone, you will have all the comforts of a natural tooth.

Implants will last a very long time if you take proper steps to maintain the health of the gums and jaw bone. There is also no need to reduce the size or reshape your natural tooth.  

Types of Dental Implants

• Single tooth implants- If you need to replace only one missing tooth, a single tooth implant is what you will have
• All on eight implants- If you need to replace multiple missing teeth, you may have this. In this, the surgeon will place eight implants on various areas of your jaw and connect them with dental bridges.
• All on six implants- Six implants placed in different areas act as support for the rest of the teeth.
• All on four implants- If your jaw bone is strong enough, the surgeon will replace the entire set of teeth with the help of four implants.
• Zygoma implants- If your upper jaw bone is weak, as it happens in many, the surgeon will use your cheekbone to anchor the implants. Cheekbones are, by nature, compact and strong. The surgeon will place two implants in both the cheekbones to act as supports for replacing the rest of the teeth in the upper jaw.

The common materials  for making dental implants are 

• Vitallium
• Titanium
• Zirconium
• Ceramics

Apart from ceramics, all others are metal alloys. All these materials are light in weight but high in strength. No wonder that these materials find use in making spacecraft and fighter jets.

The implants also do not react with saliva or the food that you eat. These materials do not harm the tissues in the gums and jaws, which makes them extremely safe.

Implants come in different shapes as well. Some of the common ones are

• Cylinder
• Plateau
• Threaded 

Two standard procedures are in use to place implants in the jawbones. These are

1. Sub-periosteal implants-  The surgeon will screw these implants over the jaw bone but under the gums
2. Periosteal implants- The implant surgeon will screw the implants into the jawbones  

The implant surgeon will choose the material and shape that is best for you. The number of teeth that you need to replace, the strength of your jawbone, etc. are some of the factors that decide the type of implant. The procedure of implant placement will also depend on these factors.

Dental implant procedure

Before placing the implant, the surgeon will examine your mouth for any signs of gum disease. Diseases of the gums can also affect the underlying jawbone.

X-rays and OPGs will help to assess the condition of the jawbone. It also gives information about the anatomy of your jawbone. It will help the surgeon to avoid sensitive areas as well as to prevent injury to nerves and blood vessels.

Once the surgeon feels that you are the right candidate, he or she will discuss the various aspects of treatment. Through an assessment, the surgeon will arrive upon the material, type, and procedure that is ideal for you.

You will need two or three visits to complete the treatment.

During the first visit, the surgeon will place the implant in the jaw bone. You will have local anesthesia to remain pain-free during the surgery. 

The surgeon will then open the gums to expose the jaw bone to make a  hole of necessary dimensions. This hole will fit the implant properly in the jawbone. The surgeon will then place the implant in the hole and check for its fit.

An ideal implant should fit tightly in the hole. The surgeon will then suture the gums over or around the implant.

You will go back home after the surgery. The next step is to wait for the bone to form around the implant and secure it. This process is called osseointegration and will take about three to four months.

Once the implant is secure in the jawbone, you will have artificial crowns over it. The artificial tooth crowns will resemble natural tooth in shape, size, and color. If you have implant-supported bridges, the implants will act as supports for replacing multiple teeth.

Once the crowns or bridges are in place, the implant surgeon will look for its fit and bite. Ideally, the way you chew with your implant teeth should be firm but smooth. It helps to prevent additional load on the implants during chewing.

The implant surgeon will then instruct you regarding how to care for your implant. He or she will advise you regarding the time frame of recovery. 

Dental implants aftercare

Soon after implant surgery, you will have some pain in the area for a couple of days. Bruises may also be there for a few days. Painkillers can help to control the pain. Applying icepacks also helps to reduce pain and prevent swelling of the area. 

You should avoid touching the surgery area with your tongue and fingers

Go on a soft diet for three to four days. Soups, oats, fruit juices, noodles, bananas, etc. are ideal during this period

Gentle cleaning of the implant site with salt water rinses and by using a soft toothbrush is necessary. But be careful to avoid injury to the area while brushing your teeth

If you smoke, avoid it for a few days. Otherwise, you will have bleeding or infections at the implant site.

It is better to avoid heavy work on the day of surgery. Keep talking to a minimum as well.

After placing the crown, you will have to avoid sticky and hard food for a couple of days

Avoid lifting the implant or bridge with your finger to check for its fit. It can prevent the crown from attaching firmly to the implant.

You should be careful to avoid any gum disease as they loosen the implant. Periodic check-ups with the dental surgeon will help to prevent this.

Brushing your teeth regularly and using interproximal cleaning aids to remove food accumulating between the will also help.

Complications of dental implants 

Dental implants are, by and large, very successful. Only very few persons have complications after treatment. Some of the most common risks and complications are:

• After implant surgery
• Bleeding
• Infections of the implant site
• Pain and swelling

In few cases, there can be some long term complications like

• Injury to the nerves during implant surgery
• Loosening of the implant, this usually happens as a result of gum disease
• Fracture of the implant, very rare
• Movement of the implant to the maxillary sinus causing infections

Poor oral hygiene, failure to adhere to instructions, and diseases like diabetes are the main reasons for implant failure