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Dental implants- Everything you need to know
Introduction
When a person loses one or more teeth and wants to get it replaced, an artificial tooth root is placed in their jaw area, which would hold the artificial replacement teeth (prosthodontics), this artificial tooth root, usually made of titanium or ceramic material, is called implants.
Implanting tooth is based on human bone's natural ability to fuse on implant materials over a while. Dental implants have numerous advantages over conventional treatments using dentures and bridges anchored to the adjacent tooth.
Enough bone mass and healthy gums are the prerequisites for dental implant treatment. If you lack any of those parameters, you might require additional procedures before proceeding to dental implants. Check out the bone grafting (augmentation) or sinus lift section to understand more.
Doctor. TK. Prabu would decide your treatment options based on various parameters like your bone density of jaws and gum health using multiple sophisticated instruments like CAD/CAM
Simulation and computed tomography and stents.
Background
Though many advancements have been made in dental implant techniques, it is not new and has been practised over the last 60 years. In 1965 Brånemark placed his first titanium dental implant into a human volunteer. He termed the clinically observed adherence of bone with titanium as "osseointegration" Since then, implant techniques have evolved so much (Excerpts from Wikipedia).
Interesting Facts
There is archaeological evidence that humans have attempted to replace missing teeth with root-form implants for thousands of years. Remains from ancient China (dating 4000 years ago) have carved bamboo pegs, tapped into the bone to replace lost teeth, and 2000-year-old remains from Egyptian mummies were found to have transplanted human teeth.
An archaeological site in Honduras dating back to 600 AD found a young Mayan woman with three missing teeth replaced by pieces of seashells with Bone growth around two of that implants (seashell), indicating that they were functional well as esthetic. (Excerpts from Wikipedia).
Oral health condition is crucial
Why tooth loss has to be attended to immediately
Fruits, vegetables, nuts and meat, are nutrient-rich in nature and are essential for a healthy living but this kind of nutrient foods cannot be eaten by somebody that has lost significant number teeth already or people with loose teeth. Their improper dentition makes it difficult for them to chew hard food
People with loose teeth will also suffer from bite force loss and often avoid eating hard and chewy foods. Persons with inadequate dentition (the arrangement or condition of the teeth) find it challenging to chew thoroughly and eat some hard foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, apples, pears, carrots, nuts etc. They even find difficulties in eating cooked food such as meats and seafood.
Lots of studies have found that people with less than 20 teeth are consuming fewer amounts of nutrients than their daily requirement which makes them frailer compared to a normal person of health.
Read more on our website https://careyoursmile.info/dental-connect to understand the importance of maintaining oral hygiene and various chronic diseases linked to tooth loss. Though we cannot control tooth loss beyond a point, it doesn't mean that one has to suffer from all the chronic diseases related to that by not treating the dental issues appropriately on time.
Importance of chewing food
Chewing thoroughly is as essential as having a nutritiously balanced diet for proper nutrient absorption and smooth digestion, which helps the body to release digestive enzymes that convert the food particles into energy.
There are vitamins that the body can store and use later but there are vitamins that can only be obtained from the food we have on a daily basis. Hence eating nutritiously balanced food and chewing it completely is very crucial for healthy living and avoiding chronic diseases like diabetes.
Dental Implants for everyone
Advantages of Dental implants (medical uses)
1. It is permanent, with no inconvenience of removing and cleaning, which is a case of temporary dentures.
2. Improved facial appearance and bite force (ability to chew well)
3. Allows you to eat healthy, nutritious food once again.
4. Speech delivery improves.
5. Important for oral bone health
6. Avoids serious infections arising out of missing tooth
7. Rebuilds confidence to have social interactions.
Who can get the implants?
The implant is the only restoration technique that closely resembles the natural teeth in every possible way, including their look, functionality and stability. It depends on the human bone's ability to infuse with the implant material called Osseointegration naturally.
An implant derives its strength from the process mentioned above and offers a permanent solution for somebody who lost single tooth/multiple teeth. Many international studies have linked tooth loss with significant chronic health conditions like diabetes and its management.
Who is not suitable for getting dental implants
Some medical prerequisites to dental implants and some other conditions make it impossible for some patients to get their implants done.
• The presence of a healthy jawbone is a prerequisite. If a patient has lost a significant amount of bone mass, and their medical condition also constrains them from getting a bone graft. (more on bone grafting in a while)
• Chronic health conditions like uncontrolled diabetes or cancer affect their ability to go through surgeries which require a significant amount of time to heal.
• Bone cancer and other bone diseases may affect the osseointegration process, which forms the basis of an implant procedure
• Smoking habit also affects the bone's natural ability to infuse with implant material.
The dental implant procedure
What is an implant procedure?
Dental implant procedure refers to the series of steps involved in a modern dental restoration (replace missing teeth) technique. In most cases, an implant material (made of titanium) is placed surgically on a patient's jawbones. This implant acts as a root on which an artificial tooth (prosthetics) is fixed.
Before surgery
· Smoking can negatively impact the stability of the dental implants, and patients may require forgoing that habit completely for the procedure's success.
· Patients may be advised to take antibiotics or antibacterial mouthwash before the surgery to avoid early implant rejection/infection.
Step by step Implant Procedure
Planning
An implant planning starts with X-rays, 3D imaging, and intraoral scanning to assess end requirement planning.
Preparation for Surgery
Implant surgery usually doesn't require the patient to be admitted and is generally performed with Painless (local) anaesthesia or general anaesthesia.
The Surgery
The procedure starts by removing the remains (root/parts) of the lost tooth and ends with the implants inserted into the jaw bone with specialized drills. This process usually takes an hour to two to complete.
Additional procedures are required based on the patient's need.
• Apart from the commonly involved two steps above, if there isn't enough bone present in the patient's jaw to hold the implant, an additional bone grafting procedure is performed before the standard method.
• If the teeth have to be replaced on the upper jaw, then Sinus lifting is needed for some patients to create the tooth implant space.
Read more details on the dental implant procedure here
Life with Dental Implants
After dental implants surgery
The patient would not feel any pain normally during the procedure, but they would feel the pain as soon as they become conscious. In most cases, the pain would be manageable over the counter painkillers. The patients would also be prescribed antibiotics and mouth rinse after the surgery.
They will be allowed to start eating soft foods/drinks an hour after surgery and be advised not to take hot and spicy food or drink for several hours.
Following are restricted for the first few weeks after the surgery
• Smoking
• Drinking liquids with a straw
• Hard to eat chewy and abrasive foods.
Implant healing
After the implant procedure, the patient has to wait for their implant to heal. During this period (in 3-6 months), the jaw bone grows inside and surrounding the implant and holds it firmly. The patient will be wearing temporary teeth (dentures) throughout this time.
Teeth replacement (Fixing permanent prosthetics)
We at Prabu dental, after confirming the stability of the implant, perfectly matching (measurements and size) prosthetics are created with state of the art CAM/CAD milling machines.
Life with Implant
Along with aesthetics and convenience, once again, the patient's ability to cherish the food wholeheartedly also gets restored with dental implant surgery.
They need to brush and floss their mouth regularly, as anyone would do with their natural tooth.
Types of Dental Implants
Dental implants types
Implants are broadly classified as implant-supported dentures and implant-supported bridges.
Implant-supported denture
Our dentists consider various parameters before deciding on a suitable restoration option for you. When you have lost all of your teeth but still have a healthy jaw bone with enough mass to hold an implant firmly, he might suggest Implant-supported dentures.
Better appearance, cost, convenience and shorter procedure time are some of the patient-side considerations for selecting this procedure over other restoration options. Know more about Implant-supported dentures here
Implant-supported bridge
As the name suggests, the implant is placed in the gap created by the tooth; the crown is placed on the Implant (Instead of the adjacent Tooth)
It is the most reliable form of bridge. It avoids unnecessary pressure being created on the healthy tooth on the adjacent, which usually is a cause of concern in traditional bridges.
Further classification of dental implants
Every patient requirement (Age, bone health and pre-existing medical conditions) is unique and requires a custom-made dental restoration plan to suit them.
This complexity is the reason for the wide variety of dental implants as listed below;
1. Number of Teeth to be replaced – Single or multiple teeth
2. Number of stages involved in the procedure – Single or two-stage
3. Existing bone (oral) health – Endosteal, subperiosteal, zygomatic implant
4. Alternative methods: Mini, immediate load implants.
5. Additional procedures required - Sinus lifting, bone augmentation
6. Implant material – Surface, coating, connectors, width etc.
Conventional alternatives for Implants
Bridges and dentures are the traditional dental restorative procedures and prescribed when the patient's medical condition is not suitable for going through the extensive processes involved with the dental implants.
Bridges
A dental bridge covers/bridges the gap in your tooth line. A bridge primarily consists of two parts.
1) Pontic – An artificial tooth that would be placed in the gap of a missing tooth
2) Crown – An dental cap placed on healthy, adjacent teeth (each side)of a gap provides Pontic support.
Dental bridges are fixed on your existing with dental cement and usually lasts for 10-15 years.
A Pontic or artificial tooth can be made of precious metals and usually made of porcelain to match the colour of the natural teeth. The adjacent teeth on which crowns are placed are called abutment teeth
Dentures
Dentures are artificial teeth and gums used to replace single or multiple teeth. They usually are made of porcelain resins placed on your gums with the help of suction and denture adhesive.
However, dentures can offer immediate solution to your dental problems that are inherent arises out of this procedure. Traditional dentures need to be replaced over a period.
A more detailed comparison of bridges vs Implants can be read here
How it compares with dentures and bridges
All about dental implants Infographics
Few more things to know
Risk and failure
Excessive bleeding and nerve damage is some of the risks associated with this procedure. Apart from that, failure of Osseointegration (bone's failure to attach) and peri-implantitis (inflammation on soft tissues surrounding implants) can also occur in few patients. Regular follow up meetings and the execution of the procedure by expert physician can significantly reduce them.
Cost involved
Implant procedures are highly customized in nature and usually varies from patient to patient based on their oral health conditions. Today, with the advancement in implant techniques, starting a new life with a new set of permanently fixed teeth is affordable to everybody.
Please speak to our counsellors to know the best treatment option for you and the cost associated with us.
Digital dentistry – Role importance
Prabu dental, An ISO 9001:2015 certified dental hospital in Karaikudi, is one of the very few dentistries in India that employs digitally guided treatments to make dental procedures safe, quick, and as comfortable as possible.
Following are the patient benefits of employing digitally guided implant procedure.
1) Decide the best treatment option based on the patient condition.
2) Comfortable, painless treatment and fast recovery.
3) Ensure precision to the desired result.
4) Avoid unnecessary radiation from imaging devices.
5) Prevent infections from
6) Digital documentation ensures faster insurance claim and follow up treatments in your city.
Read here to know more about digitally guided procedures and instruments of digital dentistry.
Attend oral health issues in time
Oral health tips
· Brush properly, Clean tongue
· Floss your teeth once a day.
· Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.
· Limit sugary and acidic foods
· Avoid smoking and keep alcohol intake in control.
· Wear a bite splint if you have nighttime teeth clenching disorder.
· While playing sports, wearing a properly fitted mouthguard is essential.
· Visit the dentist often as recommended and attend dental check-ups and professional cleanings.
· Diabetes is a significant risk factor for gum diseases and other dental problems, so keep your diabetes level under control.
Dental symptoms when you should contact the doctor
· Red or swollen gums.
· Tender or bleeding in gums.
· Painful chewing.
· Loose teeth.
· Bad breath that won't go away
· Receding gums or longer-appearing teeth.
If you have already lost a tooth or two, Don't wait. Getting your fully functional teeth is just a step away in a right direction
Conclusion
As seen above, implant surgery is the most reliable form of dental restoration technique as it mimics the natural teeth in terms of their construct and function.
Performing an implant procedure requires a lot of expertise and a definite amount of technology infrastructure. Selecting dentistry with that winning combination is all it takes to get a successful implant procedure done to complete satisfaction.
This E-Book's objective is to give every possible information you would need to know about dental implants in a single handout and in an easy-to-read format. We hope this E-book clears all the doubts surrounding implants.
If you have been hesitating to decide between various teeth restoration options, you can wholeheartedly choose to go with dental implants after reading this E-Book.