Dental Implants
Content
Dental Implants: Consultation, Procedure, Recovery and Aftercare
Authored By: Allison DiMatteo Reviewed By: W. Peter Nordland, DMD Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used to support a restoration for a missing tooth or teeth, helping to stop or prevent jaw bone loss. The dental implant procedure is categorized as a form of prosthetic (artificial replacement) dentistry, but also is considered a form of cosmetic dentistry. People who have lost teeth might feel too self-conscious to smile or talk. Additionally, biting irregularities caused by tooth loss can have a negative effect on eating habits, leading to secondary health problems like malnutrition. By replacing missing tooth roots, dental implants provide people with the strength and stability required to eat all the foods they love, without struggling to chew. Additionally, dental implants stimulate and maintain jaw bone, preventing bone loss and helping to maintain facial features.
Tooth Loss
Teeth are lost because of:
Tooth decay Root canal failure Gum disease (Periodontitis) Trauma to the mouth (tooth injury) Excessive wear and tear Congenital defects
Dental Implants: Consultation, Placement, and Recovery
To determine if implants are right for you, a consultation with your dentist, oral surgeon, and/or periodontist or prosthodontist is needed. During this appointment, your dental professional will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and evaluate bone density and quantity. This may involve X-rays and computer tomography scans (CT scans) to ensure there is sufficient bone structure for placing the implant(s), and to determine exactly where the implant should be placed. Based on the condition of your oral tissues, oral hygiene and personal habits, and commitment to follow aftercare instructions, your dentist will advise you of the most appropriate dental implant treatment plan. Some patients with insufficient bone or gum tissue require bone or soft tissue grafts and/or the use of small diameter implants (also called mini implants). Oral Surgery Can oral surgery correct your functional dental concern?
Depending on your situation, your dental professional will advise you of how long the entire treatment process will take, how many appointments will be necessary and what you can expect after each procedure. During the consultation, options for local anesthesia (to numb the affected and surrounding areas) and sedation dentistry, if necessary, also will be discussed.
The Dental Implant Placement Procedure
Today's dental implant restorations are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth. This appearance is aided in part by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting but require a period of osseointegration. Osseointegration is the process by which the dental implant anchors to the jaw bone. Osseointegrated implants are the most commonly used and successful type of dental implant. An osseointegrated implant takes anywhere from three to six months to anchor and heal, at which point your dentist can complete the procedure by placing a crown restoration. If osseointegration does not occur, the implant will fail. Preventive Dentistry Prevention today equates to savings tomorrow.
Dental implantation, which is performed to replace missing teeth, can be done any time after adolescence or when bone growth is complete. Certain medical conditions, such as active diabetes, cancer or periodontal disease, may require additional treatment before the implant procedure can be performed.
Detailed procedural steps are as follows: Preparing the Jaw for Implantation: A dental implant restoration is commonly composed of a titanium material screw and a crown. A small-diameter hole (pilot hole) is drilled at edentulous (where there is no tooth) jaw sites in order to guide the titanium screw that holds a dental implant in place. To avoid damaging vital jaw and face structures like the inferior alveolar nerve in the mandible (lower jaw), a dentist must use great skill and expertise when boring the pilot hole and sizing the jaw bone. In many instances dentists use surgical guides created based on the CT scans when placing the dental implants. Gingival Sculpting Reinvent your smile with gum tissue contouring.
Placement of the Implant: After the initial pilot hole has been drilled into the appropriate jaw site, it is slowly widened to allow placement of the implant screw. Once in place, surrounding gum tissue is secured over the implant and a protective cover screw is placed on top to allow the site to heal and osseointegration to occur. After up to six months of healing, your dentist will uncover the implant and attach an abutment (which holds the crown or tooth-like replacement) to the implant. In some cases, the abutment may be attached during the initial procedure. When the abutment is in place, your dentist then will create a temporary crown. The temporary crown serves as a template around which the gum grows and shapes itself in a natural way. The process is completed when the temporary crown is replaced with a permanent crown.
Dental Implants Recovery
Dental implant recovery depends on a number of factors, including the various procedures required to complete your treatment. However, it is generally recognized that once an implant has been placed, maintaining diligent oral hygiene habits is required to ensure proper fusing of the implant and bone structure. If cared for properly, an implant restoration can remain in place for more than 40 years. After the initial surgical procedure, discomfort should be minimal. Swelling of your gums and face may occur, as well as minor bleeding and bruising of the implant site. Prescription pain medications may be prescribed by your dentist to relieve any pain or discomfort you feel after the procedure. Invisalign Express Are you a candidate for shorter-duration Invisalign?
Healing from the surgical procedure to place the dental implant(s) takes up to six months, while the fitting and seating of the crown(s) can take up to two months. Again, this
timeframe depends on individual cases and treatments. Follow-up appointments with your treatment coordinators are essential for monitoring your progress.
Implant Surgery Follow-up and Aftercare
For five to seven days after surgery, your diet should be restricted to soft foods. If stitches are present, they may need to be removed by your dentist; however, self-dissolving stitches that do not require removal are typically used. If provisional restorations were placed along with the dental implant, it will be important to clean them as you would your natural teeth to ensure the best possible healing and fusing of the implant.
Failure to floss and brush is a leading cause of implant failure, and infection can occur if the implant and surrounding areas are not cleaned properly. Smoking also is attributed to high failure rates with dental implants and should be avoided following implant procedures. Failure to floss and brush is a leading cause of implant failure, and infection can occur if the implant and surrounding areas are not cleaned properly. Smoking also is attributed to high failure rates with dental implants and should be avoided following implant procedures
Dental Implants Cost and Candidacy: Is Implant Dentistry Worth It?
Authored By: Greg Johnstone Reviewed By: W. Peter Nordland, DMD The cost of dental implants depends on many factors, including the type of implantation, the dentist performing the procedure, the location where the implant placement surgery is performed, the dental implant material used and the amount of dental insurance you have. Single implants may range in cost from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the aforementioned factors. The cost of full-mouth reconstructive dental implants can range from $24,000 to $100,000.
If treatment is not covered by your dental insurance, or if you don't have insurance, you may be able to enlist the services of a third-party financing company like CareCredit. Qualified candidates can work with a financing company to develop a monthly payment plan that best fits their budget.
Advantages of Implant Dentistry
Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative counterparts, such as crowns and bridges that are cemented into place, or dentures that are removable. Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. When used to support a dental bridge or dental crown because multiple teeth are missing, dental implants represent a cavity-resistant and stable foundation for these restorations. Although there are many restorative options for replacing missing teeth, none have proven as functionally effective and durable as dental implants. Dental Spa Say goodbye to anxiety & dental phobias.
Periodontists and oral surgeons perform the implant surgical procedure itself.
Are You a Dental Implant Candidate?
To determine if you are a candidate for dental implants, seek the advice of a qualified dental professional trained in implant dentistry. Ask about the extent of your dentist's training. Training in implants, crowns and/or oral surgery offered by private organizations may be completed over a weekend, but medical organizations such as the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons offer more extensive training. Since dental implant placement is a type of oral surgery, it is important to ensure that your dentist has the experience and training required for this sensitive procedure. Dental implantation, which is performed to replace missing teeth, can be done any time after adolescence or when bone growth is complete. Certain medical conditions, such as
active diabetes, cancer or periodontal disease, may require additional treatment before the implant procedure can be performed. To determine if implants are right for you, your dental professional will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and evaluate bone density and quantity. This may involve Xrays and computer tomography scans (CT scans) to ensure there is sufficient bone structure for placing the implant(s), and to determine exactly where the implant should be placed. Preventive Dentistry Prevention today equates to savings tomorrow.
Based on the condition of your oral tissues, oral hygiene and personal habits, and commitment to follow aftercare instructions, your dentist will advise you of the most appropriate dental implant treatment plan. Some patients with insufficient bone or gum tissue require bone or soft tissue grafts and/or the use of small diameter implants (also called mini implants). Also, if you are a smoker who is considering a dental implant, your dentist will likely advise you to quit before undergoing the dental implant procedure because smokers face a higher risk of implant failure. A higher implant failure rate also occurs in people who take immuno-suppressants.
Success Rates of Dental Implants
Dental implants are among the most successful procedures in dentistry. Although there is no guarantee that a dental implant procedure will be successful, studies have shown a fiveyear success rate of 95 percent for lower jaw implants and 90 percent for upper jaw implants. The success rate for upper jaw implants is slightly lower because the upper jaw (especially the back area) is less dense than the lower jaw, making successful implantation and osseointegration potentially more difficult to achieve. Implant placement at the back of the lower jaw has the highest success rate for all dental implants. OraVerse Reverse lingering numbness after dental treatment.
Dental Implant Risks
Dental implants may fail for a number of reasons, but the cause often is related to a failure in the osseointegration process. For example, if the implant is placed in a poor position, osseointegration may not take place. Dental implants may break, the site in which they
were placed may become infected, or the crown restoration on top of the implant may become loose. Poor oral hygiene can lead to peri-implantitis around dental implants, a disease that is similar to the development of periodontitis (severe gum disease) around a natural tooth. However, dental implant restorations are not susceptible to cavities the way natural teeth are.
Implant Dentistry: New Procedural Strategies
Dentists trained to perform implants, crowns and/or surgery have begun to immediately place dental implants into locations where teeth have been extracted. When successful, this approach can shed months off the treatment time associated with dental implants because the osseointegration process is accelerated. Candidacy for this type of early intervention depends upon the anatomy of the tooth extraction area. For example, in many cases the extracted tooth site is wider than the implant, making it impossible to place the implant into the site immediately after extraction. Bone or soft tissue grafting would be required to ensure a secure implant fit and placement. Gingival Sculpting Reinvent your smile with gum tissue contouring.
Implant Alternatives: Mini Dental Implants
Another strategy for implant placement within narrow spaces is the incorporation of the mini implant. Mini implants may be used for small teeth and incisors. Narrower implants may be used for small teeth and incisors. Also, a narrower implant may best serve patients who require stabilization of lower jaw dentures, pre-molar teeth, or a missing tooth that was located in a narrow area. A small number of narrower implants are FDA-approved for the purpose of prosthesis stabilization, including the mini dental implant. Only certain dentists may perform this procedure. There are some core differences between traditional implants and mini implants:
Mini implants are approximately half the width of their traditional counterparts. The implant is not fully submerged during a narrow implant procedure. Should implant failure occur, the small size (that of a toothpick) means grafting is not necessary.
Mini implants are less costly. Mini implants are solid though they do not contain a screw
Authored By: Allison DiMatteo Reviewed By: W. Peter Nordland, DMD Dental implants are artificial tooth roots used to support a restoration for a missing tooth or teeth, helping to stop or prevent jaw bone loss. The dental implant procedure is categorized as a form of prosthetic (artificial replacement) dentistry, but also is considered a form of cosmetic dentistry. People who have lost teeth might feel too self-conscious to smile or talk. Additionally, biting irregularities caused by tooth loss can have a negative effect on eating habits, leading to secondary health problems like malnutrition. By replacing missing tooth roots, dental implants provide people with the strength and stability required to eat all the foods they love, without struggling to chew. Additionally, dental implants stimulate and maintain jaw bone, preventing bone loss and helping to maintain facial features.
Tooth Loss
Teeth are lost because of:
Tooth decay Root canal failure Gum disease (Periodontitis) Trauma to the mouth (tooth injury) Excessive wear and tear Congenital defects
Dental Implants: Consultation, Placement, and Recovery
To determine if implants are right for you, a consultation with your dentist, oral surgeon, and/or periodontist or prosthodontist is needed. During this appointment, your dental professional will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and evaluate bone density and quantity. This may involve X-rays and computer tomography scans (CT scans) to ensure there is sufficient bone structure for placing the implant(s), and to determine exactly where the implant should be placed. Based on the condition of your oral tissues, oral hygiene and personal habits, and commitment to follow aftercare instructions, your dentist will advise you of the most appropriate dental implant treatment plan. Some patients with insufficient bone or gum tissue require bone or soft tissue grafts and/or the use of small diameter implants (also called mini implants). Oral Surgery Can oral surgery correct your functional dental concern?
Depending on your situation, your dental professional will advise you of how long the entire treatment process will take, how many appointments will be necessary and what you can expect after each procedure. During the consultation, options for local anesthesia (to numb the affected and surrounding areas) and sedation dentistry, if necessary, also will be discussed.
The Dental Implant Placement Procedure
Today's dental implant restorations are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth. This appearance is aided in part by the structural and functional connection between the dental implant and the living bone. Implants are typically placed in a single sitting but require a period of osseointegration. Osseointegration is the process by which the dental implant anchors to the jaw bone. Osseointegrated implants are the most commonly used and successful type of dental implant. An osseointegrated implant takes anywhere from three to six months to anchor and heal, at which point your dentist can complete the procedure by placing a crown restoration. If osseointegration does not occur, the implant will fail. Preventive Dentistry Prevention today equates to savings tomorrow.
Dental implantation, which is performed to replace missing teeth, can be done any time after adolescence or when bone growth is complete. Certain medical conditions, such as active diabetes, cancer or periodontal disease, may require additional treatment before the implant procedure can be performed.
Detailed procedural steps are as follows: Preparing the Jaw for Implantation: A dental implant restoration is commonly composed of a titanium material screw and a crown. A small-diameter hole (pilot hole) is drilled at edentulous (where there is no tooth) jaw sites in order to guide the titanium screw that holds a dental implant in place. To avoid damaging vital jaw and face structures like the inferior alveolar nerve in the mandible (lower jaw), a dentist must use great skill and expertise when boring the pilot hole and sizing the jaw bone. In many instances dentists use surgical guides created based on the CT scans when placing the dental implants. Gingival Sculpting Reinvent your smile with gum tissue contouring.
Placement of the Implant: After the initial pilot hole has been drilled into the appropriate jaw site, it is slowly widened to allow placement of the implant screw. Once in place, surrounding gum tissue is secured over the implant and a protective cover screw is placed on top to allow the site to heal and osseointegration to occur. After up to six months of healing, your dentist will uncover the implant and attach an abutment (which holds the crown or tooth-like replacement) to the implant. In some cases, the abutment may be attached during the initial procedure. When the abutment is in place, your dentist then will create a temporary crown. The temporary crown serves as a template around which the gum grows and shapes itself in a natural way. The process is completed when the temporary crown is replaced with a permanent crown.
Dental Implants Recovery
Dental implant recovery depends on a number of factors, including the various procedures required to complete your treatment. However, it is generally recognized that once an implant has been placed, maintaining diligent oral hygiene habits is required to ensure proper fusing of the implant and bone structure. If cared for properly, an implant restoration can remain in place for more than 40 years. After the initial surgical procedure, discomfort should be minimal. Swelling of your gums and face may occur, as well as minor bleeding and bruising of the implant site. Prescription pain medications may be prescribed by your dentist to relieve any pain or discomfort you feel after the procedure. Invisalign Express Are you a candidate for shorter-duration Invisalign?
Healing from the surgical procedure to place the dental implant(s) takes up to six months, while the fitting and seating of the crown(s) can take up to two months. Again, this
timeframe depends on individual cases and treatments. Follow-up appointments with your treatment coordinators are essential for monitoring your progress.
Implant Surgery Follow-up and Aftercare
For five to seven days after surgery, your diet should be restricted to soft foods. If stitches are present, they may need to be removed by your dentist; however, self-dissolving stitches that do not require removal are typically used. If provisional restorations were placed along with the dental implant, it will be important to clean them as you would your natural teeth to ensure the best possible healing and fusing of the implant.
Failure to floss and brush is a leading cause of implant failure, and infection can occur if the implant and surrounding areas are not cleaned properly. Smoking also is attributed to high failure rates with dental implants and should be avoided following implant procedures. Failure to floss and brush is a leading cause of implant failure, and infection can occur if the implant and surrounding areas are not cleaned properly. Smoking also is attributed to high failure rates with dental implants and should be avoided following implant procedures
Dental Implants Cost and Candidacy: Is Implant Dentistry Worth It?
Authored By: Greg Johnstone Reviewed By: W. Peter Nordland, DMD The cost of dental implants depends on many factors, including the type of implantation, the dentist performing the procedure, the location where the implant placement surgery is performed, the dental implant material used and the amount of dental insurance you have. Single implants may range in cost from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on the aforementioned factors. The cost of full-mouth reconstructive dental implants can range from $24,000 to $100,000.
If treatment is not covered by your dental insurance, or if you don't have insurance, you may be able to enlist the services of a third-party financing company like CareCredit. Qualified candidates can work with a financing company to develop a monthly payment plan that best fits their budget.
Advantages of Implant Dentistry
Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative counterparts, such as crowns and bridges that are cemented into place, or dentures that are removable. Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. When used to support a dental bridge or dental crown because multiple teeth are missing, dental implants represent a cavity-resistant and stable foundation for these restorations. Although there are many restorative options for replacing missing teeth, none have proven as functionally effective and durable as dental implants. Dental Spa Say goodbye to anxiety & dental phobias.
Periodontists and oral surgeons perform the implant surgical procedure itself.
Are You a Dental Implant Candidate?
To determine if you are a candidate for dental implants, seek the advice of a qualified dental professional trained in implant dentistry. Ask about the extent of your dentist's training. Training in implants, crowns and/or oral surgery offered by private organizations may be completed over a weekend, but medical organizations such as the American Academy of Periodontology and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons offer more extensive training. Since dental implant placement is a type of oral surgery, it is important to ensure that your dentist has the experience and training required for this sensitive procedure. Dental implantation, which is performed to replace missing teeth, can be done any time after adolescence or when bone growth is complete. Certain medical conditions, such as
active diabetes, cancer or periodontal disease, may require additional treatment before the implant procedure can be performed. To determine if implants are right for you, your dental professional will thoroughly examine your teeth and gums and evaluate bone density and quantity. This may involve Xrays and computer tomography scans (CT scans) to ensure there is sufficient bone structure for placing the implant(s), and to determine exactly where the implant should be placed. Preventive Dentistry Prevention today equates to savings tomorrow.
Based on the condition of your oral tissues, oral hygiene and personal habits, and commitment to follow aftercare instructions, your dentist will advise you of the most appropriate dental implant treatment plan. Some patients with insufficient bone or gum tissue require bone or soft tissue grafts and/or the use of small diameter implants (also called mini implants). Also, if you are a smoker who is considering a dental implant, your dentist will likely advise you to quit before undergoing the dental implant procedure because smokers face a higher risk of implant failure. A higher implant failure rate also occurs in people who take immuno-suppressants.
Success Rates of Dental Implants
Dental implants are among the most successful procedures in dentistry. Although there is no guarantee that a dental implant procedure will be successful, studies have shown a fiveyear success rate of 95 percent for lower jaw implants and 90 percent for upper jaw implants. The success rate for upper jaw implants is slightly lower because the upper jaw (especially the back area) is less dense than the lower jaw, making successful implantation and osseointegration potentially more difficult to achieve. Implant placement at the back of the lower jaw has the highest success rate for all dental implants. OraVerse Reverse lingering numbness after dental treatment.
Dental Implant Risks
Dental implants may fail for a number of reasons, but the cause often is related to a failure in the osseointegration process. For example, if the implant is placed in a poor position, osseointegration may not take place. Dental implants may break, the site in which they
were placed may become infected, or the crown restoration on top of the implant may become loose. Poor oral hygiene can lead to peri-implantitis around dental implants, a disease that is similar to the development of periodontitis (severe gum disease) around a natural tooth. However, dental implant restorations are not susceptible to cavities the way natural teeth are.
Implant Dentistry: New Procedural Strategies
Dentists trained to perform implants, crowns and/or surgery have begun to immediately place dental implants into locations where teeth have been extracted. When successful, this approach can shed months off the treatment time associated with dental implants because the osseointegration process is accelerated. Candidacy for this type of early intervention depends upon the anatomy of the tooth extraction area. For example, in many cases the extracted tooth site is wider than the implant, making it impossible to place the implant into the site immediately after extraction. Bone or soft tissue grafting would be required to ensure a secure implant fit and placement. Gingival Sculpting Reinvent your smile with gum tissue contouring.
Implant Alternatives: Mini Dental Implants
Another strategy for implant placement within narrow spaces is the incorporation of the mini implant. Mini implants may be used for small teeth and incisors. Narrower implants may be used for small teeth and incisors. Also, a narrower implant may best serve patients who require stabilization of lower jaw dentures, pre-molar teeth, or a missing tooth that was located in a narrow area. A small number of narrower implants are FDA-approved for the purpose of prosthesis stabilization, including the mini dental implant. Only certain dentists may perform this procedure. There are some core differences between traditional implants and mini implants:
Mini implants are approximately half the width of their traditional counterparts. The implant is not fully submerged during a narrow implant procedure. Should implant failure occur, the small size (that of a toothpick) means grafting is not necessary.
Mini implants are less costly. Mini implants are solid though they do not contain a screw
