Dental Implants
A Dental Implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically placed into the jawbone beneath the gum line that allows the Implantologist to fix a crown on the top of that, thereby providing the appearance of a natural tooth
Implants look, feel and function like natural teeth thereby offers the most realistic, long lasting solution for the restoration of functionality of your smile.
CONSEQUENCES OF MISSING TEETH
- Speech problems occur due to gap created when teeth are lost
- Missing teeth causes difficulty in chewing, as your upper jaw and lower jaw may not come properly
- Missing teeth can make your face look older and wrinkled with sunken cheeks because of sagging muscles which no longer can support your lips & cheeks
- Pain in facial muscle or jaw can result from an improper bite caused by absence of teeth
- Food entrapment & plaque accumulation may result in the gap leading to decay & gum disease
- Adjacent teeth may tilt into the empty space left by missing tooth thereby creating improper bite
- Low self-esteem is one of the major psychological consequence of untreated missing teeth
- People are really conscious about their appearance and reluctant to smile at public gathering
WHY IMPLANTS?
- Dental implants mostly resemble natural teeth.
- Dental implants last longer.
- Dental implants are cost effective.
- Dental implants allow you to lead your life without any worry about your teeth.
- Dental implants retain your natural face shape, and smile.
- Healthy bone protected with dental implant.
- Dental implants are fixed in your mouth not like removable dentures.
- You can speak easily with implants Dental implants so that you’re not embarrased.
- You can happily enjoy your favorite foods with dental implants.
- Your healthy teeth will be protected by implants.
- Dental implants are more predictable than other repair and restoration methods.
The Top 5 Reasons People Don’t Choose Dentures
- Dentures don’t last longer as some other tooth replacement options, so you should purchase new dentures every several years.
- Dentures are not the most esthetical option for replacement of teeth.
- Denture may cause bone loss in your jawbone where teeth are missing.
- Dentures need to be cleaned outside the mouth and also to be kept in a separate box throughout the night.
- Dentures can lead to embarrassing social moments, as they may slip or click when talking, laughing or eating
Which reasons resonated for you? Are dentures the right choice for your missing teeth?
- Keep in mind that when you do choose dental implants, it is critical that you choose a dental implant expert, not just any dentist.
ADVANTAGES OF IMPLANTS
- Implants are the next best thing to healthy, natural teeth since it restores the lost tooth
- Implants are durable and the ultimate long term solution
- Dental Implants help to retain the shape of face & smile which otherwise could go wrong due to sagging of facial muscles because of missing teeth
- Implants protects healthy bone
- Implants gives improved appearance, speech & comfort
- Implants gives perfect solution to the missing tooth thereby boosting your selfesteem
- Implants provides options to enjoy a wide variety of food
IMPLANTS SURGERY PROCEDURE
Implants Surgery might look or sound complicated but in reality being most advanced it attracts hardly any complications. Below are the procedures explained in a very simplified manner that are done in the Implants treatment.
Placing the Implant :
With modern dentistry techniques the Implant placement procedure can be made comfortable and relatively pain-free. If you are particularly concerned then please ask your dentist for sedation, which will enable you to completely relax and drift off into your own twilight world whilst Dental Implants are placed.
The jawbone is prepared for surgery, to place the Dental Implant, the surgeon makes a cut exposing the bone into which holes are drilled. They are deep enough so that the Dental Implant is properly placed, like the root, implanted deep into the bone.
Sometimes the bone is weak or not upto the standards in which we can do an implant surgery so the doctors perform Bone Grafting. After your jawbone heals, your surgeon places the Dental Implant metal post in your jawbone.
The entire process can take many months from start to finish. Much of that time is devoted to healing and waiting for the growth of new bone in your jaw.
After this , you’ll be given a temporary crown that is placed for the gap and aesthetic purposes. You can remove this at your own will but for Implants procedure we have to wait until bone is healed.
Healing :
During this process, the jawbone grows into and unites with the surface of the Dental Implant. This process, called as Osseointegration helps provide a durable base for your new artificial tooth — just as roots do for your natural teeth.
This process usually takes around 3 to 6 months depending on the bone health and structure. Some times people do not need much of a healing period and have good bone structure, their whole procedure is completed in one day.
Once the Implants have become fused with the bone, you can schedule the second surgery. Your dentist will confirm whether the implant is ready for the second surgery by taking an X-ray. This surgery is simpler than the first. A new incision is made to expose the heads of the Implants.
Abutment placement :
After healing is complete, you may need another minor surgery to place the abutment — the piece where the crown will eventually attach. The procedure is typically done with local anesthesia in an outpatient setting.
The wound is reopen to attach the abutment to Dental Implant, and a temporary crown is given for around 4 to 6 weeks until then gums around the abutment heals as the temporary crown is softer which cushions the implant and temporary crown forces to soft tisuess that eventually helps in healing.
After each stage of surgery, you may need to eat soft food while the surgical site heals
Placement of permanent Crown:
The permanent crown will be made to look exactly like your surrounding teeth, with the surface texture,colour and anatomy all characterised to blend in perfectly with the surrounding dentition.
If for any reason you are not happy with the crown, make your doctor aware – it can be sent back to the dental technician if necessary to be remade.
POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPLANTS SURGERY
POST OPERATIVE INSTRUCTIONS FOR IMPLANTS SURGERY
Please follow the instructions outlined below, and contact your doctor should any questions or problems arise.
Do not disturb the wound. Avoid rinsing, spitting, or touching the wound on the day of surgery. There may be a metal healing abutment protruding through the gingival (gum) tissue.
BLEEDING
Some bleeding or redness in the saliva is normal for 24 hours. Excessive bleeding (your mouth fills up rapidly with blood) can be controlled by biting on a gauze pad placed directly on the bleeding wound for 30 minutes. If bleeding continues, please call for further instructions.
SWELLING
Swelling is a normal occurrence after surgery. To minimize swelling, apply an ice bag, or a plastic bag, or towel filled with ice on the cheek in the area of surgery. Apply the ice continuously as much as possible for the first 36 hours.
DIET
Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid hot liquids or food. Soft food and liquids should be eaten on the day of surgery. Return to a normal diet as soon as possible unless otherwise directed. Avoid drinking liquids through straw.
PAIN
You should begin taking pain medication as soon as you feel the local anesthetic wearing off. For pain, please take the medicines prescribed to you by the attending doctor. All medicines should be taken as per instructions only.
ANTIBIOTICS
Take all antibiotics (if prescribed) as directed until they are finished.
ORAL HYGIENE
Good Oral Hygiene is essential for good healing. The night of surgery, use the prescribed Oral Rinse before bed. The day after surgery, the prescribed oral rinse should be used twice daily, after breakfast and before bed. Be sure to rinse for at least 30 seconds then spit it out. Warm salt water rinses (a teaspoon of salt in a cup of warm water) should be used at least 4-5 times a day, as well, especially after meals. Brushing your teeth and the healing abutments is no problem. Be gentle initially while brushing the surgical areas.
TOBACCO
Do not use tobacco products of any kind (cigarettes, cigars, pipes or smokeless tobacco). This greatly inhibits healing and increases chances of implant failure.
ACTIVITY
Keep physical activities minimal immediately after the surgery. If you are considering exercise, throbbing or bleeding may occur. If this occurs, you should discontinue exercising. Keep in mind that you are probably not taking normal nourishment. This may weaken you and further limit your ability to exercise.
POST IMPLANTS CARE
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do not just for your teeth and gums but for your overall well being. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look & feel good, they also make it possible to eat and speak. Daily preventive care, including proper brushing & flossing will help stop problems before they develop and indeed would make your teeth and Implant lasts for a longer duration.
Routinely visit to dental clinics and following these simple guidelines enumerated below can help you achive fairly good oral hygiene thereby making your implant lasts for life.
- Brushing twice a day is must in order to maintain a good oral hygiene
- While selecting a toothbrush, please keep in mind that it should have a small head and soft to medium bristles
- Do not be aggresive while brushing as it might cause abrasion, it is the technique that matters not the force
- Flossing once a day is necessary to keep your oral health in fairly good condition after Implants.
Flossing technique: Take about 15- 18 inch long dental floss and curl it from both ends on to the first finger on both of your hands. Now gently slide it through the interdental space without injuring the gum. Now you can simply keep pulling it one by one from each finger to clean it laterally or can slide it up and down
- Dental Implants can last a lifetime with proper oral care at home. You can also use water pricks & proxabrushes to thoroughly clean all the surfaces of your teeth
- It is highly recommended to use mouth rinses at least once a day after meals, if not, regular rinses are must after every meal
- Avoid eating sticky substances as Implants being an artificial tooth attracts more bacteria than a natural one. just like with natural teeth, dental tartar can build and cause problems for your implant, and conscientious oral care is vital to the long-term success of your new teeth
Is the procedure painful?
The procedure is generally performed under Local anesthesia, hence its pain free except a little discomfort. Even though pain threshold for every patient differs, there is no history of severe pain or discomfort as simple medication is given.
Is there any age barrier for dental Implants?
Overall health and a desire to improve the quality of life are much more important considerations than age. Infact originally Dental implants were designed for elderly patients who have all their teeth missing
A root canal is a treatment used to repair and save a tooth that is badly decayed or becomes infected. During a root canal procedure, the nerve and pulp are removed and the inside of the tooth is cleaned and sealed. Without treatment, the tissue surrounding the tooth will become infected and abscesses may form
How long does the implant treatment take?
For implants to become stable and sturdy bone formation takes place around the implant.It takes 3-9 months based on quality of bone.
What is the success rate of dental implants ?
Dental implant treatment is one of the most successful procedures in the dental field, with documented Success rates over 95%. There are rare occasions where the bone does not completely bond to the implants. In very few cases, the bone does not bond to the implant completely.In such cases the new implants are placed with good success rate.
Wisdom teeth (or third molars) are the last teeth to erupt into the mouth and are the furthest teeth from the front of the mouth.
Can I eat all the food that I want with dental Implants?
Dental Implants will allow you to eat your regular food like vegetables, fruits , meat etc.
However Implant supported dentures double your biting force thereby allowing you to eat harder food as well.
If i’m having a front tooth replaced with an implant, will I have to be without tooth during the healing period?
No. If you are replacing a front tooth with an implant, there will be temporary tooth placed until the implant heals. This healing period can take up to 4 – 6 months. This will be placed at the time of implant surgery.
Is it necessary to have one implant placed for each missing tooth?
Not all times, but some patients who have few missing teeth, individual implants are suggested to replace all missing posterior teeth which gives good support to withstand chewing forces.
Can the implant be placed at the time of extraction (Immediate Implant) ?
Yes, Implant can be placed especially for anterior teeth immediately after extraction. The two factors that determine if this is possible are
- anatomy
- amount of available bone.
Once all pre-surgical planning is completed, we will let you know if you are a candidate for this option.
How much does an implant cost?
Implants costs a little higher when compared with that of dental bridges. At your giving expert opinion we will give a written value of your treatment after your medical observation and determination of the extent of your procedure. The abutment and crown are charged separately.
Are Dental Implants Safe?
Proven safe and effective at replacing missing teeth when provided by an expert
Dental implants are been used in the field of dentistryfor more than 30 years.
Dental implants are typically made of titanium, a biocompatible material that is accepted by the body and serves as a strong and sturdy foundation for replacement teeth. Your natural bone locks the implant into place by fusing, or attaching itself, to the implant. This process, known as osseointegration, gives teeth replaced using implants the stability and strength to support replacement teeth, withstand daily use, and function like regular teeth.
Dental implant surgery is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry when performed by a trained and experienced dental implant dentist. A dental implant is the strongest device available to support replacement teeth, and it allows your replacement teeth to feel, look and work naturally. In addition, dental implants are the only restoration method that stimulates your natural bone underneath the missing tooth.
Are dental implants right for me?
If you’re missing one or more teeth, which may be due to injury, decay, gum (periodontal) disease, infection etc. Dental implants are a great option for patients who wants to overcome the pitfalls of, or can no longer wear, removable dentures.
Should I choose dental implants?
Answer these 3 questions to know if dental implants are your best choice for a natural-looking smile.
1) Do you want the most natural-looking smile?
A dental implant feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth. Other options may interfere with your normal everyday eating, smiling, and speaking.
2) Do you want a hassle-free smile?
Dental implants allow you to bite naturally, eat virtually anything you want, and brush your teeth normally. Dentures can feel uncomfortable when eating, restrict your food choices, and need to be removed for cleaning.
3) Do you want a smile that won’t embarrass you?
Dental implants are fixed in place, so they won’t move, click or shift, giving you confidence in your smile. Dentures may slip when eating, talking or even laughing, which isn’t so funny.
If you answered “Yes” to one or more of the questions, then dental implants are the right choice for you.