Dental Implants Info List of Dentists

Dental Implants

Before dental implants emerged, dentures and removable bridges revealed problems such as instability.

Dental implants — metal screws placed below the gums and infused to the jaw bone— serve as a foundation for dentures or removable bridges. The titanium posts anchor to the jawbone. Replacement teeth are then cemented into the posts.

When dental implants surfaced in dentistry, general construction time for the new dental prosthesis consisted of three months for the lower jaw and six months in the upper jaw. After the designated times, the implants would be able to support the new dental prosthesis. Now, with better tools, some patients can receive implants at a much quicker pace.

Initially, dental implant surgery involves placing the anchor. Dental implant surgery may take up to several hours. Patients can expect to wait up to six months for the bone to grow around the placed anchor and secure it. In some cases, a second surgery takes place in which a post is placed to connect the anchor to the replacement teeth. Other dental implant surgeries place the anchor and the post simultaneously. When the gums heal, artificial natural looking teeth are created and constructed to the post section of the anchor. This step in the surgical procedure may require a couple months to complete since the patient can expect several fittings.

Patients receive anesthesia before the surgical placement of dental implants. When the anesthesia deteriorates, about three or four hours later, some patients experience pain and discomfort such as swelling. Pain intensity varies from patient to patient. Prolonged pain should be reported, as the improper placement of dental implants requires removal.

Dental implants require proper maintenance including regular brushing, flossing and dental visits.

Who is a Candidate for Dental Implants?

The ideal candidate for dental implant surgery possesses good general and oral health. Candidates should also have sufficient bone in the jaw in order to support the implant.

Some medical factors limit a person’s chance of being a good candidate for dental implants. These factors include:

1) Diabetes
2) Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
3) Parathyroid disorders
4) Blood disorders
5) Bone marrow cancer

One of the most common reasons why people consider dental implants stems from difficulty chewing and talking due to a sliding denture.
Those who are able to receive regular dental care can successfully use dental implants.

Those who fail to possess sufficient bone may receive bone grafting procedures. Grafting procedures consist of substituting missing bone in the jaw with bone material from the patient’s body or an artificial or synthetic replacement. This grafting procedure may also aid the body to re-grow lost bone.

The ideal site for the extra bone material stems from the patient’s own body, with the hip as the most common area. In severe cases, however, bone material can come from the patient’s mouth. In some cases, factors from the patient’s blood can encourage bone formation in the grafted areas.