10 Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants.

Dental implants are the No. 1 choice of tooth replacement in today’s day and age. It wasn’t always that way though. For the longest period of time the only way of replacing missing teeth was either with a bridge or a removable denture. With the advent of implants, more and more patients are keen on a more permanent solution to replace their missing teet

But before we delve into the discussion on implants, lets first discuss what the need for them is at all, i.e.; the reason behind missing teeth.

Tooth loss or missing teeth could be the result of an array of reasons including – progressive tooth decay, inherently missing tooth germ, injury or inflammation to the supporting structures of the tooth (periodontitis), accidents or trauma to the tooth, systemic diseases and certain medications.

Given the gaining popularity of dental implants, we have put together a list of frequently asked questions related to implants.

A dental implant is a small screw like post made of titanium, which is placed within the bone and integrates with it to simulate the root of the tooth that preceded it. A connector, called an abutment, is placed on it to connect the final tooth to the implant within the bone.

Anyone with a single tooth, multiple teeth or all their teeth missing are good candidates for implants. There are some exceptions though – one must be in general good health and have good oral health. Heavy smoking is particularly bad for the healing process after the implant surgery.

The biggest advantages of implants are that they behave and simulate natural teeth perfectly and restore the chewing capability back to 100%. Most patients can’t even tell the difference between the implant and a natural tooth.

Another major advantage is that if well cared for, the implant can last a lifetime.

They also prevent bone loss in the area where the tooth is missing.

Implants that are well placed, usually last for decades. The care they require is similar to the care that natural teeth demand. This includes maintaining good oral hygiene, proper brushing, regular flossing, scheduled cleaning and checkups.

No, the procedure of placing implants is relatively painless due to the local anesthetic given at the time of placement. Most patients usually find themselves back to work and their normal routine the very next day. There are some scenarios wherein there may be slight bruising or mild pain, but these complications are short lived.

If you’ve had any teeth extracted, particular any of your wisdom teeth, you will be familiar to the recovery process. There may be slight inflammation and discomfort for a day or two, beyond which you will be able to carry out your normal routine.

After the implants are placed, they osseo-integrate with the bone within which they are placed. This takes a couple of months after which the final crown is placed on the implant to replace the missing tooth.

Yes and NO.

It depends on how you look at it. In order to replace a missing tooth with a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth will both need to be included and hence treated to receive a three-unit bridge just to replace one tooth.

When replaces with an implant, the adjacent teeth are left undisturbed and only the ONE that is missing is replaced. When the cost of both of these are compared, it is almost the same.

Moreover, in the long term, an implant may turn out to be more economical. This is because a bridge will probably need replacement after about 10-12 years whereas an implant usually lasts decades.

• A surgical procedure is required to place the implant
• In the event that there is insufficient bone in the area of implant placement, a bone graft may need to be placed.
• Implants may be a little expensive to begin with, but are a good investment for the long term

Natural teeth are prone to dental diseases like decay. On the contrary, dental implants don’t have such problems. However, healthy gums are a vital factor in making sure that implants last a lifetime. Each patient is different and the success rate is dependent on many factors including oral hygiene of the patient, preexisting medical conditions, and patient compliance.

Every patient is different. After all the diagnostics are done, your dentist will provide you with an estimate on the time frame required to complete your work. This could vary between a few months to a year depending on various factors including your general and dental health, bone condition, and the complexity of your case.