IMPLANTS

Dental implants are a common treatment for the loss of teeth. The most common cause of teeth loss is periodontitis, and other causes include dental caries, trauma, developmental defects, and genetic disorders. The use of dental implants to rehabilitate the loss of teeth. Before dental implants, dentures and bridges were used, but dental implants have become a very popular solution due to the high success rate and predictability of the procedure, as well as its relatively few complications

A dental implant (also known as an endosseous implant or fixture) is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis. The basis for modern dental implants is a biologic process called osseointegration where materials, such as titanium, form an intimate bond to bone. The implant fixture is first placed, so that it is likely to osseointegrate, then a dental prosthetic is added. A variable amount of healing time is required for osseointegration before either the dental prosthetic (a tooth, bridge or denture) is attached to the implant or an abutment is placed which will hold a dental prosthetic

 

ADVANTAGES OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

• •Raised self-esteem: enhances your self-esteem by restoring your smile back
• •Improved oral health: implants provide better support and retention that result in Improved chewing(masticatory) efficiency
• •Improved quality of life: dental implants helps your lead a comfortable life while boosting your confidence. It gets rid of you from the fear of misplaced dentures and messy pastes and glues.
• •Tooth-saving: unlike a bridge, dental implants don’t sacrifice on the quality of your adjacent tooth. Your own teeth are left untouched, which offers a significant long-term benefit to your oral health.
• •Tissue maintenance- tooth replacement with dental implant offers a great solution to help prevent bone loss. Without trimming our own natural teeth for support, it offers better efficiency
• •Improved phonetics/speech

MATERIALUSED FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS

Typically made of Titanium Alloy ( the most common form of dental implants are placed in the jawbones are Endosteal implants )

WHO IS AN IMPLANT CANDIDATE?

All those who wish to replace their missing teeth, are good candidates for dental implant procedure.

A good candidate should have healthy, Disease-free gum tissues (Healthy gums) Good oral hygiene Good quality and quantity of bone

DENTAL IMPLANTS IS NOT A GOOD CHOICE FOR YOU IF

Very young patient ( the growth of the jaws is yet to take place.)

Chronic smoker

Uncontrolled diabetes

Long term steroid therapy

Cancer patients with radiation therapy

PROCEDURE OF DENTAL IMPLANT PLACEMENT

The dental implants are inserted into the bone of the jaws. The area is first made numb by injecting local anaesthesia. Then a small incision is given on the gums, the implants site osteotomy is made with the help of special implant placement drills, and the implant is then gently inserted. Nowadays, implants can be placed by a flapless technique also where no incision of the gums is required. Placement of single implant takes usually less than half an hour’s time. Multiple implants can take two to three hours especially if bone augmentation techniques are also required to be done.

After the implants are inserted into the jawbone, ne requires to wait for minimum 3-6 months to allow the implant to heal and unite with the bone by a process called as osseointegration. Sometimes, if the clinical conditions permit, immediate loading implants can also be done. After you receive dental implant, period follow-up visits will be scheduled to closely monitor your implant

PLACEMENT METHODS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

There are three basic methods of implants placement

• • Conventional Implants
• • Immediate Implants
• • Immediate Load Implants

The method and the type of implant selected is dependent mainly upon the general physical condition of the patient, the time required, the quality and quantity of available bone and the area of the mouth where the implant needs to be placed. A clear clinical and xray examination of the patient is required.

TYPES OF FIXED TEETH WITH THE SUPPORT OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

• • Replacing single tooth with dental implant.
• • Replacement of multiple teeth with dental implant supported bridges.
• • Replacement of all the teeth with implant overdentures.