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About Dental Implants

Dental implants are a form of artificial teeth used as an alternative to full or partial dentures. They are the preferred treatment for tooth loss because they are more durable and attractive than traditional dentures. The full function of natural teeth is restored with the use of implant dentistry, allowing those who have lost numerous teeth to eat and speak normally.

  1. The Facts

    • Dental implants take a considerable amount of time and several visits to a specialized dentist, such as a prosthodontist, to be placed. Small holes are drilled into the jaw, into which titanium screws are inserted. There is then a waiting period of several months while new bone grows around the screw, effectively fusing it in place. The artificial teeth may then be placed onto the screws, where they usually remain permanently.

    Risk Factors

    • Implant dentistry has a very high success rate, but it does occasionally fail. About 5 percent of implants in the lower jaw fail, and about 10 percent in the upper jaw. Smokers have a significantly higher risk of implant failure, so dentists usually recommend quitting smoking before getting implants. Poor dental hygiene may lead to peri-implantitis, an infection of the tissue surrounding implanted teeth. This is similar to the development of severe gum disease around natural teeth.

    Benefits

    • For patients who have lost many teeth, implants offer a permanent solution. Unlike dentures, they do not have to be relined or replaced periodically, nor do they have to be removed for cleaning. Dental implants do not develop cavities, but regular brushing and flossing remain important to prevent gum disease.

    Function

    • The purpose of dental implants is to provide artificial teeth that closely mimic real teeth in their appearance and function. Dental implants are very durable and virtually indistinguishable from natural teeth. Implanted posts can also be used to support a crowned natural tooth or to increase the stability of dentures.

    Type

    • Root form dental implants are the most common type; these consist of titanium screws implanted into the jawbone. The screws may be used to support individual artificial teeth or as posts to support full or partial dentures. Plate form implants, which are long and thin, are sometimes used when the jawbone is too narrow to safely hold titanium screws. In very advanced cases of jawbone resorption, subperiosteal implants are used. This type of implant rests over the jaw, eliminating the need for drilling into the bone. Multiple surgeries may be required to place subperiosteal implants.

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