Dental Implants: Invaluable
In the Replacement of Teeth of Teet
By Dr. Jeff Shnall
In this article, we will discuss what a dental implant is and some of the many ways implants can be invaluable in the replacement of teeth.
I have 15 years of experience in the surgical placement of dental implants however currently I focus only on the restorative end of implant dentistry.
We refer to oral surgeons and gum specialists that place dental implants and I provide patients with the crowns, bridges and dentures that the implants support.
Having first hand surgical experience is very helpful in treatment planning and also in all other aspects of implant related dentistry.
I have 15 years of experience in the surgical placement of dental implants however currently I focus only on the restorative end of implant dentistry.
We refer to oral surgeons and gum specialists that place dental implants and I provide patients with the crowns, bridges and dentures that the implants support.
Having first hand surgical experience is very helpful in treatment planning and also in all other aspects of implant related dentistry.
In this article, we will discuss what a dental implant is and some of the many ways implants can be invaluable in the replacement of teeth.
A Dental Implant: Resembles a screw with threads running down its length
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant resembles a common screw that you would buy in a hardware store . Like a screw, the typical dental implant will have screw threads running down most of their length. As well, implants come in a variety lengths and widths.
Most dental implants are made of titanium although there are some manufactured from zirconia.
These two materials are unique in that when a titanium or zirconia implant is placed into bone, our bone cells attach directly to the surface of the implant during healing. This does not happen with other metals.
A dental implant resembles a common screw that you would buy in a hardware store . Like a screw, the typical dental implant will have screw threads running down most of their length. As well, implants come in a variety lengths and widths.
Most dental implants are made of titanium although there are some manufactured from zirconia.
These two materials are unique in that when a titanium or zirconia implant is placed into bone, our bone cells attach directly to the surface of the implant during healing. This does not happen with other metals.
Fig. 1 An implant and crown in the middle of the picture
How is an Implant Placed?
In order to replace a tooth, first the implant is placed below the gumline into the bone. This doesn't sound pleasant but you are frozen and you won't feel the implant go in.
A simple description of the process: When an implant is placed we first anesthetize/ freeze the area.
We prepare a channel into the bone in the site where we want to place the implant.
The implant is threaded into this channel. This step is painless (you're frozen) and really only takes minutes. The implant is usually placed just below the level of your gums, so when you smile you would not see it.
In order to replace a tooth, first the implant is placed below the gumline into the bone. This doesn't sound pleasant but you are frozen and you won't feel the implant go in.
A simple description of the process: When an implant is placed we first anesthetize/ freeze the area.
We prepare a channel into the bone in the site where we want to place the implant.
The implant is threaded into this channel. This step is painless (you're frozen) and really only takes minutes. The implant is usually placed just below the level of your gums, so when you smile you would not see it.
Figure 2 Implant and crown
The implant sits in the bone and a crown is attached to the implant and sits above the gumline.
The crown can be made of poreclain, zirconia or a combination of porcelain and metal. Regardless of the material used, crowns can be made to look quite similar to a natural tooth.
The crown can be made of poreclain, zirconia or a combination of porcelain and metal. Regardless of the material used, crowns can be made to look quite similar to a natural tooth.
There is usually a post (also called an abutment) that is positioned between the implant and crown. This post is seen in Figure 3. So the typically there are 3 separate parts that comprise a replacement tooth: the implant, the post and the porcelain crown.
Figure 3 The parts that make up a replacement tooth. Implant, post and crown
Additional Points:
There are a few more pieces of information you should know:
1. Typically a permanent crown will not be placed on an implant the day it goes in. A temporary crown or some other temporary tooth (when cosmetically necessary) may be placed on or near the implant the day an implant is put in.
2. Implants are typically allowed to heal for 3 to 4 months before a permanent crown is placed. This maximizes the chance of the implant healing successfully, however there are situations when a temporary crown or bridge can be placed on an implant or implants at the initial appointment.
The field of dental implants is an exciting area of dentistry and definitely has dramatically has improved the level of care we can provide.
Believe it or not, the modern day implant is very similar to the one developed back in the 1960’s by Swedish orthopedic surgeon Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, who is considered to be the inventor of the first commercially available modern dental implant.
He was the first researcher to develop a titanium dental implant. This implant could be placed in the jaw and be accepted by the human body as if it were self. That is, our body will actually produce bone that attaches directly to the surface of a titanium implant, which is why dental implants have been such a remarkable success.
Very few other metals are accepted by the human body this way. Dr. Branemark did years of careful research that eventually led to the realization that titanium dental implants were a reliable, long term way to replace missing teeth.
There is long term research data showing that dental implants placed over forty years ago in Dr. Branemark’s first patients are still in function today. Over the past twenty plus years the use of dental implants all over the world as increased greatly, and each year, in the United States alone, over half a million implants are placed.
Believe it or not, the modern day implant is very similar to the one developed back in the 1960’s by Swedish orthopedic surgeon Dr. Per-Ingvar Brånemark, who is considered to be the inventor of the first commercially available modern dental implant.
He was the first researcher to develop a titanium dental implant. This implant could be placed in the jaw and be accepted by the human body as if it were self. That is, our body will actually produce bone that attaches directly to the surface of a titanium implant, which is why dental implants have been such a remarkable success.
Very few other metals are accepted by the human body this way. Dr. Branemark did years of careful research that eventually led to the realization that titanium dental implants were a reliable, long term way to replace missing teeth.
There is long term research data showing that dental implants placed over forty years ago in Dr. Branemark’s first patients are still in function today. Over the past twenty plus years the use of dental implants all over the world as increased greatly, and each year, in the United States alone, over half a million implants are placed.
Here are some situations in which the placement of one, a few or many implants can be placed to benefit a patient:
- Implants can be used to replace one or more missing teeth in almost all areas of the mouth.
- Implants can be used to stabilize loose dentures. A great many people are missing some or even all of their teeth and wear a denture to replace them.
- For these patients, two or three implants can be placed in the lower jaw and their denture can be fitted with parts that attach to the implants.
- In this case, the patient can still take the denture out of their mouth to clean it and to clean around the implants. When the patient puts the denture in their mouth it snaps firmly into place onto the implants the way that you may snap shut a metal button on a jacket.
- The implants hold the denture tightly in place so the patient can eat, talk and smile, not having to worry about a denture falling out of their mouth.
- For a patient missing all of their own teeth either in their upper or lower jaw, a set of teeth can be made that are screwed or cemented into implants, and the patient never has to remove this set of teeth. In the lower jaw usually 5 or 6 implants are recommended to support a full set of permanent teeth.
In the upper jaw 6 to 8 implants are recommended. For patients with good amounts of bone and who meet other criteria, it is possible to place implants and attach a full set of teeth all in one appointment. A procedure like this has to be planned carefully and for some patients it would be wiser to place the implants and let them heal for 12 weeks, before directly attaching any teeth to the implants.
To see my implant photo gallery for pictures of the different situations in which implants can be used click here.
A few more benefits of implant dentistry:
- Implants never decay, so if a tooth is replaced with an implant you don’t have to worry about the tooth developing a cavity.
- Implants have a high long term success and survival rate: Under normal circumstances, a relatively healthy patient receiving an implant in an area of the jaw with an adequate amount of bone should have a 95% chance or higher of the implant procedure being a success.
- Implants can be placed in patients who smoke, however smoking is known to decrease the success rate of implants in some cases to about 80%.
- Patients with osteoporosis can have dental implants placed, however if they are on bisphosphonate medication to control their osteoporosis, careful consultation with their physician will be necessary before going ahead with any dental surgery involving bone.
If you should like more information on implants call us or e-mail us to set up your implant consultation.
E-mail: Beechdental@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeff Shnall
E-mail: Beechdental@gmail.com
Sincerely,
Dr. Jeff Shnall