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Dental Implant FAQs
What is
a dental implant?
What is the advantage of an implant?
How are implants better than conventional dentures?
Are dental implants for me?
What is the procedure like?
Is the surgical procedure painful?
How successful are dental implants?
Does age make a difference?
How can I find out more?
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What is a dental implant? A dental implant is an artificial tooth.
The actual implant is a small metallic cylinder, or screw, that
substitutes for the natural tooth root. Inserted surgically into the
jawbone, it provides a stable base upon which a cap, bridge or denture
can be anchored. But unlike dentures, dental implants may be fixed,
feeling and acting more like your own natural teeth.
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Enlarged model of
a dental implant |
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Implants look just like
natural teeth
Implants are fixed within the bone to make
them feel just like natural teeth |
What is the advantage of an implant? People who have lost one,
several or all of their teeth may be candidates for an implant
procedure, eliminating the need for partial dentures, removable dentures
or fixed bridges. Dental implants allow your artificial teeth,
dentures or bridge to be firmly attached to them, creating stability and
security for you. Many people with dental implants say they feel
as if they still have their natural teeth. Implants can also
provide improved speaking and chewing ability, elimination of pain and,
in some cases, enhanced appearance.
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Missing teeth can cause the jaw bone to
shrink and change configuration over time (from left to right) |
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How are implants better than conventional dentures? Conventional
dentures can often fit poorly. This is because once natural teeth are
gone, the jawbone begins to shrink and change in configuration. This
can result in discomfort, pain, impaired chewing and difficulty in
speaking. Dental implants overcome these challenges by permanently
securing your dentures in place so they perform exactly like your real
teeth. With implants in place, your jawbone is less susceptible to
change because the implants make it seem like your real teeth are still
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Are dental implants for me? Chances are, you are a candidate for
implants. To find out for sure, however, you will need to make a
consultation appointment so your teeth and mouth can be examined and
your condition evaluated. As part of the evaluation process, different
types of x-rays will be require in order to ascertain bone quality and
quantity. back to
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What is the procedure like? The implant process is usually a
two-step program.
The first step is a surgical procedure to place the implant into your
jaw. This process may be carried out in a dental office setting or
sometimes at an ambulatory surgical center or hospital. Click
here to see a series of photos
detailing this step of the process.
The second step of the procedure takes place three to four months after
the implant is put into place. By this time, the bone has grown around
the implant so as to hold it in place. This procedure involves removing
the gum tissue which covers the implant and then placing a post into the
implant. The post will be used to attach the cap, bridge or denture to
the implant.
Which is it? The implant (left),
looks totally natural and can only be revealed by looking at the x-ray,
right.
Shortly after the second procedure, the artificial teeth are made (caps,
fixed bridges or dentures). They are custom designed to your mouths
exact shape and size, ensuring comfort and effectiveness. While the
artificial teeth are being made, you can usually continue to wear an
existing bridge or denture.
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Is
the surgical procedure painful? Most implant patients report that
the discomfort is far less than they expected and is much like having a
regular tooth extracted. And, although everyone is different in regard
to pain tolerance, most patients are very comparable with minimal to
moderate pain medication.
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Implants are a long-term investment.
The blade vent implant shown in this x-ray (lower right) has been in place for nearly
30 years.
The newer endosteal implant (lower left) was placed more recently
in 2001. |
How successful are dental implants? Dental implants are designed to
be permanent. There are numerous factors related to long term success.
Implants fail for the same reason your own teeth have failed: bone and
gum breakdown, lack of proper daily care and hygiene, not maintaining
regularly scheduled professional check-ups, accidents or a newly
occurring medical condition that affects the tissues of your mouth.
Initial healing is a key factor contributing to long term success of
your implant. It is a well established fact that smoking, before or
after implant placement, will cause lowered success rates and/or
failures. Excessive pressure and/or grinding of your teeth can also
cause problems with the bone bonding with the implant and should be
avoided.
Dental implant reconstruction is one of the most successful procedures
in the medical/dental implant fields such as knee, hip, etc. with long
term clinical results in excess of 92-93%.
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David started his extremely successful
implant process
at age 16 |
Jeannette's implant was
placed at age 87 and is still going strong in her 100th year!
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Does age make a difference? Age is not the most important factor
related to dental implant reconstruction. Overall health and quality of
life issues are of concern. In the early 1940s and 50s, implants were
originally designed for the aging patient with total tooth loss. In
recent years, implants have been carried out with high success rates for
teenagers with sports injuries or congenitally missing teeth. This is
also true of patients up to and including people in their nineties.
Your age, in and of itself, is not a major factor as to whether or not
you may be an implant candidate.
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How can I find out more? To find out more about dental implants and
to learn about our state-of-the-art procedures and personalized care,
please call us at 216-450-5888 to arrange a consultation appointment.
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