Dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jaw to hold a bridge or a replacement tooth. Dental implant is best option for people who have lost teeth or a tooth due to injury, periodontal disease, and may be through some other reason.
Types of dental implants
There are two types of dental implants such as :
- Sub-periosteal (on the bone): This type of dental implants are placed above the jaw with the metal framework that pops out through the gum to support the prosthesis. These are helpful for patients who have very low bone height and are unable to have customary dentures.
- Endo-steal (in the bone): This is one of the commonly used dental implant. They include cylinders, blades and screws that can be placed surgically into the jaw bone. Each implant in general supports one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is used as an alternative for patients with removable dentures or bridges.
The ideal candidate to have dental implant should have good oral health. Adequate bone and healthy gums that are free of periodontal disease should be present in the jaw to support the implant. Dental implants are closely connected with the underlying bone and the gum tissues in the mouth.
Dental implant procedure: Depending on the type of implant chosen and the specific condition, periodontist and dentist determine how and where the implant should be placed and what treatment plans are feasible to meet the patients’ specific needs.
- Replacing all of your teeth: If all the teeth are missing or absent, an implant supporting full denture or full bridge can replace them.
- Replacing several teeth: If many or several teeth are missing then implant supportive bridges will help to replace them.
- Replacing a single tooth: One crown or an implant can replace missing single tooth.
- Ridge modification: Impairment in the lower or upper jaw can leave inadequate bone in the place where dental implants can be placed. To set right this problem, the gum is lifted from the ridge to expose the defected bone. Then the defect is filled with bone substitute or bone to build up the ridge. This method have shown that it greatly improves the appearance and also increase the chance for successful implants that can last for long duration.
- Sinus augmentation: The key factor for successful implant is the quality and quantity of the bone where it has to be placed. It is very difficult to place dental implants successfully in the upper back jaw due to the proximity of the sinus and insufficient bone quality and quantity. Sinus augmentation can help solving this problem by bringing up the sinus floor and promote the bone to grow for placing the implants.
- After treatment care: As it is known, teeth require thorough oral care and regular dental visits. Similarly, dental implants are like our own teeth and requires the same care. In order to keep the implant plaque free and clean, flossing and brushing regularly is necessary.