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Dental Implant

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    What Are Dental Implants?

    Dental implants, also referred to as teeth implants or teeth transplants, are artificial tooth roots designed to replace missing teeth. They are a natural-looking and durable solution that restores function, aesthetics, and oral health. Dental implant treatment typically spans 3–6 months and involves a surgical procedure to secure the implant post into the jawbone.

    Types of Dental Implants

    1. Endosteal Implants
      These are the most commonly used dental implants. They are placed directly into the jawbone and provide a strong foundation for artificial teeth. Success with endosteal implants requires a healthy and robust jawbone.

    2. Subperiosteal Implants
      Instead of being fixed into the jawbone, these implants rest on top of the bone and are supported by a metal frame beneath the gum tissue. Subperiosteal implants are ideal for patients who cannot or prefer not to undergo ridge augmentation surgery.

    3. Zygomatic Implants
      Zygomatic implants are a less common option, used only when there is insufficient maxillary bone. These implants anchor into the zygomatic bone (cheekbone) instead of the jawbone, making them a specialized solution for extreme cases.

    How Dental Implants Work

    After the implant post has fused with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration, an abutment screw and dental crown are attached to the post. This assembly mimics the appearance and functionality of natural teeth. Implants can also support fixed dental crowns or removable dental bridges for patients with complete tooth loss.

    To determine the best implant option for you, schedule a consultation today. A professional dental evaluation will help you choose the most suitable treatment.

    What Happens in Dental Implant Placement Treatment?

    Diagnosis

    The diagnostic process for dental implants is similar whether you need one implant or several. It involves a thorough evaluation of your oral health and bone structure:

    1. Oral Examination

      • The dentist cleans and polishes your teeth to assess the extent of gum disease and bone loss.
      • Bone loss is typically more severe in completely edentulous (toothless) patients due to the higher pressure on the jawbone.

    2. Radiographic Scans

      • Imaging tests like cephalograms, OPG (Orthopantomogram), or CT scans are scheduled.
      • These scans help evaluate the density and quality of the jawbone, map blood vessels and nerves, and measure jaw dimensions.
      • Proper mapping minimizes complications like nerve damage or hemorrhage during surgery.

    3. Treatment Plan
      Based on the results, the dentist determines the number of implants required and prepares a personalized treatment plan. The following criteria are usually necessary for successful dental implant treatment:

      • Missing one or more teeth.
      • Fully grown jawbone.
      • Adequate bone structure for securing the implant, with or without grafting.
      • Healthy oral tissues and immune system.
      • Commitment to maintaining oral hygiene and quitting tobacco use if applicable.

    Treatment

    1. Preparation & Surgery

    • If ridge or jaw augmentation is needed, it may be performed 2–3 months before or during the implant surgery.
    • During surgery, the dental surgeon creates an incision in the gum to access the jawbone and inserts the implant post into the bone.
    • The number of implants placed depends on factors like your health, the treatment plan, and the surgeon’s expertise.
    • After the surgery, the incision is closed, and you will be observed for 2–3 hours to ensure no immediate complications before being discharged.

    2. Healing & Osseointegration

    • You will attend follow-up visits every 2–3 weeks to monitor healing and check for infections.
    • Over 3–6 months, osseointegration occurs, where the implant post fuses with the jawbone, providing a stable foundation for the prosthetic tooth.

    3. Abutment & Crown Placement

    • Once osseointegration is complete, the dentist attaches an abutment to the implant post. The abutment acts as a connector between the implant and the artificial tooth.
    • After 1–2 weeks, when the gums heal around the abutment, the permanent dental crown or bridge is placed. This completes the treatment, restoring the natural look and function of your teeth.

    By following your dentist’s instructions and maintaining oral hygiene, dental implants can provide a long-lasting solution for missing teeth.

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      Dental Implants at Curific Health Care

      How to Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery

      Preparing for dental implant surgery is essential to ensure the success of the procedure and minimize the risk of complications. Below are steps to help you get ready for the treatment:

      1. Comprehensive Dental Examination

      Schedule a detailed dental exam with your dentist. This includes X-rays, 3D imaging, and molds of your teeth and jaw to assess your oral health and determine the exact size and position for the implant. A poorly planned implant placement can lead to complications, so this step is critical.

      2. Start Medication If Advised

      If you have any pre-existing oral issues such as infections, swelling, or fever, your dentist may prescribe antibiotics or anti-inflammatory medications to control these conditions before the surgery. Following your dentist’s instructions will help prevent complications during and after the procedure.

      3. Consider Jaw Augmentation Surgery (If Necessary)

      If you’ve experienced bone loss in the area where the implant will be placed, you might need bone grafting or jaw augmentation surgery to create a stable foundation for the implant. This procedure is often done a few months before the implant surgery to allow proper healing and bone integration. Discuss with your dentist if this step is required.

      4. Plan for Recovery Time

      Dental implant surgery requires some downtime. While you may resume light activities after 1–2 days, full recovery may take a week or more. Arrange your schedule to accommodate rest and avoid strenuous activities during this period.

      5. Choose a Qualified Dentist

      Research your dentist’s qualifications and experience before proceeding with the surgery. A skilled and experienced dentist reduces the risk of complications such as improper implant placement or nerve damage. Look for online reviews, ask for referrals, and ensure the dentist has expertise in dental implant procedures.

      By following these steps, you can ensure a smoother dental implant surgery and recovery process. Consult your dentist for additional tips based on your individual needs.

      When are dental implants required?

      Though most people get dental implants for aesthetic reasons, dental implants can be required for medical purposes in patients with

      • severe tooth loss, i.e., over 4-5 missing teeth on a single side of the dental arch
      • difficulty in chewing due to missing molars
      • food lodgement due to extra spaces between the teeth
      • severe degeneration in the edentulous jaw bone
      • speech impediments due to missing teeth
      • congenitally missing permanent teeth
      • completely edentulous patients
      • discomfort in using dentures or bridges
      • difficulty in maintaining oral hygiene due to missing tooth space, etc.

      As dental implants are comparatively expensive and time-consuming treatments, dental implants are only suggested to patients who absolutely need them. Book an appointment with the best dentist near you if you think you may need dental treatment.

      Benefits of dental implants

      • Dental implants are the closest alternative to natural teeth, both functionally and aesthetically. They restore almost full chewing capacity to the patient and feel almost exactly like natural teeth.
      • Dental implants are durable and can last a lifetime. They are easy to care for and biocompatible, meaning they integrate with the body seamlessly.
      • They prevent bone loss in the jaws, which often occurs due to missing teeth. Unlike dentures, which may accelerate bone loss, implants help protect facial and jaw structure.
      • Dental implants keep adjacent teeth stable, preventing them from shifting or rotating.
      • They help maintain oral hygiene, reducing the risk of bad breath and gum disease.
      • They prevent facial sagging and premature aging signs, such as wrinkles around the lips, thinning lips, and a pointed chin, caused by bone loss.
      • Dental implants improve the overall appearance and quality of life, allowing patients to eat, speak, and smile confidently without restrictions.

      Recovery and results after dental implants

      Immediately after surgery:

      • Avoid carbonated beverages, alcohol, and hot food/drinks.
      • Do not use a straw or consume cold, chewy, rough, or spicy foods until healing progresses. Instead, stick to warm, soft foods like bananas, beans, fruit juices, and soft-serve ice cream.
      • Apply a cold compress on the operated area to reduce swelling and avoid spitting for the first 24 hours.

      Post-24 hours:

      • Rinse your mouth with warm salt water after every meal to prevent food lodgment.
      • Attend regular follow-up appointments with your dentist to monitor healing and ensure there is no infection or delayed osseointegration.

      After crown placement:

      • There is typically a short adjustment period of 1-2 weeks for patients to get used to the crown.
      • Patients with fixed crowns face minimal dietary restrictions, but those with removable dentures may need to avoid hard-to-chew foods.

      Long-term care:

      • Maintain proper oral hygiene to prevent gum disease and bone loss around the implants.
      • Bone loss around implants can compromise their stability, making the crown or implant mobile and prone to failure. Regular dental checkups and professional cleaning are essential to ensure implant longevity.

      Before and after comparison of dental implants

      Before:
      Gaps in teeth can disrupt an otherwise perfect smile. Missing teeth allow the surrounding teeth to migrate, causing misalignment, rotation, and bending. This leads to food lodgment, which can result in tooth decay, foul breath, oral infections, and other dental issues. Gaps in teeth can also cause speech impediments, such as lisping or whistling sounds while speaking.

      Additionally, these dental problems can negatively impact a person’s self-confidence, making them hesitant to smile freely. Multiple missing teeth increase occlusal pressure on the jawbone, accelerating jaw degeneration and resulting in the loss of facial length and aesthetics.

      After:
      Dental implants solve these problems and improve the overall quality of life. Implants not only fill the gaps in your teeth but also enhance smile aesthetics, allowing you to smile confidently without hesitation. The implant crowns are designed to look and feel natural, so much so that patients often forget they exist after just a few days.

      Dental implants eliminate speech impediments caused by missing teeth and restore the ability to eat a normal diet without restrictions. With their strong occlusal capacity, implants allow you to enjoy all types of food comfortably. Furthermore, by integrating seamlessly with the jawbone, dental implants provide added strength and prevent further bone loss, preserving the facial structure and maintaining aesthetics over time.

      Different supplemental procedures for dental implant surgery success

      Over time, the jaw bone can become thin or soft when there is a gap in the dental arch due to missing teeth. This happens because, without the stimulation from tooth roots, the jaw bone undergoes resorption. Additionally, in patients with 1-3 missing teeth, resorption can occur due to gum disease or periodontitis.

      When there isn’t enough bone quality and quantity, the implant may lack the necessary tissues for proper integration, which could lead to implant failure. To ensure the success of dental implants, supplemental surgeries may be performed to improve bone density in the required region. These procedures may be carried out during the surgery or 1-2 months before the surgery.

      Here are some common supplemental implant surgeries:

      Bone Augmentation
      Also known as bone grafting, bone augmentation is performed when the patient has insufficient bone density to support the implant post. A small piece of bone is surgically grafted into the implant site to encourage bone regeneration. This procedure is typically done 1-2 months before implant surgery to give the grafted bone time to integrate with the existing jawbone.

      Socket Preservation
      Bone loss often begins immediately after dental extraction. To prevent jaw shrinkage, maintain bone density, and preserve facial tissues, socket preservation can be performed right after the extraction. The dentist places bone or bone substitutes into the socket left by the removed tooth. This encourages bone regeneration, creating a solid foundation for future implant placement.

      Ridge Modification
      When the jawbone becomes too narrow to support an implant, ridge modification surgery is performed. This involves grafting artificial or donated bone tissue into the bone-deficient area to help expand the ridge. Over time, the pre-existing jaw tissue will integrate with the grafted tissue, strengthening the area for successful implant placement.

      Sinus Augmentation
      Sinus augmentation, or sinus lift, is performed for patients with resorption in the upper jaw. When upper teeth are missing, the sinus cavity enlarges, which can lead to further bone loss. In this procedure, bone is added beneath the sinus cavity to improve the quality of the jawbone and create a stable base for implant placement.

      Periodontal Treatment
      Before dental implant surgery, any existing gum disease (or periodontitis) must be treated to ensure a successful implant. Gum disease can interfere with implant healing and integration, so it is essential to address any infection or inflammation before proceeding with implant surgery.

      These supplemental procedures are crucial to enhance bone health and ensure that dental implants integrate properly, ultimately supporting long-term success and functionality.

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