General Knowledge about Dental Implants, crown, bridge, denture,
replacement tooth, Removable Partial Denture,
Fixed Partial Denture, Complete Denture.

General Knowledge about Dental Implants

Also Known As Endosseous Implant Or Fixture.

Implant is a surgical component that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental fixture such as crown, bridge, denture, facial prosthesis or an orthodontic implant. In simpler terms, a dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed onto your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge.

Reasons For Tooth Loss

1. Tooth absent since birth
2. Tooth lost due to accident
3. Dental Reasons-tooth decay, gum diseases.

Replacement Options

1. Removable Partial Denture (RPD)
2. Fixed Partial Denture (FPD)
3. Complete Denture
4. Implants

Among all the available replacement options, dental implants stand as the best option.

Why Dental Implant Chosen As Best Replacement Option?

Avoids Damage To Adjacent Teeth
Dental implants don?t require cutting of neighboring teeth as in FPD. Because adjacent teeth are not altered, thus more of your own teeth are remain intact, thereby improving long term oral health.

Prevents Bone Resorption
Under the bridge and dentures the alveolar (tooth holding bone), resorbs or just melts at a rate of roughly 1mm a year.

Better Esthetics
Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth and because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.

Increased Comfort
As the implant remains fused with the bone, it is fixed replacement of lost tooth unlike removable partial denture, it provides better patient comfort.

Improved Speech
With ill-fitting removable or fixed partial dentures, the speech might get altered. Dental implant offers a better control over articulation of words.

Better Chewing
Dental implants function like your own teeth, chewing efficiency is better compared to RPD or FPD.

Improved Self-Esteem
Since dental implants acts as replica of your natural tooth/teeth, it enhances your confidence and self-esteem.

Durability
Implants lasts for many years. With good care, implants may even last for lifetime.

Convenience
Dental implants eliminate the inconvenience caused by removing dentures as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.

Biomechanics Behind Implant Functioning

The basis for modern dental implants is a biologic process called Osseointegration, where inert material like Titanium forms an intimate bond with bone.

Procedure Of Implant Placement

Step 1- The implant fixture is placed first.
Step 2- Healing time to allow for Osseointegration of implant fixture with bone.
Step 3- Addition of dental fixture like tooth, bridge or denture.

Success Or Failure Of Implants

It depends on-

1. The general health of the person receiving it.
2. Drugs which might interfere with the process of osseointegration.
3. Condition of the gums and bone level remaining in the mouth.
4. amount of stress that will be put on the implant and fixture during normal function.

Pre-Requisites To Long Term Success Of Dental Implants

Healthy bone and gingiva
Since both bone and gingiva can atrophy after tooth extrac tion, sometimes pre-prosthetic procedures like Sinus Lift or Gingival Graft are needed to recreate ideal bone and gingiva.

How Succesful Are Dental Implants?

In general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98%.
With proper care, implants can last a lifetime.

Can Anyone Get Dental Implants?

• Patient should have healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant.
• Patient must maintain good oral hygiene and have regular dental visits.
• Heavy smokers, people suffering from uncontrolled chronic disorders such as Diabetes, heart disease or patients who have had radiation therapy to head and neck area, need to be evaluated on an individual basis.

So If You Are Considering Implants, Talk To Your Dentist Immediately And Take A Step Forward Toward A Beautiful And Worryless Smile.