Dental Implants: All About It

Replacing the damaged, decayed tooth with an artificial one on an artificial tooth root is known as Dental Implant. In this procedure, the lost root is replaced by a compatible metal, on which a tooth crown is then built. In dental implants, sound tooth are not touched for support, unlike in root canal and extraction.

Mechanism of Dental Implant:

A strong, biocompatible material is used to make screws, which are inserted into the bone. Titanium is the most preferred material, and because of its unique property of osseo-integration (fuses with the bone), it fuses with the bone to reduce bone loss after the tooth is gone. In most cases, the titanium screws, which act as the root for the implants are placed into the bone and allowed for some weeks to few months to fuse with the bone. Then, an interim crown may be used until the screw is ready to take on an implant.

The screw is periodically monitored and once it is completely accepted, then an abutment is placed on it. This acts like a stump or a root, over which a crown will be placed. Though most implants are done for replacing single teeth, in many cases, multiple teeth may be replaced using abutments. If the missing teeth are adjacent to each other or in the same quadrant, then a denture might be overlaid over the abutments. Alternately, a partial denture may be used which is screwed over an abutment.

Advantages of Dental Implants:

1. Eating becomes comparatively easier with implants rather than sliding dentures, because they function like your own teeth
2. Unlike removable dentures, implants are much more comforting as well as convenient
3. Better overall appearance of teeth, since they are made to fuse with the bone
4. Higher self-esteem as you will feel better about yourself

Success rate:

Generally, dental implants have a very impressive success rate (up to 98%). This can differ, however, based on the placement of the implants.

If you wish to discuss about any specific dental problem, you can consult a specilized dentist and ask a free question.