Dental Implant Basics | Resources and links to information on dental implants

Dental implant technology is now widely accepted and practiced, and more patients are accommodated. Before, patients who have poor bone quality are eliminated from the implant candidate list, and are not able to avail of the procedure. Recently, because of new bone grafting procedures, the candidate list has expanded to include such patients.

Bone grafting is done to ensure that the implant can be accommodated and bone growth is ensured. Bone is usually taken from the patient’s tooth that is being drilled through a suction device. Bone may also come from the patient’s hip, which is done by an orthopedic surgeon. Bone from cadavers may also be used, where bone is harvested under strict supervision. Synthetic bone may also be used, but natural bone is preferred.

(sources: reportbuyer, dental implants)

Once you have decided to undergo a dental implant treatment and your dentist has determined that you are a good candidate for the procedure, you will discuss the details with a team of specialists. Your dental history will be taken into account, an X-ray and complete oral examination will be done.

The surgical placement of implant into the bone is done with a local anesthetic. The gum and bones are allowed to heal for around four months for the implants to fuse into the bone, known as “osseointegration”. The next surgical procedure is the exposure of the top of the implant where a post or abutment is attached. The last procedure is the attachment of the artificial crown to the post. This may require several visits before it is completed.

(image source: www.dentalimplant.com )

Traditional dental implant procedures take two operations with a healing period of around four months in between. A recent development now allows specialists to perform a single surgery and complete the entire procedure in one day. It is a releif for patients who fear surgery, since it is a one-time operation.

A three-dimensional (3-D) CT scan of the mouth is done, and this scan is used by periodontists in making a 3-D model, and this model is used as a guide to locate the exact spot where the implant will be placed. Patients are given local anesthesia for this procedure.

“You can visualize the bone. You can visualize how the teeth will be and how they can come together in one area,” says Deborah Armellini, D.D.S., prosthodontist from the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, M.D.

With this technology, implants are accurately placed in the mouth, and are more natural-looking. Specialists are more confident, and patients are more satisfied with the results.

This service is available in the state of Maryland. To find a specialist for this procedure, visit the University of Maryland Dental School.

Read the entire article at Science Daily.com

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Teeth whitening being one of the most desired procedure in the practice of dentistry is also one of the most available and easiest to achieve. Some dental clinics offer up to nine shades lighter in color. However, this in itself is not necessary as two shades lighter than the original one would usually do.Fortunately, there is no singular standard when it comes to teeth whitening. The most common however is the Vita shade guide. This is subdivided into for shade varieties: We have the brown, the reddish brown, the grey and the reddish grey. The level of darkness also ranges into four categories which is referred to as A, B, C and D.

Statistics show that 69% of adults between 35 to 44 years have lost at least one permanent tooth to an accident, gum disease, tooth decay or a failed root canal. By age 74, 26% of adults have lost all their permanent teeth.

(from www.aaoms.org )

Decades ago, patients who suffered from tooth loss only have dentures or fixed bridges as their alternative to restore their smile. However, removable dentures become uncomfortable when it produces clicking sounds while eating or speaking. It may also cause bone loss in the area where the tooth is missing. On the other hand, fixed bridges may damage adjacent teeth to which the bridge is attached, and gum disease may cause bridges to fail. Removable dentures and fixed bridges usually need occasional replacement to avoid gum diseases and other oral problems.

Now, a more permanent and healthy solution is placing dental implants in areas where permanent teeth used to reside. A titanium metal is implanted into the jaw bone where gums and bone grow into it, making it an integral part of the jaw, a process called “osseointegration”. It works like a real permanent tooth, avoiding the problems stated earlier. Patients that take good care of their implants and overall oral health can expect their new permanent teeth to last them a lifetime.

Only a small percentage of dental implant patients experience complications, and such are easily fixed. It is the responsibility of the patient to closely stick to his dental check-ups and follow-ups, and maintain his dental hygiene as prescribed by the dentist to avoid complications. If anything goes wrong, the patient should immediately inform his dentist to avoid further problems.

Some of the possible complications are: dental implant infection, rejection, overload, failure, bone loss, inflammation and incision line opening. To avoid these, biting pressure should be reduced during the healing period. Regular X-rays should also be done to monitor the development of bone around the implant.

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A dental implant is composed of three parts: the titanium implant, the abutment or post, and the crown. The titanium implant is twisted into the jaw bone like a screw. A natural process called “osseointegration” takes place in a few months, where the jaw bone grows into the implant. The abutment is attached to the implant as a base for the crown. A prosthodontist makes and fits these materials for the patient. An oral and maxillofacial surgeon places the implant into the patient’s jaw. Implants may replace one or more teeth (image a), or the entire set, instead of using removable dentures. Several implants will be placed to firmly fix the artificial set of teeth (image b).

Image source: www.aaoms.org

Research showed that titanium dental implants coated with proteins induced bone formation, which resulted in a nearly complete regeneration of lost tissue. This was studied by Dr. Ulf Wikesjo, professor of periodontics in MCG School of Dentistry.

According to Dr. Wikesjo and his colleagues, regeneration of tissue occurs when there is a stable wound and a space for the regenerated tissue to grow during the healing process.

The proteins used are called bone morpheonetic proteins. It is being studied to be used as a regeneration therapy for craniofacial reconstruction – a procedure to repair or reshape the face and skull. Its use in dental implants will benefit more people in the long run, as it will provide a more stable and permanent implant, as shown by the results in animal experiments, where damage caused by implanting the replacement root were “repaired” when tissue regenerated around the root some time after the protein were applied.

Read the full article at Science Daily.com

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If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, you might be thrilled to know that there is a 90-95% success rate for dental implant procedures, depending on where the implant is doing to be. 90% is the implant is going to be in the upper jaw, while 95% is the success rate for implants in the lower jaw. These statistics make dental implants one of the most successful dental operations.

Of course, if you do not take care of your implants – much like natural teeth – you may still suffer from failure of the dental implant. This is especially true for smokers, who are usually advised to stop smoking if they are to undergo a dental implant procedure. But all of these things are preventable, and if you take proper care of your implants, you will enjoy it’s lasting benefits and get your money’s worth.

Failure of a dental implant, generally means the osseointegration process didn’t successfully go through. Osseointegration is the growth of bone to fill in the gap in between the cavity and dental implant to provide a stable yet firm foundation, Movement loosens the implant thus leading to failure. It can be remedied with another implant or a shift to a bridge might be in order. The dentist can also choose to use an implant with a thicker diameter which would only be possible if the bone structure allows it.
The two teeth at the sides are prepared via root canal, then filed down to provide an anchor for the bride that would cover the gap. This is however not a favored approach for today, teeth are preserved as much as they could and this too can fail or break easily in the right conditions.