What is a dental implant?
Dental Implants is a prosthetic device made up of alloplastic material that replaces the roots of missing teeth, and is used to support crowns, bridges or dentures. Dental Implant is surgically placed into the jaw bone.
What are the most common benefits of dental implants?
- Preserves bone
- It improves the chewing efficiency
- Maintains proper vertical height of the jaws
- High level of clinical success
- Immune to dental caries
- Dental Implants procedure improves looks and helps in proper speech
- Greatly improves the retention and stability of the dentures or removable appliances
- Does not require any trimming of the adjacent natural teeth
Why missing tooth should be replaced?
Tooth loss can compromise the chewing efficiency of the individual and may affect the overall health of the patient. Missing teeth can alter the speech and reduce self confidence in the patient. It can change the bite and may lead to Temporomandibular joint disorder. Replacement of the missing teeth is essential in maintaining the overall health and function of the adjacent natural teeth and the soft tissues. It prevents moving of the adjacent teeth into the area of missing teeth. It improves speech, enhances esthetics. It preserves the bone & minimizes the psychological trauma of lost teeth.
What are options of replacing missing teeth?
Missing teeth can be replaced with either a removable denture, a Fixed partial dentures after trimming the adjacent natural teeth or with dental implants.
Why choose dental implants?
Although dental implant treatment may be more expensive than the other alternatives, but the investment will pay off in the long run. Dental implant may not be needed for every missing tooth. Selection of number of implants depends on the quality and quantity of bone, type of prosthesis and other factors. Dental implants, when replacing dentures, provide even more benefits. Dentures have tendency of slipping at the worst possible moments. Poorly fitting dentures can even affect diet and well being of the patient. Dental implants eliminate the possibility of slipping or pinching of the dentures and allow all types of food to be chewed (except extremely hard foods such as chewing on ice, or popcorn kernels etc.). In short, dental implants are the closest way to surgically restore a natural tooth to its original form.
What happens in the first visit?
During the first visit the dentist examines your mouth and will determine whether implant will provide the best possible solution to your dental problems. Diagnositc impression may be taken to make the study models and often X-rays will be required to assess the quality of the bone. Detailed medical, dental and allergic history is recorded in this visit.
How is dental implant procedures done?
First the edentulous area is anesthetized locally. Then the soft tissues are reflected to expose the bone. This is followed by placement of implants after sequential drilling into the bone. Once the implant is placed the wound is closed by giving stitches and is allowed to heal. Ideally three month of healing period is required for the lower jaw and 4 – 6 months are required for the upper jaw. After healing is completed, the implant is exposed and healing abutment is placed. The healing abutment allows the tissues to grow around the implant. Once the soft tissue collar is formed, final impression is made and the final prosthesis in the form of single crown or denture is fabricated.
Immediate placement of implants with instant crown can also be given to the patient. There are indications where immediate placement of the implant is advised.
How long does the surgery take?
Surgery time will depend on the number of implants which are placed. Usually half and hour to forty five minutes are sufficient for single implant surgery.
Success rates
Dental implant success is related to operator skill, quality and quantity of the bone available at the site, and also to the patient's oral hygiene. The general consensus of opinion is that implants carry a success rate of around 95% in the lower jaw and around 90% in the upper jaw.
How much would the Dental Implant Costs
Dental implant is relatively an expensive procedure. In United States and European Countries cost of single tooth implant varies between $1500 to about $4000 (i.e Rs 60,000-1,60,000). Full sets of implanted teeth can run as high as $30,000. However, in India, the costs usually range between Rs 25000-50,000 per implant depending on which type of implant is placed.
