Dental teams are being asked more and more about dental implants. There seems to be a genuine curiosity so in this article, some of the key queries are explored to help you find out a lot more about this ever-growing popular procedure.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a three-part device which can be used to replace teeth. They are the most complete form of restorative dentistry, as they do not require any of the natural teeth to be remaining. The implant part of the implant is a titanium rod which sits below the gum line and extends right down into the jaw. Once implantation is complete, it is fully integrated into the jaw and rock solid. At the top of this titanium rod is a device called the connector which comes in 2 pieces; one-half is affixed to the implant the second half is on the base of a prosthetic tooth. This allows the prosthetic tooth to be attached and detached by a dental team from the implant whilst it is in the patient’s mouth. There are several important reasons for this- one is that it allows implantation to be done in two stages. The second is that if the prosthetic tooth was to become damaged at any point in the future it could easily be swapped out for a replacement. This would not require the implant portion to be extracted from the jaw making the procedure much more simpler and less expensive.
How do you get dental implants?
Dental implants are a significant investment of your time; it can take 4 months for the initial titanium implant to be fully steeped in the jaw and this time is dependent on your rate of bone growth. There are several conditions that affect bone growth and everybody has a slightly different rate based on genetic factors. During this integration period, the titanium implant will be buried in your gum line which will help shield the implant from being disturbed whilst also allowing you to continue without your everyday routine or food choices being affected.
After this integration period, the implant can be loaded by adding a prosthetic tooth onto it.
It is important not to go into dental implantation lightly and an extensive assessment has to be carried out at your dentist Sydney CBD looking into your medical history and taking X-rays of the jaw in order to make a full assessment of your suitability and likelihood of a successful implantation.
That said, dental implants have an excellent lifespan, even longer than gold crowns or full endodontic treatment. So they should definitely be seen as a long-term investment in your health and well-being as well as an opportunity to fully regain the lost function of a tooth, in a far more complete way than a bridge or partial denture could.
This is intensified by the long-term care needs of a dental implant which is almost identical to that of any other natural tooth. For many dental patients who have had a full set of implants replacing a denture this means returning back through the regular brushing of teeth rather than the use of overnight soaking.
DISCLAIMER
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.