Dental implants are a dental prosthesis that works to replace one or more missing teeth. They are incredibly stable and natural-looking and even help support bone health! Implants can be used to support not only one implant crown but also a partial denture or even a full arch of dentures on one or both arches. If a patient needs a full implant supported denture, 4 to 6 implants are placed throughout the arch onto which the denture is secured. With a success rate of over 95%, dental implants have the ability to last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is composed of multiple parts: the implant, an abutment, and the prosthesis. The actual implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed directly into the jawbone and acts as an artificial tooth root to support the restoration. The abutment is the connecting piece between the implant and the prosthesis, which can be a single crown, or multiple fake teeth.
Implants help to support bone health because bone tissue needs the stimulation of a tooth root in order to regenerate regularly. Dental restorations that sit on top of the gum tissue, such as a traditional denture, actually contribute to bone deterioration which can lead to further problems. The prosthesis can become ill-fitting and surrounding, healthy teeth can become compromised.
Dental Implants Options
When determining if dental implants are the right treatment option for you, your doctor will take into consideration a number of factors, including your overall health, your bone mass, and the health of your gum tissue. Patients that have underlying health issues may not be a good candidate for dental implants since they may have trouble healing after surgery.
The success of an implant also relies heavily on bone structure which will be evaluated before surgery. If the patient does not have enough bone mass, a preparatory surgery called a bone graft may be performed before the implant is placed.
As far as gum health is concerned, patients with periodontal disease will need to have their tissue treated before implants can be placed. Your dental office may be able to clear up any infection with a simple deep cleaning. If the disease is too advanced, the patient may need to seek treatment from a Periodontist to get their gum tissue in a healthy state.
Depending on the number of teeth you need to have replaced, your doctor may be able to use one implant to support multiple teeth. An implant supported denture uses 4 to 6 dental implants, and in some cases even eight, onto which the denture is secured. An implant supported denture can be permanent or removable.
Dental implants are one of the best options available to patients, regardless of how many teeth need to be replaced. Implants do require an extensive amount of healing time so it is important to understand the full depth of treatment before deciding if it is the best option for you. If you think dental implants are the right treatment for you, speak with your Dentist to review your options.