Dental implant is an artificial tooth root that’s placed into your jaw to hold a prosthetic tooth or bridge. Dental implants may be an option for people who have lost one or more teeth due to gum disease, an injury, or some other reason and who prefer not to wear dentures. Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with your other teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your smile. Dental implants are made up of titanium and other materials that are compatible with the human body. 

Types of Dental Implant Procedures

Depending on your specific condition and the type of implant chosen, your dentist will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs.

Here are some of the possible treatment plans depending on your situation:

• Single Tooth Dental Implants – If you’re missing a single tooth, one dental implant can replace it.

• Multiple Tooth Dental Implants – If you’re missing several teeth, they can be replaced by multiple dental implants.

• Full Mouth Dental Implants – If you’re missing all of your teeth, they can be replaced by All on 4,6 implants.

• Sinus Lift – A key to implant success is the quantity and quality of the bone where the implant is to be placed. The upper back jaw has traditionally been one of the most difficult areas to successfully place dental implants due to insufficient bone quantity and quality and the close proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation can help correct this problem by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants.

• Ridge graft/modification/augmentation  – Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave you with inadequate amount of bone in which to place dental implants. To correct the problem, the gum is lifted away from the ridge to expose the void where bone is missing. The void is then filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge. Ridge modification has been shown to greatly improve the jaw’s appearance and increase the chances of successful implants.

Maintenance of Implants

Just like natural teeth, dental implants require at-home oral care and regular dental visits to preserve function and prevent peri-implant disease. In order to keep your implant clean and plaque-free, brushing and flossing are still necessary.

After you’ve received your implant, your dentist will work closely with you to develop the best care plan for you. Periodic follow-up visits will be scheduled to monitor your implant, teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy.

If you are self-conscious because you have missing teeth, wear dentures that are uncomfortable or don't want to have good tooth structure removed to make a bridge, talk to your dentist to see if dental implants are an option for you.

Procedure:

• First, the dentist surgically places the implant into the jawbone. Your dentist may recommend a diet of soft foods, cold foods during the healing process.

• Next, the bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration . What makes an implant so strong is that the bone actually grows around it and holds it in place. Osseointegration means “combines with the bone” and takes time. Some patients might need to wait until the implant is completely integrated, up to 3-6 months depending on condition of their bone, before replacement teeth can be attached to the implant. Other patients can have the implants and replacement teeth placed all in one visit.

• Finally, it’s time for the placement of the artificial tooth/teeth. For a single tooth implant, your dentist will customize a new tooth for you, called a dental crown. The crown will be based on size, shape, color and fit, and will be designed to blend in with your other teeth. If you are replacing more than a single tooth, custom-made bridges or dentures will be made to fit your mouth and your implants. 

• If you are interested in dental implants, it's a good idea to discuss it carefully with your dentist first. If you are in good general health this treatment may be an option for you. In fact, your health is more of a factor than your age. You may be medically evaluated by a physician before any implant surgery is scheduled.