Everything You Need to Know About Dental Implants

Dental implants are devices that are used to replace natural teeth. These implants are placed into the jawbone, which over the time, fuse with the natural bone and gain stability.

Dental implants are recommended for patients who do not have their natural teeth. This will allow the individual to have a normal smile, in addition to allowing the individual to eat and talk regularly.

Dental implants are normally placed into the jawbone, and take between six weeks and six months to heal. This time allows the implants to heal and fuse with the bone, reducing the possibility of an implant failure. Once the implant is in its place, the dentist will create a dental crown over the implant.

The time between the placement of the implant and the final prosthesis varies from one case to another, but it usually should not be less than six weeks.

When are dental implants recommended?

• Patients with missing natural teeth
• Patients with bad teeth, which require extraction

Before receiving dental implants, it is important to have a thorough evaluation, as well as dental X-rays, which should be sent to the dentist. This way he/she can create a treatment plan for you.

How are dental implants performed?

For this procedure, an anesthetic is prescribed. Your dentist will remove a part of the gum tissue in order to insert the dental implants. From there, the gum tissue is peeled back in order to reveal the bone. Dental implants are then twisted into their position, tightly. Usually, a temporary healing abutment is attached to the implant, and not the dental crown. This is necessary to gain some time for the dental implant to become fused with the bone. Then, the gum tissue is closed around the implant.

The dental implants are mostly made of titanium, but zirconia crowns implants with the same color as the other tooth are also available. The procedure of a single dental implant requires approximately 45 minutes.

What to expect after a Dental implant

Solid foods as well as cigarette smoking, should be avoided during the first few weeks. A certain level of discomfort, pain, swelling, bruising or even light bleeding is common.

Important facts about dental implants

Dental implants are not recommended for:

• Diabetic patients
• Heavy smokers
• Patients who have recently had a heart attack
• Pregnant patients
• Patients with suppressed immune system
• Patients who have had recent radiation therapy of the head and neck
• Patients suffering from bruxism
• Patients who have a jaw bone loss, etc.

Like any other medical procedure, dental implants have their own risks and possible complications.

Risks and complications following dental implants include:

• Infection after surgery
• Nerve damage
• Damage to the surrounding teeth
• Failure of the implant to fuse to the bone
• Sinus damage
• Loss of jaw bone, etc.