Types of Implants...

Today, most dental implants are made of titanium. This metal has special qualities that make it useful for implants.Titanium develops a thin film on its surface that protects it from corrosion. It is resistant to acids, salt solutions and oxygen, among other things. Titanium also is almost completely nonmagnetic. It is extremely strong for its weight.Perhaps most important, the body does not reject titanium implants as foreign objects.

There are several types of implants. Your dentist decides which type of implant to use based on certain criteria.

Root-Form Implant
Root-form implants are called endosseous or endosteal implants. This means that they are placed in the bone.

Sub-periosteal Implant
The subperiosteal implant is a custom-made metal frame that sits precisely on top of the bone, but under the gums.

Mini-Implant
These small implants are usually about 2 millimeters in diameter. This is almost half the size of many traditional root-form implants.They are placed in the same way as larger root-form implants.

Significance of Dental Implants

       
Dental implants can positively affect a person’s quality of life by improving:

1. Esthetics
2. Improved Self esteem and Regained confidence
3. Function: Efficient chewing of food enables proper digestion and thus assures good health
4. Speech
5. Role in overdentures:

• Comfort: Dental implants eliminate the discomfort associated with dentures. As the jawbone shrinks, the fit of a person’s dentures change. Since dentures sit on top of the jawbone and gums, this can result in a slipping or rocking sensation. Exposed nerves and irritated gum tissue may contribute to discomfort.
• Speech: With poorly fitted dentures, the teeth become susceptible to slipping. As a result, facial muscles attempt to compensate by tensing up to hold the teeth in place. The result is speech that includes mumbling, slurring, or clicking sounds.
• Eating:The average patient with excellent fitting dentures eats at 15 to 20 percent efficiency, when compared with a person with normal teeth. As the jawbone deteriorates, the chewing efficiency is reduced even more, making it difficult to chew many kinds of food. Dental implants work like normal teeth, restoring efficiency and food selection.
• Reliability:Dental implants have very high success rates. A dental implant can also last for decades, if cared for properly. With good oral hygiene, dental implants may even last a lifetime.

Implants...

Implant Site Preparation

The gum tissue is opened to expose the bone area where the implant will be placed. In situations where there is insufficient bone structure, bone grafting may be a recommended procedure.

Once healthy bone material has been established, a special drill is used to prepare the bone to receive the implant.

Placing the Implant

After the bone has been prepared, the implant is placed and the tissue is sutured.

The Healing Process - Osseointegration

The healing process takes three to six months. This is the amount of time it usually takes the implant to become part of the lower jaw, commonly referred to as osseointegration.

The sutures are typically removed seven to fourteen days after surgery.

Attaching the Post

When the gum tissue is ready, a special post is attached to the implant. It is the support for the new porcelain crown.

Placing the Crown

After the impressions  a crown is made and shaded to match your existing teeth. The crown is then slipped over the post and cemented.

The Completed Implant

The final prosthetic crown appears as a natural tooth.