If you are disturbed about a missing tooth, dentures that are uncomfortable or simply don't like the idea of having a nearby healthy tooth chipped to make a bridge , talk to our specialists to see if dental implants can help you.
Dental implants are a popular and effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to blend in with the rest of your teeth. They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your confidence and smile. Dental implants are constructed using titanium that is compatible with the human body. They are titanium posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw. The jawbone fuses with the titanium surface providing a strong anchorage for the dental prosthesis constructed over it. To receive an implant, you need to have healthy gums and enough bone to support the implant.
Traditionally the replacement of missing teeth was handled with bridges or partial dentures. This process does not stop the bone loss in the area of the missing teeth and so this is deemed a short term solution. With implants, the chewing impact goes right to the jaw bone and thereby halt bone loss. Dental implants have now become the standard of tooth replacement care.
The main feature of an implant is that the roots of the missing tooth are replaced by supportive posts. Titanium is the most bio-compatible material available today, and it fuses with the jaw bone in 3 to 6 months.
- 1) Planning the treatment.
- 2) Fixing the titanium root.
- 3) Crowning the root.
- Endosteal: This is the most commonly used implant. These include screws, cylinders or blades which are surgically placed into the jaw bone. Each may hold one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of implant is ideal for people with bridges or removable dentures.
- Subperiosteal: These are implants used on people who are unable to wear conventional dentures and who have minimal bone height.
- Single tooth implant – one implant and a crown can replace it.
- Several teeth implant – in the case of replacing several teeth, implant supported bridges can replace them.
- All teeth – an implant supported full bridge or full denture will be required.
- Sinus Augmentation – the upper jaw implants are usually harder due to insufficient bone quantity and its close proximity to the sinus. Sinus augmentation raises the sinus floor by developing bone for the placement of dental implants.
- Ridge modification – Deformities in the upper or lower jaw can leave inadequate bone in which to place implants. In such cases the gum is lifted from the ridge to expose the bone defect. Here bone is filled with bone or bone substitute to build up the ridge.