Dental Implants are the replacement of your natural teeth. They are made exactly like your original teeth and provide a strong foundation.

Almost every person faces tooth loss and tends to replace the missing teeth. In case of injury or periodontal disease, people use dental implants. Before dental implants, people used bridges and dentures. In this procedure, your tooth roots are removed, and then an artificial tooth is placed. It hurts a little but doctors give anesthesia to your gums so that you feel nothing during the procedure. It totally depends on the type of dental implant and how the procedure will be performed. It is a total blessing for people with tooth loss because after some time it acts like your natural teeth and you will forget that if you had lost your tooth.

What is the need for Dental Implants?

As dental implants are placed in your jawbone so they can support your teeth like natural roots. Usually, doctors use titanium implants because they fuse with your jawbone naturally and your implant will not slip from its place. It does not make any noise while chewing not cause any damage to the jawbone as previously dentures and bridges have done. The materials that are used in the surgery do not decay. Generally, dental implants are used because:

  • To cover the place of missing teeth.
  • If you have a jawbone that is reached its full growth.
  • If you have other oral issues.
  • You are unable to wear bridges and dentures.
  • If you wanted to improve your speech issues

Risk Factors

Like any other surgery, dental implants surgery also poses some risks. Although these problems are very rare to occur if there is a risk for one then there is a risk for all. They can be easily treated so no need to worry about these. Some of the risk factors are as below:

  • It can cause you infections at the site where implants are placed.
  • It can cause injury or severe damage to your surrounding teeth or blood vessels.
  • Your nerves can be damaged during the procedure which can cause severe pain in your gums.

You should carefully plan the procedure before undergoing it. Ask questions as many as you can to your dentists. Your dentist needs to know about your medical history before the surgery. Fortunately, the success rate of dental implants is very high throughout the world but failure in this procedure occurs in unlikely circumstances.

Types of Dental Implants

Two different types of dental implants are given below:

  • Endosteal[i]
  • Subperiosteal

Endosteal

It is usually referred to as in the bone procedure. It is the most common type of dental implant used by many people around the world. It is the perfect replacement for removable dentures and bridges. They consist of screw types or cylinder types things that are implanted into the bone. After examining your oral condition, your dentist will recommend which type is suitable for you. These are safe, effective and the most popular choice of people.

This procedure starts with drilling and placing a screw-like titanium root into the jawbone. After this, you have to wait for the right time that your soft tissues and bone will heal around the roots. This can even take a couple of months to heal properly. Endosteal implants are the most stable implants yet.

Subperiosteal

These implants are very rarely used these days. These are used in place of dentures to hold them and fulfill the requirements of bone height. They are placed on the jawbone within hum tissues.

These implants are placed in two appointments and it is not a very long procedure like endosteal implants. They are not that much stable as the endosteal implants are. It is because they are not placed into the jawbone and then there is a margin that they will misplace from the roots.

Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of dental implants varies according to the type of treatment and region. The cost of implants is different around the world. It also depends on who is performing the procedure because there are many different levels of dentists from the beginner to the expert level. The total cost of a single implant is around $2500 to $4000. It includes surgery, all the equipment, necessary components to perform the surgery, and the crown which will be placed.

If you have dental insurance then it doesn’t need to cover the cost of dental implants. You have to make sure before going for the surgery. Some of the insurance policies only cover the crown part of the procedure. Even though they have become the standard medical treatment for your teeth but unfortunately, they are still considered to be an elective treatment.

The success rate of Dental Implants

The success rate merely depends on where the implants are placed within your jawbone. Despite all the things, the success rate of dental implants specially endosteal implants is almost 90% around the world.

Aftercare of Dental Implants

During or after the procedure you will discomfort while chewing or swallowing your food but you have to wait for the right time when it becomes normal. It depends on what is your current stage of the procedure.

You may need to take some antibiotics after the surgery in case of any infection in your mouth. If swelling of your gums gets worse then you have to immediately contact your dental surgeon before anything happens to your implants. During and after the surgery, you have to eat soft food.

Who can get Dental Implants?

Most of the time, anyone can’t get the procedure if needed. It is considered to be routine surgery for your oral health. The patients should have healthy jawbones and gums. Before going for the surgery, you should maintain your oral hygiene[ii]. If you are a heavy smoker then you should be very careful about your oral health. You may suffer from a chronic disorder due to smoking.

[i] https://www.smilespauk.com/different-types-dental-implants/

 

[ii] https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/best-practices-for-healthy-teeth