It is a structure to replace your missing tooth with screw-like devices. An implant of a missing tooth is then placed into the jawbone through the surgery.

An artificial tooth is placed which is called a crown in replacement of your missing tooth. Tooth decay is very common and the majority of people regardless of their age have teeth problems once in a life. Your teeth can be damaged over time if you don’t care about your oral health. Every year millions of Americans suffer from tooth loss and most of them due to tooth decay, different dental diseases, or serious injuries. For many years the only procedures available for tooth loss were dentures and bridges. A big thanks to the medical advancement now we have dental implants so we don’t have to worry about tooth loss anymore.

Advantages of the Dental Implants

There are various advantages of dental implants, some of them are given below:

  • You can improve your appearance by using dental implants and it feels like your own natural teeth. They are designed so that they can fuse in your bone and work as a permanent tooth.
  • The old dentures and bridges make it difficult for you to speak normally but the use of dental implants improves your speech issues. It reduces the mumbling and slur of your words. You can freely speak without any hassle of slipping your teeth.
  • After some time, it becomes a part of you and it eliminates the discomfort.
  • The use of dentures makes it difficult for you to chew but dental implants work like your own teeth and you will never feel any discomfort while chewing the food.
  • Other than bridges, dental implants don’t require reducing other teeth to fix them. There is no need to alter teeth around the implants and this improves your oral health for a long time.
  • Dental implants are very durable for a long time. By taking good care you can increase the life of implants.

Risk Factors

Just like any other surgery, dental implant surgery can be risky at some point for someone. The problems that occur during the surgery are very rare but they can happen to anyone who knows. Some of the risk factors are included:

  • There is a chance of infection where the implant is placed.
  • The surrounding structure can be damaged during the surgery by the negligence of a dentist. It can hurt your surrounding teeth or even blood vessels may be disturbed.
  • It can damage the nerves if not treated well during the surgery. The nerve damage can cause you severe pain and numbness.

How you can prepare yourself before the surgery?

You should plan out things before undergoing the surgery. First of all, you should consult with your health advisor that if you can go for the surgery or not. Because if you are suffering from any other illness then it will not be suitable for you to go for the surgery of dental implants. Make sure that you don’t have any other illness and then consult a dentist about if there is a need for dental implants or not.

This planning process involves various specialists who examine your mouth and your jaw where the surgery is to be done. Dental implants require many surgical procedures so you have to be prepared for them. These procedures are as below:

  • The dentist takes a comprehensive dental exam of your mouth by taking dental X-rays[i] or 3D imaging of your jaws.
  • A thorough study of your medical history is to be considered before taking further actions in case it might cause you any other disease.
  • You have to tell the doctor about your recent medical conditions and the medications you are taking. If you have a certain heart disease then you have to tell your doctor so that proper steps can be taken.

Before the surgery dentists give anesthesia to control the pain. There are different types of anesthesia like local anesthesia, general anesthesia, or sedation. You have to talk about which option is suitable for you. You will be instructed about what to eat and drink before the surgery by your dentist.

The procedure of the Dental Implant

The procedure includes different steps and every person is likely to have their own experience. The first step is to determine what type of implant will be used in surgery. There are two different types of implants given below:

  • Endosteal: It is the most common type of dental implant. It resembles a small screw. It is made of body-safe materials like titanium. It is surgically inserted into the jawbone. They take place in the roots of the tooth.
  • Subperiosteal: It is used when there is no healthy jawbone. It is inserted under the gums but is not drilled into the jawbone.

First of all, your jawbone is inspected thoroughly to determine whether it is healthy or not to maintain the implant. If your jawbone is soft and thin then a bone graft procedure is suggested. At this time, you mustn’t have any periodontal disease. Dental implants are used to replace one more tooth.

Cost of Dental Implants

The cost of a dental implant varies based on the number of teeth you are going to replace. These implants are meant to be last for at least a decade. For this, the price is high because high-end materials are often costly. Generally, a dental implant will cost you around $1,500 to $3,000 and crown is not included in it. On adding the abutment or crown the price will be around $5,000 to $6000. One thing is to be noticed that dental insurance doesn’t cover the cost of the procedure.

The success rate of Dental Implant

The success rate of dental implants varies on the basis of the procedure. In general, the success rate for five years is about 95%[ii]. With proper oral care, implants can last about a lifetime.

 

[i] https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-x-rays

 

[ii] https://dentaldepot.net/implant-dentistry/success-rates-of-dental-implants/