Interesting Questions about Dental Implants!!
Dental Implants have become a standard of care for patients missing single, multiple or all teeth in their mouth. They can dramatically improve your smile, increase the quality of your life and help you eat a good healthy diet.
Earlier, patients had limited options for replacing missing teeth such as Partial and Complete Denture or Bridges which involved cutting the adjacent teeth to replace the missing tooth. But with decades of research and successful function, Dental Implants are quickly becoming a treatment of choice for most patients.
Dental Implant replaces an entire tooth, including the crown and root of the tooth. They can be used to replace a single tooth or all teeth in the mouth.
Dental Bridges require cutting and modifying your adjacent teeth to hold the bridge in place. Dental Implants on the other hand only replace the missing tooth without any damage to the adjacent teeth. Each of these treatments have its own indications. Please consult your Dentist for the best treatment option for you.
As long as the patient has good general health with controlled medical conditions and under regular care of a physician, placement of Dental Implants is possible in most patients. Patients with uncontrolled diseases such as uncontrolled Diabetes, uncontrolled Hypertension etc. would require stabilization of their health status prior to any surgery. Patients who are chronic smokers also have a lower success rate with Dental Implants.
Dental Implants feel as close to your teeth as possible. The thing to know is that they do not have a nerve inside them, or a periodontal ligament like our teeth which cushions our teeth in the bone. Thus, all forces go directly to the bone. The dental implant is made of metal, so it does not get cavities too.
The number of Implants needed to replace your missing teeth; depends on the type of teeth you want to put over the Implants. You can get a single tooth placed over one Implant, bridges over 2-4 Implants or replacement of full mouth of teeth with 6-8 Implants in each jaw.
Dental Implant surgery is considered a minor oral surgical procedure. It is similar to getting your teeth extracted. Once you have been given anesthesia and are numb in the area of surgery, you will not feel any pain. The post-surgery phase is very comfortable and minimum pain and swelling is usually expected.
The Dental Implant is placed in the bone of your jaws. The type and amount of bone present determines how soon the tooth can be placed on the Implant. Most often a temporary crown can be placed on the Implant immediately after surgery in the front area of your mouth. In certain cases, we have to wait 3-5 months for the Implant to heal with the bone before putting a tooth over it.
Maintenance of your Implants is a fairly easy task. You are required to brush and floss your teeth like you would do around your teeth. Also, regular 6-month checkups and dental professional cleaning appointments are recommended to maintain healthy gums around your Implants and identify any problem sooner than later.
The cost of Implant treatment depends on the number of Implants you need and the complexity of your case. Please visit us at Dental Optima, to find out if you are a right candidate for Dental Implants and the learn about the best treatment plan customized to your oral health needs.
Author: Dr. Minaal Verma