What is a Dental Implant and how do they work
Dental implants are an effective way to replace missing teeth and are designed to bond with your natural bone and once the final crown is placed will look just like your other teeth.
They are an excellent long-term option for restoring your perfect smile and bite. Dental implants are usually made up of titanium which is very compatible with the human body and bone. Basically an Implant is a post that is surgically placed in the upper or lower bone of the jaw and act in the same manner as the root of the tooth, they function as a sturdy anchor for replacement teeth, or crown. The use of implants is one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years giving many people back their smile and a good bite.
Implants are completed in stages, usually they can be completed in two stages, however sometimes it will take three stages depending on the depth of the bone in the jaw.
Prior to starting the procedure x Rays are taken to determine the health, and depth of the bone where the implant will be placed. If all is in good order the first stage is the placement of the implant. The dentist surgically places the implant into the jawbone, this usually takes approximately an hour to perform. Once the implant has been placed the area immediately around the implant may be tender for a few days, during this time we recommend a diet of soft foods, warm soups and lots of liquids, you should not eat anything crunchy or hard during this initial healing process.
The bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration, which means the implant and your natural bone bond together creating a strong and stable foundation for your future crown to be placed. This is what makes the implant so strong, your natural bone actually grows around it and holds it in place. This healing process usually takes between 6 and 8 months, during this time the dentist will make a temporary crown, or bridge, to wear throughout the healing process.
Once the healing process has been completed it is time for the final stage of the restoration which is the placement of permanent teeth or dental crown. The crown is custom made in a dental lab with molds taken by the dentist to create the new crown which then matches the natural teeth surrounding it and completes the dental implant restoration process.
Not everyone is a good candidate for Dental Implants though, and there are many reasons why a Dental Implant may fail. The over health of the patient is an important factor, more so than the age of the patient. A patient in good medical condition, with a good oral hygiene regime and a healthy diet will have a high success rate for implants, however, regardless of age, a patient who does not have a good diet, or does not practise good oral hygiene on a daily basis, or a patient who smokes will have a much higher failure rate for implants.
If you would like a consultation to determine if you are a good candidate for implants contact our International Patient Coordinator at clinic@davincisdentalcare.com to arrange a Digital Smile Design Consultation today and start the process to release your perfect smile
