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Dental Implants Dental
implants are artificial tooth replacements that are used to counter
tooth loss.
Although you have a number of restorative options for the treatment
of missing teeth, none have proven to be as functionally effective
and durable as implants. In many cases, dental implants may be the
only logical choice.
Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative
counterparts (bridges and dentures. Implants offer a permanent
solution to tooth loss. Additionally, implants may be used in
conjunction with other restorative procedures for maximum
effectiveness. For example, a single implant can serve to support a
crown replacing a single missing tooth. Implants can also be used to
support a dental bridge for the replacement of multiple missing
teeth, and can be used with dentures to increase stability and
reduce gum tissue irritation.
Today's dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from other
teeth. This appearance is aided in part by the structural and
functional connection between the dental implant and the living
bone.
Dental implants are among the most successful procedures in
dentistry. There is no guarantee that an implant procedure will be
successful, but studies have shown a five-year success rate of 95%
for lower jaw implants and 90% for upper jaw implants. The success
rate for upper jaw implants is slightly lower because the upper jaw
(especially the posterior section) is less dense than the lower jaw,
making successful implantation potentially more difficult to
achieve. Lower posterior implantation has the highest success rate
for all dental implants.
If you are a smoker who is considering a dental implant, we advise
you to give up smoking because smokers face a higher risk of implant
failure. Since the procedure can be extremely expensive, you risk
wasting your money on dental implants if you do not give up the
habit.
On the plus side, dental implants are not susceptible to the
formation of cavities; still, poor oral hygiene can lead to the
development of peri-implantitis around dental implants. This disease
is tantamount to the development of periodontitis (severe gum
disease) around a natural tooth.
Dental implants are sometimes used to replace missing teeth. Dental
implants are placed into locations where teeth have recently been
extracted. Candidacy for this type of early intervention is
dependant upon anatomical factors of the extracted tooth site. |
