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It is a long established fact that a reader will be distracted by the readable.
Dental implants are surgically placed into the gums and underlying bone to replace missing teeth or teeth that need to be extracted. Implants are alternatives to bridges, partials dentures and full dentures. Dental implant replaces the root of the missing tooth as single body without any compromise to the adjacent dentition. Once the implant is stable and integrated into the bone, an abutment and a crown are fabricated to replace the missing tooth.
Dental implants generally require one surgical procedure with a healing time of approximately three to six months. In selected cases, implants might be placed and restored with temporary restoration at the same day “Teeth in a Day Protocol”.
This depends on the complexity of the case but usually a single implant can be placed in approximately an hour. This will depend on the amount of additional work required in terms of any bone grafting or work required on your gum.
As implants are similar to natural teeth, if they are looked after they should last for many years but there is no lifetime guarantee. There is a small chance that an implant fails to osseo-integrate, that is, it does not become attached to the bone. In the upper jaw the chances of this happening are approximately 1-2%. We would normally become aware of this during the healing phase after implant placement and should it happen, we would remove the implant and may need to place another, several weeks later. Once integrated and functioning, you have in excess of a 90% chance of any implant still performing fine after 25 years. Therefore implants are a long term and predictable treatment option.
As with natural teeth implants need to be looked after and regular check-ups are essential to prolong their life. You should look after implants much the same as natural teeth but you should pay particular attention to the implant sites. Brushing twice a day, flossing and regular hygiene appointments will help keep them healthy. An annual implant review is very important to check the quality of bone and gum health around the implant area.
You may be told by a dentist that all dental implants are made of titanium and are therefore all the same. While it is true that most dental implants are made of titanium manufacturing quality standards can vary greatly. Dentsply products have the backup of many scientific research and clinical studies. They are used world wide by many of the most respected implant providers.
The key to successful implants is the quality and quantity of bone and we sometimes have to provide a replacement for a deficiency of bone and this usually takes the form of a small augmentation around the neck of the implant. Depending on the size of this deficiency, we can usually carry this out at the same time as implant placement.