Missing teeth are sometimes hard to bear with. They come with their own mishaps. Research has it that people with missing teeth are not as confident as people with a full dental formula. It is hard for people with an incomplete dental formula to smile broadly. To some, talking gets to be a problem as they will tend to conceal their missing teeth. A poor dental formula exposes one to biting irregularities. Mis-bites can hamper one’s eating habits which can lead to secondary nutritional problems.
Thanks to dental implants, the problems that come with missing teeth can be forgone easily. So, what are dental implants? These are roots that are fixed into the jawbone to hold in place a prosthetic tooth like a dental crown or bridge. Most people confuse the prosthetic dental teeth to be dental implants. To clear the air, dental implants are the parts insertable into the jawbone. They are normally invisible after the procedure is completed.
They can also be used as orthodontic anchors to stop the movement of teeth. Such movements easily damage the jawbone, orientation, and configuration. The process of installing dental implants is at times considered as cosmetic dentistry. The implants are used to uplift the physical appearance of teeth and gums. Replacing teeth with dental implants improves the ability to bite into most foods without struggles during chewing.
There are many reasons that explain the loss of teeth, the common ones are
- Tooth decay
- Failure of the root canal
- Periodontitis
- Injury to the tooth
- Wearing and tearing excessively
- Congenital defects.
- Tooth loss
Determining whether dental implants are good for you
Not all missing teeth cases will require a dental implant. Several factors come into play in determining whether one is fit for the implant. Dental professionals are better endowed and placed to determine this. The procedure of acquiring an implant starts with a visit to a dental specialist. The specialist will thoroughly scrutinize the condition of the teeth and gums also determine the quantity and density of bone forming the jawbone where the implant is fixed. In this process, imaging techniques like computed tomography and x-ray are utilized. This is mainly done to determine the exact position where the implant is to be fixed.
The dental specialist will inform the patient of the status quo. Other factors that are greatly considered are:
- The patient’s daily oral hygiene routine
- Personal habits
- Willingness to care and maintain the implants.
In cases where the bone density is insufficient to hold the normal dental implants due to oral problems like gingivitis special treatment is required prior to the main implant procedure. Tooth loss due to abscess can be an obstacle to dental implant installation. Soft tissue and bone grafts are used in such cases. Grafting strengthens the jawbones to provide the appropriate anchorage. Mini-implants are also utilized. Mini-implants require minimal bone density for anchorage. The roots are of smaller diameters, the size of toothpicks. One advantage of mini-implants is that they can be fixed during the premier visit, unlike dental implants that take several visits.
In consideration of the above factors, the specialist is bound to discuss how the procedure is going to take place, how long it is expected to take, the number of visits required, and the expectations after the operation. Anesthetizing agents are also discussed. Some patients do not react appropriately to some local anesthetics due to age or past history. The cost of the whole procedure is discussed too.
Types of dental implants
There are countless number of companies manufacturing dental implants and their restoration materials. The dentist determines the best one that will work for you. Due to the many options available, visiting one dentist for an implant and then another dentist for a correction may give rise to the latter being challenged determining or accessing the components used during the implantation.
There are two main types of dental implants
Endosteal implants
They are also referred to as endosseous implants. These require a two-stage procedure. They are either threaded (screw-like), cylindrical or bladed. After insertion into the jawbone, the gums are close stitched. After some healing has taken place, the patient is supposed to visit the specialist for a minor surgery that involves temporal restoration and the attachment of an abutment.
Subperiosteal implants
They are primarily used with denture patients who have inadequate bone height. They are a single staged dental implant and have a metal base that is inserted into the gum tissues but protrudes above the jawbone. The protrusions provide the anchorage to prosthetic teeth.
Titanium is the commonly used material in the making of the dental implants. This is mainly attributed to it’s strong and biocompatible nature. There is minimal to near zero reaction to this metal. Gums can also gradually grow around it. Titanium implants are normally alloys to enhance their strength. Metal skeptic patients have the option of ceramic implants like zirconia. Dentists commonly use titanium implants due to their archaic nature and are cheaper than ceramic implants.
Dentures, dental bridges, and implants
As stated before, implants provide the support for the missing or damaged teeth’s artificial replacement. An individual crown is required to fix a single tooth replacement. The crown used is different from the one used with broken or damaged teeth. When multiple teeth are to be replaced, dentures are used. Dentures are frames that can hold a set of prosthetic teeth. Their bases are gum colored. When the teeth to be replaced are two or more and in a row, bridges are used. In such cases, instead of drilling the jawbone for every single tooth only two implants are inserted to hold the set of teeth. When patients lose the whole set of teeth, all-on- 4 implants are used to hold the whole set using just four implants for the lower jaw and six implants for the upper jaw.
Proper care and maintenance should be accorded to dental implants. Before the procedure ask the dentist questions concerning the operation. Do not be afraid. At 757 Dental Solutions in Reynosa, Tamaulipas in Mexico and with Dr. Yara Ramos your smile is bound to be restored. Your oral health is important to us. Make a step. Schedule an appointment or contact us.