What is Dental Implantation?
Teeth implantation is a type of dental prosthetics when doctors completely restore a missing tooth or teeth. Both roots and dental crowns are restored. Dental implantation is especially useful for adentia (tooth loss) treatment.
Our self-assurance relies heavily on physical characteristics. The feeling of missing something may be irritating and disagreeable, notably when it refers to a part of your body like teeth. Dental implants might be our allies if you lost one or more teeth by reason of injury or ageing, and have a yearning to tackle this problem.
People worldwide constantly apply for the medical service to install dental implants, and their number counts to 300,000 per year.
Dental implant surgery is the most preferable procedure for thousands of people who want to enhance their appearance and chewing ability to benefit from life in its entirety. A gorgeous and healthful smile is something you will get after the decision to get dental implants.
This article answers on the most popular topics about dental implants — their types, stages, duration of dental implant surgery, recovery time, and more.
What Are Top-picked Dental Implants Types? Brief Overview
Dental implants are the long-term solution to substitute your broken teeth with the new ones by placing artificial tooth roots. This oral procedure has a high success rate of approximately 98%. If you lost a tooth due to trauma or deep tooth decay, it is the key to bringing back the original look of your smile.
Before the decision to place a dental implant, learn more about its classification and find the best option suited for you. Modern surgical dentistry does not stay still, so now you have choice to pick the best among top 3 dental implant types offered:
- Endosteal implants. It is the most sought-after implant option for patients due to its safety and effectiveness. An endosteal implant serves as an artificial root to carry a replacement tooth. This type of procedure requires a healthy jawbone to fuse the post with it. It begins with the insertion of titanium screws also called orthopedic implants into the jawbone, replacing the natural root with artificial ones. The healing process of soft tissues and bones can take a couple of months before placing the artificial teeth. Despite it, this type of procedure gives the most natural looking result and an excellent functionality.
- Subperiosteal implants. This type of dental implant surgery may be an excellent alternative to the endosteal method. This implant is fixed under the gum into the bone’s top. The metal construction is placed under the gum, which heals and then holds the frame. This type of procedure is used when a patient has not enough jawbone or doubts about providing intensive dental implant surgery. It has a shorter treatment period but less level of stability due to the implant placement: not in the jawbone but at the top of the bone. That’s why you should ask the dentist whether this type fits you.
- Zygomatic implants. This method of dental implant surgery is rarely used due to its complexity. It requires the placement of the implant into the cheekbone if the patient has not enough bone tissue in the upper jaw. It would be best if you discussed all questions with a dental specialist, who will explain all pros and cons of this method and may suggest a different way to manage your situation.
These methods are the most commonly practised in dental medicine. Dental implants are the best alternative to dental bridges and dentures for a lot of reasons. Below you can find the answer to why you should prefer dental implants. However each case is individual, and only after a thorough dental survey is possible to pick out appropriate solutions for your case.
What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
Dental implants bring benefits that dental bridges or dentures cannot offer. It is the lifetime option, with a need to replace only the crown in approximately 15 years or more (for instance, its alternatives must be replaced every 5-7 years). However, the primary implant benefit is that they act like natural teeth. Properly installed implant units feel and look the same like healthy teeth.
What’s more, dental implants have some more extra benefits. Explore them below:
- Better speech abilities. Alternatives to dental implants mentioned above can affect your pronunciation due to sliding. But it does not relate to implants themself. Dental implants have the same functionality and feel like natural teeth, which enhance the ability to speak correctly without missounds.
- Better eating ability. Since a dental implant is placed directly into the jawbone with the post, you can bite your favourite food with the same force as natural teeth. Other options will not give you the same result and can cause difficulties during chewing.
- No sliding. Artificial teeth (like dentures) may cause speaking, eating, and self-esteem problems. It may be shifting or slipping, making you uncomfortable. Dental implants are firmly fixed and will not let you down when you are in public.
- No change to face shape. Teeth naturally help to support our face structure. And when we have a missing tooth, we lose the component, which minimizes the facial shape changes. Dental implants become your supporter in all ways, even for your face contour.
- No bone loss. Dental implants are the only option that both replaces the natural tooth and root with artificial ones plus fixes the issue of bone deterioration
Thus, dental implants are the most effective solution to manage issues of damaged or missing teeth compared to other options available on the dental market.
Who Performs Dental Implants?
If your gum tissue and bone are healthy, and you have no periodontal disease or chronic disorders such as diabetes or heart issues, you are a good candidate for dental implant surgery.
But who is eligible to perform such a procedure? There is no classification for covering only dental implants. Dental specialists can provide such services based on their experience and knowledge. Two hundred two thousand practising dentists in the USA are members of dental associations and can perform the oral implant procedure.
In case you have a bite or cosmetic challenge or miss multiple teeth, you need to seek the services of an oral surgeon and periodontist with solid qualifications. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are the most reliable specialists for placing dental implants due to their specialization. Periodontists manage teeth structure support and may be essential or optional to help the dentist in implant surgery performance. These professionals must prepare a customized treatment plan according to your needs.
How Do Specialists Implant the Teeth?
- During the first visit, a dentist assesses the condition of the patient's gums, jawbone, remaining teeth and develops a treatment plan. Therefore, it is necessary to take a panoramic x-ray that shows all dental issues. If there are ambiguities, the doctor may recommend a jaw study on a CT scan.
- Dentists fix the dental implant, like the natural root, in the bone.
- The patient is under local anesthesia. The specialist makes an incision in the gum where the tooth is missed to expose the bone.
- The dentist makes a hole in the bone with a special sterile drill. After that, the doctor screws and fixes the artificial root in the bone and suturing the incision.
- A week after the procedure, the patient undergoes the examination. The dentist removes the stitches.
- Depending on the initial state of the bone, in 3-6 months after the tooth implantation, the expert creates a dental crown of individual shape and color.
- The tooth can be attached to the implant with a special cement or screw. Screw fixation is most often used so that, if necessary, the prosthesis can be easily removed and repaired.
See the whole process in the video.
Who Needs Dental Implants?
Teeth implantation is the most effective option for people with:
- one or more teeth loss
- the several teeth in a row absence
- no extreme teeth in the row
- complete adentia (when all teeth are missing).
For some people, dental implants are the most comfortable way to restore lost teeth; for others — this way is the only one possible. Conventional dentures and bridges are not suitable for those who suffer from diseases of the oral mucosa, have weak alveolar processes, and suffer from nausea while wearing conventional prostheses.
How Do Dental Implants Look Like?
A dental implant is the most natural way to restore absent teeth. Before the implant process, you must consult your dentist and ask all questions to allay all fears and doubts. A dental implant consists of three components:
- The implant base (screw). It is made of titanium or other materials compatible with the body and has a natural look. These materials comply with the international standards of the field’s leading organizations, such as the International Organization for Standardization. The screw is used to fuse with the jawbone (surgical site) and to provide a strong base for the implant.
- The abutment (connector). It usually has the shape of an octagon or hexagon and is used to fix the crown of the implant.
- The implant crownIt is placed on the top and is usually made of ceramic material. The dentist will choose the size and color of the crown to match your existing teeth. As a result, you will have solid false teeth that feel and look like natural ones.
What Are the Results after the Procedure?
In 95-97% of cases, the dental implant is accepted. However, implant rejection is the most significant risk. Rejection may happen because of:
- systemic diseases (AIDS, HIV, diabetes, hypertension)
- installation of low-quality implants
- non-compliance with doctor's recommendations after implantation (excessive load of the implant, poor oral hygiene, smoking)
- medical error.
Throughout the entire period of implant engraftment, the patient should regularly visit a dentist.
How Long Is the Dental Implant Recovery Process?
An average period of recovery after teeth implantation procedure lasts about 1-2 months. However, that depends on each patient’s case. In general, the duration of recovery depends on:
- number of implants installed
- sinus lifting performing
- bone grafting conducting.
What Are the Complications after the Dental Implant?
During the first days after the procedure, the following complications can occur:
- implant rejection
- pain
- swelling
- bleeding.
To avoid severe complications after the procedure, follow the doctor’s recommendations. Eat soft food, do not smoke or drink alcohol. Get painkillers if the pain is unbearable. In several days the discomfort will go away.
What Is a Dental Implant Procedure?
A dental implant operation is a type of restorative dentistry surgical procedure to replace one or several teeth. It consists of different stages, including root canal treatment, implant site preparation, bone augmentation in case of bone loss, implant crown placement, and a few others to substitute real teeth.
The procedure is suitable for patients with healthy jaw bone and gum and with no conditions affecting healing. It involves artificial tooth roots being placed into the jawbone. A dental implant procedure seems costly, but in some cases, it can be partially covered by dental insurance. You should contact your insurance carrier to learn all the details of your policy — does it spread on dental operations, and how can you get the repayment. If you are looking for more affordable offers, please, contact the Bookimed team. We will find the most suitable options in the shortest period.
What Are the Stages of Dental Implant Surgery?
Once you decide you need dental implants to improve your health and appearance, having known the types and looks of implants, you should learn more about each step you must take on this journey. Here are five stages of dental implant surgery:
- The consultation. To gain the most efficient and desired result with dental implants, ones should follow a precise treatment plan. It is implemented during the first stage of the dental implant procedure while taking initial consultation with your dentist. The specialist will provide you with the full information on the treatment — durations, costs, and recommendations — according to your medical history and mouth CT scan.
- The preoperative examination. To avoid all risks related to surgical procedures, your dentist should provide a medical evaluation of your health conditions. Skipping this step may lead to infection, improper healing, or failure in dental treatment.
- The dental implant procedure. Before dental implant placement, the dentist will examine your jawbone. If it is necessary (it’s too soft or not enough), you must take one more step prior to the implant procedure — bone grafting. A bone graft is a solution to repair damaged bones or replace missing ones used as a part of dental implant procedures. During this stage, the specialist will cut the gum and drill the bone to place the post (metal implant). The dentist will place a temporary crown or crowns to heal the mouth after the procedure. It is usually done under general or local anesthesia, depending on the number of replacement teeth.
- The operation follow-up. You must follow some prescriptions and recommendations for up to 6 months to prepare your mouth for permanent teeth implants. It is necessary to visit your dentist regularly and make checkups to follow the process of healing.
- The permanent teeth placement. The last and the happiest part of the dental implant procedure is the moment you come to your dentist to fit your permanent crowns. It will replace temporary ones, allowing you to smile to the fullest.
How Long Does a Dental Implant Process Take?
All these stages take your patience and time. The dentist defines the duration of each dental implant step, and on average, it is as the following:
- 1-1,5 hours for the consultation;
- 15-30 minutes for the tooth extraction (if needed), and 0-3 months for the extraction healing;
- up to 4 months to heal after the bone grafting;
- 1-3 hours for the implant dentistry;
- 3-6 months for the healing period;
- one hour for the permanent crown placement.
It is the approximate duration of each step, and your dental team may define the final period based on your case. You can get all answers on the procedure’s terms during the first consultation.
How Long Is Recovery after Dental Implants?
Swelling, pain issues, or minor bleeding are the common parts of the healing process after the dental implant procedure. Each case differs, and it is not easy to guess how long it will last. The time of recovery may vary depending on the number of teeth to be extracted or implanted, the location of implants (upper or lower jawbone), the need for bone grafting, and even your hygiene habits. But on average, the complete recovery is over in 4-6 months. It is a term enough to make a dental implant be well-fixated in the bone.
There are some tips to minimize the recovery period and support your body in this time. For example, you can place ice packs to reduce pain, rinse the mouth with salted water, and eat soft and cold foods. You must also avoid smoking tobacco and drinking beverages or alcohol for several days to save the root canals from infection.
Is a Tooth Implant a Painful Procedure?
Generally, the dental implant procedure is divided into two phases: surgery itself and recovery. The first one is not painful, as the dentist will use a general or local anesthetic or some sedatives to numb the mouth for the whole operation. All the processes — incision, drilling, and installation of an implant — will not cause discomfort.
You may feel some pain just after the surgery and during the recovery period. But in most cases, it lasts only for a few days. You can manage this by taking some pain medications and following the dentist’s instructions on teeth care.
How to Care for Dental Implants?
Dental implants have many benefits, including improving your chewing ability and smile. Since you get the procedure, you should be aware of the proper care of your new teeth. There are some bits of pieces of advice on how to look after dental implants:
- clean it twice a day with a soft toothbrush and low-abrasive toothpaste;
- floss every day;
- avoid hard food like caramel or fried fruits in order not to damage the implant;
- visit the dental office regularly to make sure everything is in its place.
Can Dental Implants Be Done in One Day?
Despite the ordinary dental implant procedure taking time, there is an option of same-day implants, which must be discussed with your dentist. If you have appropriate health conditions, the oral specialist may place the implants, connectors, and crowns just during one visit. It involves applying the latest dental techniques and strict planning to successfully integrate implants into the jawbone.
This method is optional since it has a high risk of complication and is less smooth for body adaptation.
Are Dental Implants a Major Surgery?
A dental implant is considered a minor surgery since it does not need a lot of invasive procedures to be done. It is a common oral surgery for restoring lost teeth, similar to tooth extraction. As mentioned above, in some cases, the dental implant requires additional procedures — bone grafting or sinus lift to provide more bone for implant support.