Overview
Today modern dentistry offers dental implants which are best solution for tooth replacement. Its main advantage is longetivity. Theoretically, the dental implants are can last for a lifetime. From the mid-1960’s, dental implants were being used to replace missing teeth. However, from the past few years, they have been largely used as they are safe and conventional option to get natural-looking teeth.
Need of Dental Implants
Dental implants have following advantages in comparison to crowns, dentures and bridges:
- They function in similar way as natural teeth so you could have no difficulty while eating or cleaning teeth.
- Dental implants feel and appear as natural.
- If adjacent teeth are healthy, they need not be filled as support for missing tooth or teeth. Hence, it reduces need for root fillings.
- Using dental implants, a strong grip can be given to the removable dentures.
- With dental implants no special glue is needed to hold false teeth at required place.
- With dental implants, natural process of the bone renewal is stimulated which helps in a good appearance of face and restored teeth.
Candidate of Dental Implant
Dental implant procedure is appropriate for anyone with one or more missing teeth and wishes to improve their chewing ability and physical appearance. However, it is important that patient should be 18 years or more and their bone tissue have been fully developed.
If you are thinking about dental implants then your mouth should be in a healthy condition with no gum disease or untreated tooth decay or else they will lead to dental implant failure or development of an infection. As per dentists, those having a healthy oral hygiene are candidate of dental implant.
When are dental implants not suitable?
Dental implants are not suitable in following conditions:
- If a patient has problems of unrestrained diabetes and untreated periodontitis as there is a fear of infection and slow healing.
- If jaw line isn’t sufficiently thick for accommodation of implants due to which bone grafting becomes impossible.
- People who smoke because their efficiency of healing becomes lower and they can become candidate for a failed dental implant.
- Dental implants cannot be done in people with blood clotting problems and some bone diseases, drug abuse, any kind of a deficiency in immune system and systemic illnesses.
How Long Dental Implants Last?
When someone says dental implants can last forever, it is no exaggeration but it is utmost important that a person should be healthy and have great bones. If a patient has a good oral hygiene then his implant will lasts for a lifetime. Today, dental implants are most successful cases of tooth replacement options. Continue with brushing, flossing and using dental water jet to take proper care of your implants. Also regular dental check-ups are necessary.
Though they are permanent restoration but success of it depends on following factors:
- A professional and highly-qualified Dentist
It is necessary for longevity of your dental implant. Dentist should have clear idea of neuromuscular dentistry and how they can help patients.
- Superior materials
For decades, basics of dental implant surgery have been same but now dentists use superior materials mainly ceramic or metal or a combination-type of an implant.
- An improved match
Due to advancement in technology, titanium implants are treated chemically by improving their compatibility with living tissue. Now Computer Assisted Design (CAD) is used for a good replacement and fitting along with other teeth.
- Are dental implants for you
Dental implants are good option only if you do not have any gum disease, don’t smoke or take heavy medication.
Risk Factors for Dental Implant Failure
If there has been no problem in healing process post dental implant, most probable risk factor is insufficient oral hygiene. This is because of bacteria build-up on surface of implant leading to inflammation of mucous membrane which surrounds implant called mucositis which if left untreated can lead to peri-implantitis, a more dangerous condition. In this case, there is inflammation and bone loss around implant which leads to loosening of implants.
Other risk factors include poorly aligned bite and trauma to the tooth or jaw.
Conclusion
Today, dental implants are best for replacing a missing tooth or teeth. Be careful with your oral hygiene habits after procedure to make it successful. In recent years, India is most sought after destination of medical tourists seeking dental implants due to low cost compared to the Western nations.
Reference:
Dental Implants: What should you know about it?
Dental Implants FAQ
6 reasons to choose dental implant
7 Facts to Help You Make up Your Mind for Dental implants with Dr Tarun Giroti Delhi India