A lot of us believe dental implants are new discoveries. The brilliance of dental implants began as early as the time of the Phoenicians, who have been planting seashells in their jaw bones to replace missing teeth. Basing it on the plaques that the archaeologists saw on the shells, we can tell that they had been in the mouths of the users for quite a while and therefore, they worked. Aside from this exception, however, dentures remain to be the most common replacement for the original teeth until a few years ago.
An enhancement brought about by the brilliancy of a Swedish orthopedic surgeon made it possible for titanium alloys to serve as bonds to the bone. A few more studies and the value of this technique in tooth replacement were also identified.
The edentulous patients were initially the primary focus of the dental implant procedures as a prospective solution to the difficult denture fit that they are experiencing, says the Des Moines County dental society president. Individual teeth are being replaced by implants nowadays. They do seem very impressed, he said referring to the patients. If the denture is not fitting perfectly and moves a lot, it can actually serve as denture stabilizer.
Patients have higher level of assurance and comfort because of the implants even as they chew and speak with the dentures. The dental implant is a very tiny fixture but you can mold it into many different forms, he explained. Holes are going to be set into the jaw bone where the titanium fixtures will be attached, and it is fundamental that specialized drills are used for this delicate procedure. The titanium alloy shall remain under the gums for three or four months. Removable dentures are not yet off limits during this period. As long as proper diet and oral hygiene are kept, the initial stage of healing will be carried through easily. Once healing is complete, the implant is exposed and then the second part of the implant, the one that will be seen as you smile, is affixed to the submerged fixtures. The benefit that a furnished implant can give to existing dentures and up and coming implants alike is stability.
Whether or not a patient needs dental implants depends somewhat on the patient’s general dentist. A prerequisite to the procedure, however, is a medical and anatomical test to determine whether the patient indeed is a good candidate, and this evaluation is to be done by the surgeon. Foremost consideration is whether or not the patient has the ability to care for the implants sufficiently. Just like regular teeth, implants need to be taken care of daily. Most of the incidences of tooth loss are not secondary to trauma, tumor or family history, but to neglect. The patient has to be an active participant in his own care, to brush and floss around the posts and, in some cases, use a prescription mouthwash.
Every person is unique and so is everybody’s healing rate. As a matter of fact, a number of patients are taken off the eligibility list for implants because of their general health, compliance to teeth care, or because of lack of bone density. After inserting the implant, the patient will need to show up for two or three follow up examinations during the first year, and then once or twice the succeeding years.
Average patients have new dentures prepared. But a patient contemplating on having implants ideally start with implants and then progress with new dentures constructed with implants in mind. Varying types will mean varying prices, ranging from $600 to $750 per implant. Depending on your arrangement with your dental insurance company, this cost will be shouldered.
A patient who had great bone mass deficiency will greatly benefit from this option. Not to mention that it is a lot more simple than the bone transplant option. Since mouth and jaws are really designed to hold teeth and not dentures, an annual checkup will always be necessary no matter how well fitting the dentures are initially, to avoid bone loss.
Your one-stop resource on implant dentistry is waiting for you. Comprehensive information on gingivitis treatment is found on there.