Prior to the 1980s the knowledge of dental implants had not evolved to the point where they could be offered to patients as a predictable alternative to replace lost teeth. Research begun in Sweden in the 1970s, was introduced to the American dental community about 20 years ago and led to a tremendous increase in the use of implants to replace missing teeth. In the United States, the vast majority of dental implants being used are referred to as root form implants. Made to resemble the tooth root are these metallic posts or screws usually made from titanium.
When it comes to a natural tooth, the root is anchored to the jawbone by ligaments and the crown protrudes above the gum line. The most significant difference between a tooth and an implant is the manner in which each is connected to the jawbone. Thousands of small ligaments protrude from the root surface to anchor the root to the bone. In this case, a shock absorber system is created and it provides a cushion for the tooth and allows for slight movements. There are no ligaments between the two for the implant and the bone have direct contact with each other.
The process of placing a dental implant involves a series of drilling procedures to create a narrow, cylinder shaped hole in the jawbone into which the implant is tapped or screwed into place. After 2 to 4 months, the metal surface will have fused with the surrounding bone and this is when you can attach the final prosthesis or restoration. These procedures are surrounded by biologic principles that have been derived from the medical community considering that the materials used to make the dental implants bear a striking resemblance with those used for bone plates and screws used in orthopedic surgery.
Used to replace everything from one missing tooth, several missing teeth, to a whole arch of missing teeth are dental implants. For a young individual, there is a risk for damage to the tooth nerve or dental pulp if the procedure includes cutting down the intact adjacent teeth. The damaging of teeth which are free of fillings or cavities is eliminated. When replacing a single tooth, there is a three part system that is used.
In replacing a crown, cap, or root, replacing the actual crown is a metallic restoration covered with porcelain and then an abutment or interconnecting piece is also used. What patients who are not satisfied with partial or full dentures that can be removed can do is resort to fixed in dental implants. The ability to anchor a loose denture is probably the greatest service that can be offered by implant dentistry. Failing to remain still when used are dentures after many years of being worn for the size of the underlying jawbone has been reduced by this time. Stability is offered by dental implants as they provide two or more anchor points which can make your prosthesis solid and functional.
In order for a patient to experience a predictably good treatment result, several requirements are necessary. Considering an adequate width and height for the jawbone, this is where the implant should be placed. Besides how old the dentures or partial dentures are and the patient is, the location and size of certain anatomic structures like the sinuses in the upper jaw and the nerve canal in the lower jaw can influence the suitability of the jawbone to receive dental implants.
Considering deficiencies in the size of the jawbone, it is possible to increase the size of the bone receiving the dental implants with the help of a few procedures. Everything from an active infection present in the mouth to a smoking habit to certain glandular or bone metabolism abnormalities like osteoporosis, these can result to less success for patients when it comes to this procedure.
For the practice of implant dentistry, the American Dental Association recognizes no specialty. After graduating from dental school, general dentists are trained through postgraduate courses, dental specialists on the other hand are trained through residency programs. Making a positive impact on dental patients is the era of implant dentistry and it has become the leading standard of care when it comes to replacing teeth.
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