What is Dental Implant?

A dental implant is nothing but an artificial tooth root replacement and is considered as an alternative to bridges. Historically, dentures or bridge restorations would be used as replacements, but with limited results. Dental implants, however, are natural-looking replacements for missing teeth that also provide the same function as the natural tooth root. Dental implant will support a ceramic crown, thus giving the impression of a natural, real-life tooth.

The Effect of missing teeth:

Teeth provide more functions than just the ability to chew. They are necessary for the health of the gum and jaw tissues as well, and a prolonged absence of a tooth will severely limit the possibilities for restorations.  Missing teeth may also affect your confidence and well-being.

Having gaps where teeth are missing affects the way the jaw closes. The remaining teeth begin to tilt and drift into the gaps. In addition, food can become trapped in these spaces, increasing the risk of decay and gum disease. The tilting and drifting can also cause problems for the opposing teeth. As teeth are lost it becomes more difficult to eat and chew food. And over time, more and more of the jaw bone disintegrates until it becomes very difficult to place any dental restoration.

Benefits of Dental Implant:

To retain the oral health by preventing bone loss

• To reduce the movement of surrounding teeth and to avoid excess decay
• To provide support for a partial denture
• To increase the support and stability of full upper or lower denture
• To enhance chewing comfort
• To increase confidence while smiling, talking and eating
  

Process:

A typical implant consists of a titanium screw, with a roughened surface. This surface is treated either by plasma spraying, etching, or sandblasting to increase the integration potential of the implant. At the missing teeth jaw sites, a pilot hole is bored into the recipient bone, taking care to avoid vital structures. This pilot hole is then expanded by using progressively wider drills. Once in the bone, a cover screw is placed and the operation site is allowed to heal for a few months for integration to occur. This encourages the gum to grow in the right scalloped shape to approximate a natural tooth’s gums. Once this has occurred a permanent crown will be constructed and placed on the implant.

A dental implant keeps this bone intact and can prevent both bone loss and gum tissue shrinkage. In addition, because a dental implant replaces the root structure, the jawbone is better preserved. A dental implant is also much easier to clean as compared to a bridge. And unlike a bridge, an implant can not be affected by cavities. A dental implant is an excellent way of replacing both a single tooth and multiple teeth without the disadvantages of a fixed bridge or removable dentures.