Dental implants are an artificial root device that is placed in the jaw to hold a tooth replacement.  It is usually made of Titanium, but other similar dental implants have made use of Zirconia in recent years.  It must be noted, however, that only Titanium as a dental implants material has had a long history of success rate.  Zirconia, though it may look more appealing as an artificial tooth root because of its tooth-like color, still does not have long-term clinical data.

Why Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are ideal for replacing missing teeth.  People who have lost their tooth due to injury, tooth decay, gum disease, excessive wear and tear, or a root canal failure, have the option to undergo dental implants surgery to get the tooth root placed.  After several weeks, a crown can be placed on the implant, to mimic an actual tooth.

• Dental implants can also be placed to support a bridge and do away with the need for a removable (partial) denture.
• Top quality dental implants can also provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.  This makes the wearer more at ease, without the constant fear of embarrassment a falling or loose denture can create.

As with any type of medical surgery or procedure, dental implants surgery also lists a few considerations or patient requirements before the actual procedure can take place.  These considerations ensure the safety of the patient, as well as the success of the procedure.  First on the list is the need to have good oral health.  The gums must be healthy and the teeth beside the implant area should be in good shape.  Dental implants may cause complications when done on someone whose oral health is a bit questionable, as the gums and other teeth may not adjust well to it, causing the entire dental implants procedure to do more harm than good.

Another requirement is to have enough bone in the jaw, and for it to be strong enough to support the dental implant.  In case there is not enough bone or the jaw bone is not strong enough to hold and support the implant, a bone graft should be done.  This means the bone should be replaced by one of three different options.  These options are: autologous or using bone taken from the same patient from somewhere else in the body.  This is usually taken from the crest of the Ilium from the pelvic area or from the person’s chin.

The second bone grafting option is allograft or using bone taken from a cadaver from a bone bank.  The last option is synthetic, which makes use of calcium phosphates (i.e. materials like hydroxyapatite or other naturally biocompatible substances).  When done correctly, a bone graft regenerates and produces live vascular bone that is very much similar to the actual jaw bone.  It provides the ideal support and anchor for implants.  Bone grafts can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to heal completely.  Once healed, the dental implants can be placed.

The final consideration for dental implants procedure is the patient’s overall physical health, particularly his blood pressure.  To err on the side of caution, dental surgeons do not do the procedure on patients with high blood pressure.  This is because most patients get nervous and agitated while in the dentist’s chair, and the procedure might increase their heart rate and blood pressure.  It is extremely risky to operate on hypertensive patients.  Therefore, if a patient needs implants but is also hypertensive, it is best to bring that blood pressure down significantly and keep it monitored before going through with the dental surgeons do not do the procedure on patients with high blood pressure.  This is because most patients get nervous and agitated while in the dentist’s chair, and the procedure might increase their heart rate and blood pressure.  It is extremely risky to operate on hypertensive patients.  Therefore, if a patient needs implants but is also hypertensive, it is best to bring that blood pressure down significantly and keep it monitored before going through with the dental implants procedure.  It should also be noted that one’s hypertension medication should not be a contraindication for the medication one needs during treatment and recovery from the dental implant surgery.

What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Permanence and Durability

Teeth implants cost more than bridges or dentures, but implants offer permanency which bridges and dentures do not.  Crowns have to be replaced every so often because of normal wear and tear.  Dentures must also be upgraded regularly because it will not always fit exactly as it should.  Dental implants, on the other hand, are much durable and will last a lifetime, provided the patient is not into contact sports or does not get into any accidents involving major facial injuries.

Low Maintenance

Dentures have to be cleaned and dealt with separately.  They require the use of denture adhesives and their own separate cleaners and cleaning rituals.

After the procedure and recovery time, dental implants simply require regular, ordinary routines, like brushing, flossing and gargling.  It eliminates fussing with other products other than the basics of good oral hygiene.  As with everybody who practices good oral hygiene, regular visits to the dentist must be observed.

Aesthetics and Comfort

Dental implants are the most natural looking, not to mention the most natural feeling, alternative to real teeth.  Dentures always somehow change the shape of one’s face ever so slightly but making it quite noticeable to the most observant people.  Dentures also make the wearer more wary that it might come loose or come off completely at the most inopportune times.  This makes the wearer feel unnecessary uncomfortable and insecure.  With dental implants, there is zero risk of it coming loose, so the patient does not feel guarded or uncomfortable.  It feels just like real teeth once healing has completed.

Reliability

With a reported success rate of 95%, dental implants are perhaps the most reliable option for tooth replacement today.  This success rate is highly dependent on three important factors: the experience and skill of the operator or periodontist, the quality of the jaw bone or the bone graft to which the implant will be attached, and the overall oral hygiene of the patient.  Post-operative care is crucial too and is an important factor in determining the procedure’s overall success, which is established by the achievement and maintenance of the stability of the dental implants placed.