Thursday, January 5, 2012

Primary Information About Dental Implants

By Chris J Phillips


Dental implants are a replacement for a natural tooth root. Generally these devices are constructed with a titanium material. Their purpose is to support tooth restorations. For example, implants, bridges, crowns and dentures.

The titanium structures, which also include screws, are built to mimic the appearance and behavior of a natural tooth root. The texture can range between smooth and soft. It may also be manipulated using processes such as sandblasting, plasma spraying, etching and anodizing.

Before surgery, a surgeon may suggest that a patient have other tests performed that will benefit the success of a surgical procedure. CT scans are usually performed before surgery. Also, stents may be added. These units serve as guides during the actual process. Radiographs are very common before the surgery because they help the doctor see what the mouth structures, dimensions and shapes are. Knowing the outline of the mouth plays a huge role in the sizing and placement of implants.

There are many tools used during the surgery. Perhaps the most important are involved in preparing the bone. Drills and osteotomes, that have speed-regulation functions are used. These tools help prevent pressure necrosis that can occur when there is no way to regulate speed. An important part of implantation is osseointegration. This is the process of the jawbone growing to the implant structure. The length of time it takes for this to occur will rely heavily on the jawbone structure.

The jawbone characteristics play a primary role in the implantation outcome. If the bone is not strong enough or thick enough, the implant may fail because of lack of support. Sometimes graft procedures can be done to fix problems with jawbone quality. Implantation can only be done through surgical means and with surgery comes the possibility of complications and risks. Infection, inflammation, disease and implant rejection are just some of the risks associated with this procedure.

Most doctors will wait approximately half a year for the mouth to properly heal. In some case the healing and osseointegration can take up to a year. If prostheses are installed too early, the implantation may be unsuccessful. Overall, healing time is expected to vary from patient to patient, but the success rate is estimated at 95 percent. There are many factors that can influence the healing process time. They include: oral hygiene, skill of surgeon, jawbone characteristics and post-surgery care. Most failures are attributed to lack of osseointegration.

Dental implants are used as a substitute for a natural tooth root when it fails. They resemble the root in appearance and overall purpose. The implants support prostheses. Adding this structure can only be done during surgery. With that in mind, it is important to realize that all surgery carries risks.




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