Dental Implants
What are dental implants?
An implant is an artificial tooth root screw which is surgically inserted into the jawbone. It is used to hold a fake tooth or series of teeth in place. In this way, dental implants function in a similar way to a natural tooth root.
Many people use the term ‘implant’ to mean the entire replacement tooth, but it actually only refers to the part inserted into the bone.
Teeth implants may be used in cases where the patient has had an accident or medical condition which has caused them to lose one or more of their teeth.
The result is artificial teeth which look, feel and function just like natural teeth.
Treatments
Who can have teeth implants?
In order to be a good candidate for a dental implant, the patient should have strong, healthy gums and a jawbone that is capable of supporting the new root.
A successful implant requires healthy gums and bone. Patients who have underlying oral health problems like gingivitis or who have experienced bone loss due to a tooth abscess may not be suitable for dental implant surgery.
However, in many cases it’s possible to carry out a bone graft to strengthen the jawbone before dental implants are inserted.
One alternative for patients who can’t have conventional implants is mini dental implants. These are similar in structure to their larger counterparts, but have a thinner root about the width of a toothpick. This means that less bone is needed to hold them in place.
If you have been told you can’t have implants because you have suffered jawbone loss or your bone density is too low, mini implants may still be an option. An added benefit is they can usually be fitted in a single visit – no need to wait 3-6 months for the implant to settle.
Mini implants generally cost much less than regular ones, but they do have certain drawbacks.
Full mouth dental implants
Patients who have lost all their teeth may also consider full mouth implants. Unlike implant-retained dentures, these are permanently fixed in place. Many people prefer the idea of having fixed teeth rather than ones they have to remove for cleaning.
All-on-4 requires fewer implants
It’s usually not necessary to insert an individual root for each tooth, since a single implant root is strong enough to support several teeth if it’s placed well.
Solutions such as All-on-4 implants allow a full set of teeth to be placed using just four implants for the lower jaw. The upper jaw requires six, since the bone density is lower. The implants are angled at 30 or 45 degrees to give them a stronger hold. This is a cheaper option than traditional implant technology which would require 8-10 implants in each jaw. Note that this type of tooth implant is only available in titanium, since zirconia implants can’t be placed at such a sharp angle.
An added benefit of All-on-4 implants is the entire surgery is usually completed within a day, so you won’t need to make as many visits to the dentist. This is what gives them the nickname “teeth in a day”.
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