Dental implants are artificial roots that are put in place by dentists. A dental implant can replace one tooth, several teeth, or the whole upper or lower jawline if a person has broken or missing teeth because of an accident, gum disease, decay, or birth defect.
These days, most dental implants are made of titanium and look like a real tooth root in terms of size and shape. Titanium is very strong and lasts a long time. Over time, it can connect to the cells in your jaw bone. Osteointegration is the process by which the bone and implant join together. This makes the implant even stronger.
The Dental Implant Process
When a dentist puts in an implant in the upper or lower jaw, they often use CT scans, which are three-dimensional pictures of the jaw, to find nerves and glands and to see how much bone is there. This helps the doctor make sure that the implant is put in correctly so that it doesn’t hurt or cause other problems. Modern technology, like surgical guides and computer-assisted dentistry planning software, makes it possible to place the implant safely and accurately. This is made possible by exact positioning and safety during the surgery.
If there isn’t enough bone to place the implant, your dentist may need to add bone grafting material to give the implant something to and keep it in place. Bone loss can happen because of past dental work, an illness, or another health problem. Sinus augmentation is the name of the technique used to add bone to the area around your sinuses.
Time to Heal
After getting a tooth implant, most people need at least three weeks to heal. Implant surgeries can take months to heal for some people, but this is less common and is generally due to an underlying health problem or smoking. How long it takes to heal completely also depends on how healthy your jaw bone is. Because treatments that involve the sinuses or the jaw need more time to heal, it may take longer before you can get a crown or bridge put in your mouth.
Your doctor can put an abutment on the implant once it has healed and shown signs of osseointegration. An abutment is a piece that is either built into the implant or put on top of it. It gives the crown or bridge a place to connect in your mouth. Once the support is in place, your dentist will be able to make more impressions and images to help them make and place the permanent tooth.
Why Stopping Bone Loss is Important
People who have osteoporosis, bad circulation, or other health problems that make it hard to heal can lose bone. But losing a tooth is one of the most common reasons. The bone that was there before a tooth starts to shrink when the tooth is gone and isn’t being used by biting and chewing. An implant can stop or even repair bone loss by stimulating the bone by putting the missing tooth back into your bite and chewing. You’re probably already losing bone if you’re missing a tooth. This can often be fixed, but the longer you wait to get an implant, the more bone loss there is and the higher the chance that the implant won’t work anymore.
You could also lose bone if your gums and other tissues get infected because you don’t take care of your teeth properly. Going to the dentist regularly and brushing your teeth well can lower your risk of getting an infection.
Rate of Success
Titanium implants are 95% effective at joining bone, and they stay healthy and work for at least 10 years. Most of the time, implants will last a lot longer, and most doctors think they will last the patient’s whole life.
Care and upkeep are important for success, as with most things. It’s just as important to get oral check ups for implants as it is for real teeth. They will look at your whole mouth, including your implants, because if your crown isn’t set up right for your bite, the force could damage the implant and cause bone loss. If you chew on an implant that isn’t properly adjusted, the force of your mouth can bend or move the implant to the side. Even the strongest metal can’t handle this force. But just because you have implants doesn’t mean you don’t need to go to the doctor anymore.
Dental Implants Have Many Benefits
Dental implants work like real teeth.There are many good things about dental implants. When it comes to strength and security, they are the next best thing to real teeth. They can replace a missing or damaged tooth. If you put the implant in the right way, it will join with your bone and look, feel, and work like a real tooth. A tooth implant can last for many years without breaking or giving you other problems if you take good care of it. In fact, your implant might last as long as you do. It might need to be adjusted every so often, but it probably won’t need to be replaced.
A dental implant can also help keep the healthy bone in your mouth safe. If you lose a tooth or have decay, leaving a space can cause other health problems, like bone loss. But getting a dental implant can keep your bone healthy and encourage it to keep growing, so you don’t lose it over time. Your face may look sunken and strange if you don’t have enough teeth. Adding a dental implant can change the shape of your face and mouth again.
Bridges and dentures are alternatives to dental implants, but most people don’t find them as comfortable. A lot of people don’t like how their dentures fit because it makes it hard to eat, talk, and even smile normally.
How Much Dental Implants Are Likely to Cost
In the past few years, the average cost of a tooth implant and crown has been between $3,000 and $4,500. Depending on your plan and policy, some dental insurance companies will also pay for a dental implant or part of the implant process.
Contact Coolbreeze Dentistry today at (972) 432-8811.We work closely with our patients to get them the smile of their dreams safely and effectively.