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Understanding Dental Implants

When someone looses a permanent tooth they are not simply losing a tool meant for chewing; they are losing a strengthening agent for their jaw, and an important player in the alignment of their teeth. Tooth alignment determines how we chew and this in turn impacts the muscles and bones of our jaw, neck and head. A missing tooth can start a chain reaction which leads to head and neck aches, shifting teeth and an alteration to the diet.

All of these reasons are what prompt dentists to recommend tooth replacement. This can be achieved through a variety of methods, including bridges, dentures, partials, and implants. Of all the choices, dental implants are the only method of adding strength and stability to the jaw by replacing the missing roots as well as the missing tooth. Teeth are composed of three distinct regions – the hard outer shell called the enamel, the softer inner tissue called the dentin and the innermost pulp of a tooth which contains blood and lymph vessels as well as nerves and which usually rests in the roots of the teeth. The roots of the teeth are embedded in the jaw bone, and as long as the tooth is healthy, it supports and strengthens the surround bone. Dental implants are similar to normal teeth in that they have a “root” like region as well as crown that has the same function and appearance as the original dentin and enamel portion of the tooth. Implants vary in size, but all require the surgical implantation of an anchor into the jaw bone. Afterward a period of “osseointegration” must occur, which takes from three to six months, during which time the surrounding tissue connects to and accepts the anchor. If osseointegration fails, the process can be tried again, but in a different area of the bone.

Once the anchor is settled into place a temporary “crown” is set into the gum. This will allow the tissue to become familiar and receptive to the permanent crown. Once the permanent crown is bolted to the anchor the process is complete. Currently, dental statistics indicate a ninety five percent success rate for implants in the lower jaw and a ninety percent success rate for those in the upper jaw. While the explanation for this variation is undetermined, most dental experts agree that it has something to do with lower bone densities in the upper jaw areas which make successful osseointegration more difficult. Not everyone is a candidate for the procedure and only a properly trained dentist or oral surgeon will be able to make the final determination. Issues such as space and bone condition will affect the decision, and some dentists recommend an alternative treatment called a “mini implant” which is a significantly smaller anchor only partially submerged into the bone. These are used to replace smaller teeth, or for those who are in need of anchor teeth for their dentures or overdentures.

Those with implants will still be required to follow a regular plan for oral hygiene because the soft tissue of the gums and areas surrounding the implants are just as susceptible to bacteria and infection as natural teeth and gums.