Two Methods of Securing Dental Implants

Are you a candidate for dental implants? You may be wondering if you are missing teeth from disease or accident or perhaps you are a denture wearer who is looking for an alternative.

In fact, there are multiple methods and materials for placing implants that make them a viable alternative for nearly every situation. The benefits of implants, in fact, outweigh traditional methods of replacing lost teeth so much that dentures and bridges are quickly becoming a method of the past.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

• An implant is a prosthetic tooth that is anchored in your jaw so that there will be no slippage, no sliding, and no loose teeth to deal with.
• Dental implants are cared for just like your normal teeth—through brushing, flossing, rinsing and regular dental exams.
• Implants are considered, for most patients, a long-term solution to tooth replacement. This is a huge advantage over the 5-10 year life expectancy for a denture or bridge.
• Dental implants give you the power of bite nearly equivalent to your natural teeth. It is estimated that an implant can chew with about 95% of the force that natural teeth can, while dentures can chew with only about 20% of the force of natural teeth.

Dental implants have been performed for decades, but the techniques are so well refined now that success rates for implant wearers are as high as 90-97%. Knowledge of the types of metals that are compatible with our bodies has made successful implant incorporation a sure thing. Because we now have a way to anchor prosthetic teeth into the jaw, we have the ability to create replacements that are so near to the real thing that patients of all ages are able to leave their tooth troubles behind.

The endosteal implant, or implant that is set in the jaw.

This implant, typically a screw made of surgical grade titanium, is placed directly into the bone to act as the root of a replacement tooth. It can be inserted through a simple surgical procedure in your dentist’s office and, for most patients, it takes about three months for the jawbone to heal and incorporate the screw. A temporary crown is placed on the screw at the time of implant, or in some cases as a second step in the process. Once the bone has healed and the gum line grows to create a natural looking space for the replacement tooth, a permanent restorative tooth is placed. This tooth can be expected to last a lifetime for most patients. It looks and feels like the natural teeth and care for a restorative tooth is the same as for your natural teeth, as well. A period of about six months is required for the entire procedure to be completed.

This process is good for replacing everything from a single missing tooth to an entire mouthful of teeth. For multiple teeth, however, the subperiosteal implant may be preferred.

The subperiosteal implant, or framework that sits beneath the gums and over the bone.

In this case, the surgical procedure involves drawing back the gums and placing a thin metal framework securely on the bone structure. The gums are then stitched back into place and given time to heal. The framework, which sits securely against the bone and becomes incorporated in time, will be used as the root structure for a series of teeth. This is similar to dentures or a bridge except that the teeth are permanently placed and securely rooted in your mouth.

This type of implant might also be used when the original bone has atrophied or the jaw structure is not suitable to hold screws inserted into the bone.

How do I know if implants will work for me?

Make an appointment with a dentist who is well-versed in dental implants to discuss the specifics of your needs. Through a general checkup, dental x-rays, and possibly a CT scan, a dentist should be able to give you a good idea of the type of implant most suitable for you. Ask your dentist about the implant techniques they are most familiar with and consider talking with more than one dentist if you don’t find options that match your needs.

The overall comfort level of having teeth that look and feel like your natural teeth, makes dental implants a worthy investment.