The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons reports that 69 percent of adults have lost at least one tooth by the age of 44, and 26 percent have lost all of their teeth by the age of 74. While bridges or dentures used to be the best option, dental implants are the optimal choice for retaining chewing efficiency and maintaining jawbone structure. In addition, dental implants do not slip or fail or need replacing. Dental implants are simply the best option to replace missing teeth.
What is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants look exactly like teeth. The big difference is that instead of a root, the end of an implant resembles a screw and is made from titanium. The titanium bonds with the bone, thus preventing any bone loss.
The components of a dental implant include the crown that is fashioned by the dentist to resemble your other teeth, and the titanium shaft which the crown attaches to. There is also an abutment that covers the portion of the titanium shaft that sits above the gum line.
The Best Candidates for Dental Implants
Ideally, a specialist in implant dentistry looks for patients who do not have underlying medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure. Implants are still possible, but special precautions may need to be made during the procedure for your safety.
Smoking reduces the success rate of dental implants. Therefore, it’s important to talk to your dentist to see if you still qualify. You may want to consider quitting smoking prior to the implants to increase the success rate.
If you’ve lost bone, dental implants are still a possibility, but you may need an oral surgeon who can graft bone for the insertion of the dental implants. Your dentist will discuss the pricing and procedure if you need the bone graft. Same-Day Dental Implants may be an alternative for patients with insufficient bone, and these do not require grafts.
Finally, children will not be given dental implants until their bones have stopped growing. Orthodontic spacers keep teeth from crowding into a spot where a tooth was until the jawbone is fully developed and ready for a dental implant.
Dental Implant Placement
Prior to the procedure, your dentist will give you a mild sedative and use local anesthesia to eliminate any pain. The posts are inserted into the jawbone and then a temporary replacement is inserted for the next three to six weeks. This time span ensures that the post bonds with the bone for a secure foundation. After a few weeks, you return to the dentist to have the crown designed. This process takes up to four months.
Same-Day dental implants are an ideal and quick solution for patients in need of multiple teeth. Four dental implants are inserted into the jawbone and then a row of teeth are attached to those implants. The benefit to this procedure is that the teeth and implants are finished in one day. Once implanted, the Same-Day is permanent.
Read more about dental implants at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons’ website. Dr. Gallardo has been placing dental implants for more than 15 years. To reach his office, call (305) 447-1447. You can also visit Gallardo & Lamas Periodontics and Implant Dentistry’s website and fill out the online form to have the office call you at your convenience.
