Before dental implants, individuals typically had to choose either a dental bridge or partial or full dentures if they lost one or more teeth. While these options filled in a blank space in the smile, they certainly left quite a bit to be desired. Today’s dental implants are far superior to older options in many ways.
Dental Implants
Much as the name suggests, dental implants are toothlike structures implanted deep beneath the gums into the jawbone itself. Unlike dentures, dental implants look almost exactly like natural teeth, letting patients smile, talk and eat without embarrassment. Plus, because periodontists place these implants in the jawbone, they are strong and long-lasting, letting patients eat all of their favorite foods once again.
Dental implants must be placed surgically to give the periodontist access to the underlying tissues. Most patients sometimes have to undergo one or more procedures before seeing their final results. However, this patience will be rewarded once the jawbone has healed around the implant, providing strong and solid support for the new tooth.
Candidates for Dental Implant Surgery
Any individual who has permanently lost an adult tooth may be a good candidate for a dental implant. However, each candidate must also meet the following qualifications.
-Have good oral health overall
-Be generally healthy without any chronic conditions that would affect healing
-Want a long-term, cosmetically positive solution rather than bridgework or dentures
-Be willing to wait several months to complete the process
The Risks of Dental Implant Surgery
There are certain factors that can increase the risk of complications around implants or the need for several procedures; some major examples are smokers, especially long term heavy smokers (over 10 cigarettes a day), other examples are systemic conditions like uncontrolled Diabetes, severe Osteoporosis, arthritis, and previous periodontal disease to name a few.
In addition to being a good candidate for the procedure, patients should also understand the risks of dental implant surgery before committing to the process.
In general, this is a very safe periodontal procedure. However, like any surgical procedure, there is a small risk of some minor issues that can be controlled or avoided with good planning and following pre- and post-operative instructions. Common avoidable risks are infection, pain, swelling, and bleeding. More concerning risks are rare but could include the following:
-Nerve damage, which could lead to numbness or tingling in the area
-Damage to surrounding tissues, including blood vessels
-Sinus infection following dental implants in the Maxilla.
Preparation for Dental Implant Surgery
Before heading into dental implant surgery, patients must undergo thorough evaluations to ensure that they are good candidates for the procedure and to ensure that their oral structures are healthy. This will usually include a complete oral examination with the periodontist, a review of the patient’s past medical and surgical history and a discussion of the proposed treatment plan, including sedation options.
With advancements in Digital dentistry, a number of periodontal specialists now use 3D Cone Beam CT scans (CBCT) scans to help guide the surgical placement of the implant.
The periodontist will also give the patient pre-operative instructions, including which medications to take or avoid. Depending on the type of sedation to be given, the patient may be given instructions as to when they should stop eating prior to the procedure if he or she will undergo Oral or IV sedation.
Of course, patients should also have a care plan in place for the recovery period. They should arrange rides to and from the dental implant surgery and should plan on taking the rest of the day off to aid in the healing process.
The Surgical Procedure
Like many cosmetic procedures, dental implant surgery may usually require several steps. Patients typically need to heal in-between steps and should be patient with the process.
The basic steps for the dental implant procedure include the following:
- Removing damaged teeth
- Preserving existing bone or building bone to allow for ideal implant placement using bone grafts.
- Surgical placement of implant post.
- Allowing the bone to heal
- Impression for final crown
- Placing the abutment and artificial tooth (Crown)
During the initial part of the surgery, the periodontist will make a small cut in the gums so that he can access the bone. He will drill a hole in the jawbone and place the implant post. The patient must then wait several months for healing to take place.
Bone Grafting
In some cases, the patient may not have sufficient bone for the placement of a dental implant. Bone grafting can add enough bone to hold the implant or can provide a hard base for those with soft bones.
Bone grafts can be done using natural bone taken from a different spot in the jaw or using synthetic/allograft bone material obtained from Certified Bone Banks.
The New Tooth
Once the implant has been integrated into the jawbone, the Restorative Dentist can place the tooth. He/She will take impressions to create the right size and shape of the crown to place on top of the abutment.
Patients will be able to choose between removable and fixed crowns. Removable crowns look somewhat like removable dentures and can snap on and off the abutment. Fixed crowns are permanently attached to their abutments and are incredibly strong.
Dental Implant Care
Patients should care for their dental implants in much the same way that they care for their remaining natural teeth. For example, brushing regularly and coming in for preventive cleaning and care can prevent gradual discoloration and damage to the crown. In addition, individuals should stay away from staining foods and drinks and should avoid chewing very hard items, such as ice.
Monterey Periodontics Center serves patients in Monterey and Carmel, California who miss one or multiple teeth. Such periodontal procedures as dental implant surgery help change people’s lives, improve confidence and offer a better quality of life while supporting complete oral health.
BEFORE (ACTUAL PATIENT) AFTER
(Combination Dental Implant and Restorative Case)