What are dental implants and how do they work?
When a person loses a tooth as a result of an accident or illness, they may face aftereffects including quick loss of bone, trouble speaking, or uncomfortable eating habits. Dental implants can greatly enhance a patient’s daily life and overall health in place of a missing tooth.
A dental implant system is made up of the implant body, abutment, and perhaps an abutment attachment screw. To take the place of the tooth’s root, the dental implant’s body is surgically inserted into the bone. The dental implant abutment extends through the gums into the mouth to support the implanted artificial teeth. It is typically fastened to the implant body using the abutment fixation screw.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
- restores a person’s mastication and chewing function.
- restores aesthetic appearance.
- prevents bone loss of the jaws.
- maintains the integrity of the surrounding gums and bone.
- stabilizes neighboring teeth.
- enhances quality of life.
What are the potential complications of dental implants?
- Surgery-related damage to the surrounding tissues.
- Implant failures (movement of the implant body) because of systemic infection, patients who have uncontrolled diabetes may be more susceptible to this.
- local infection in the bone and gums anchoring the implant body because of delayed healing, patients who smoke may also be more susceptible to this.
- nerve numbness following surgery.
How can one prepare for dental implant surgery?
The Day Prior to your Consultation for Dental Implants
- Make plans for getting for getting to and from the clinic. After the treatment, better to have someone drive you home.
- On the evening before your procedure, abstain from eating and drinking anything after midnight. Water is included in this since it may make you nauseated when the surgery is being done.
- As instructed, take any prescription drugs for your surgery.
The morning of the scheduled dental implant procedure
- As for fasting, according to your dentist’s or oral surgeon’s advice. It’s likely that you will be told to fast for a few hours prior to the surgery.
- Put on relaxed, comfy attire. Steer clear of anything that could hurt during the process, such as tight collars or buttons.
- As normal, brush your teeth, but refrain from using toothpaste or mouthwash with an intense flavor.
- Follow your surgeon’s or dentist’s instructions for taking any pre-operative drugs.
- Prepare a list of any prescription drugs, allergies, or health issues you may have that could affect the surgery.
Are dental implants suitable for everyone?
Dental implants are generally suitable for adults, though there are few exclusions. Since every case is unique, during your initial visit, your dentist will go over the specific solutions that will work for you.
The gum and bone around your implants, as well as how an implant heals, can all be affected by specific habits, illnesses, and medical procedures.
Your dentist can discuss other choices for replacing lost teeth with you if you are not a good candidate for dental implants. These options may include bridges or dentures.
Having an initial consultation with your dentist is the first step towards determining if implants are the correct option for you.
Your dentist will thoroughly review your medical history throughout your consultation. During a clinical evaluation, your dentist will discuss with you if implants are a good option for you. They will also discuss other options with you that may be appropriate.
whether you are a candidate for implants, your dentist will discuss with you the best kind of implants and let you know whether there are any preparatory procedures you need to have done, such as bone grafting, sinus lifts, or hygiene treatments.
How can the potential risks of dental implants be minimized?
- If you lead a healthy lifestyle, don’t smoke, and take good care of your teeth, your chances of getting peri-implantitis are much lower. If peri-implantitis causes problems for you, the dentist can treat your bone loss and repair or save your implant.
- Bacteria damage bone, erode the connective tissues around tooth roots, and ruin gums. In order to protect your outcome, a dentist will treat gingival disease before starting dental implant therapy.
- There is a chance that dental implants, because they are surgically placed in your jaw, will damage your nerves while being treated. This rare dental implant issue could cause tingling, soreness, or discomfort within the lips, gums, teeth, or chin. By doing a comprehensive dental examination and determining the exact location of your nerves, dental specialists can effectively choose the size of implant to use. This implies that they can effectively prevent harm from your dental implants by avoiding contact with the nerve.
- The failure of bone and implant to join is the most common problem with dental implants. If this happens, an expert dentist can remove the implant painlessly and promptly. They might be able to replace your implant right away, or they might need to wait for several months for your bone to heal.
