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If you have missing teeth, dental implants are one solution for teeth replacement. Implants can also help preserve tooth-supporting bone that naturally deteriorates when a tooth is lost. Bone loss is one of the major hidden consequences of losing teeth.
A dental implant most often takes the form of a small, screw-shaped titanium post that replaces the root part of a missing tooth. After a healing period, the implant is topped with a lifelike crown custom-made to match your existing natural teeth. Implants have a documented success rate of over 95% .
How Implants Work
During the surgical procedure, your dental implant is inserted directly into the jawbone in the space vacated by the missing tooth. It will then be left to heal for around 4-6 months before the final crown is attached. During this healing period, the implant actually fuses to the surrounding bone.
Tooth Replacement Options Using Dental Implants
Implants can replace missing teeth in a variety of ways. They can be used to:
Replace One Tooth - When only one tooth is missing, a single implant is inserted into the bone to replace the root part of the missing tooth.
A custom-made crown is then screwed onto the implant to take the place of the missing tooth.
Replace Multiple Teeth - Implants are an ideal mechanism for mutiple teeth replacement. Instead of requiring an implant for each missing tooth, implant teeth can act as supports for fixed bridgework. If have three missing three teeth in a row, implants would be placed on either side of the gap. A custom-made 3-tooth bridge would be attached to the two implants.
Replace All Teeth Permanently - Implants can support an entire arch of upper or lower replacement teeth that are fixed into the mouth and are never removed. Depending on the condition of the jawbone, the new teeth can be supported by as few as 4 implants. In cases where the jawbone density and volume has deteriorated, 5 or 6 implants might be needed to support a row of 10 to 12 teeth.
Support Removable Dentures - Implants can even make removable dentures more comfortable, effective and healthier to wear. Some traditional dentures rest on the gums and put pressure on the underlying bone. This accelerates bone loss so that the jaw shrinks and the dentures slip, particularly on the bottom. Fortunately, dentists can now attach a removable denture onto implants, transferring that pressure into the bone structure rather than the bone surface. This prevents the dentures from slipping while you eat and speak, while preserving the bone directly underneath.
Implant Care and Maintenance
With proper oral care, your implants can last a lifetime. However, there are two primary ways an implant can lose attachment to the bone and fail once it has successfully fused: poor oral hygiene or excessive biting forces.
Poor oral hygiene, along with a lack of regular cleanings can lead to a destructive bacterial infection called peri-implantitis. Flossing and brushing your teeth on a daily basis, along with regular professional cleanings, can prevent this.
Excessive biting forces can result from an insufficient number of implants to handle the forces generated by your bite, which can be prevented by receiving the correct number of implants recommended by your dentist or oral surgeon. Habitual grinding or clenching of your teeth can also lead to excessive biting forces, which can be alleviated by wearing a nightguard to absorb the forces.