What is Dental Implant?
Dental Implant is a titanium stud that is surgically placed into your jawbone in the area of missing teeth to support the final dental prosthesis like a crown, bridge or denture. Since dental implant derives its stability and resiliency from your own jawbone, it is sturdy and exactly simulates your natural teeth functionality.
Dental Implant is the ideal solution in cases where you have lost teeth due to decay, fracture or trauma. People who have lost teeth due to a failed root canal treatment or have missing teeth since birth are also good candidates for dental implants. Healthy gums and healthy jawbone are pre-requisites for dental implant candidates. Poor oral hygiene, extensive gum disease, chronic smoking, patient on immune suppressive drugs, severe bruxism, pregnancy, uncontrolled diabetes are few conditions that make dental implant placement a challenge to the dentist.
Benefits of Dental Implant
- Dental implant is a fixed dental prosthesis. You do not have to face embarrassing situations like loosening in case of a denture.
- Preserves natural jawbone height. Prevents facial muscles collapse. Gives a more youthful and natural appearance.
- Simulates natural teeth in form and functionality.
- Durable and long-lasting
- Dental bridges require grinding of natural teeth for placement. Dental implants only engage jawbone, thus preventing unnecessary alteration of natural teeth.
- Implant supported dentures are highly stable and do not require any adhesives for fixture, unlike conventional dentures.
Dental Implant Procedure
The word” Dental Implants” petrifies many a patient as they consider dental implant procedure to be lengthy and painful. Whereas dental implant surgery, when performed by an expert oral surgeon, is a piece of cakewalk. The implant procedure is mainly divided into 4 sections for simplicity:
- Oral Examination and consultation
- Dental implant Surgery
- Final dental prosthesis delivery
- Post-implant care
Oral Examination and consultation
The dentist will examine your oral cavity to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for the implant procedure. Dental x-ray, OPG, CBCT of the concerned area is done. Extraction of the damaged tooth, oral prophylaxis, cavities if any are treated to ensure you have a near healthy oral hygiene prior to surgery. Photographs and impressions of your teeth are recorded.
Dental implant Surgery
Pre-operative antibiotics and painkillers are administered. Smoking, anticoagulants are stopped days before surgery.
Dental implant surgery is carried out under local anesthesia or oral sedation. The dentist slits your gums to expose the healthy bone. Your bone is drilled to make place for the dental implant. The implant is driven into the bone and the gums are stitched over it.
In some cases your bone may not be adequate enough, so a bone graft is done by the oral surgeon to ensure success of the implant.
You are recalled after a week for removal of stitches. Post-surgery you are required to maintain strict oral hygiene. The dentist will recall you after a few months for final prosthesis delivery as the implant demands time to fuse completely and strongly with bone. The dentist may give you an interim temporary tooth replacement option like a removable prosthesis for use during those months.
Final dental prosthesis delivery
Once the implant has firmly integrated with the bone, the restorative dentist places a connector post called “abutment” that protrudes from the gums while being attached to the implant beneath. This abutment is the connecting link between the implant in the bone and the artificial tooth overlying it. The dentist then records the impression of the abutment and surrounding teeth in the concerned area to give the final prosthesis over it. Here cosmetic dentistry plays a pivotal role in helping the dentist give you an artificial tooth that is similar in form, function, and color to your previous/adjacent tooth. This is the final step. Once done you can enjoy a high-quality active lifestyle as before. No worries of tooth loosening or tooth loss anymore.
Post-implant care
Post-implant surgery and placement the only care that you need to take is regular cleaning and maintenance of the implant and supporting tooth. Regular flossing, twice a day brushing; and a biannual check-up and oral prophylaxis by your family dentist is sufficient to keep all problems at bay. Tobacco use and smoking should be strictly avoided. If properly cared for; Dental Implants can last a lifetime!
How much do I pay for a Dental Implant?
Dental Implants do offer a definite, durable and long-lasting solution to lost teeth, but yes at a price that is a bit heavy on the pocket. Any dental Implant procedure cost depends upon the number of implants to be placed, type and quality of implant, the bone available for implant placement, additional procedures like bone grafting, sinus lifting, the type of replaced artificial tooth, oral surgeon and cosmetic dentist expertise and so on. So the cost is always customized for each patient. However, the approximate cost for a single tooth implant ranges between $4000 to $5000.
The dental implant cost is much higher when compared to the dental bridge cost or the dentures cost, but yes the benefits of dental implants are worth every penny and override the drawbacks of bridges or dentures. As a dental health professional, the patient is always proposed the best alternatives for his/her dental health. It all depends on you whether to choose the best or to face the worst dental problems and higher dental charges later.
“Remember Implant surgery is not expensive, but neglect is”
Summary
Dental Implants are a complex and demanding dental service that require a skilled and experienced hand. Appropriate credentials with expert knowledge and updated training are all that you need to search for before zeroing in on the perfect dental surgeon for Dental Implants.
High-quality Dental Implants, when placed by a competent dental surgeon following standard protocols with proper aftercare, is a sure-shot concoction to success!
We at ProSmile Family Dental have the best expertise and technology to help you through your dental implant journey smoothly. Contact us for a customized dental solution in Modesto today!