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Benefits of Implant Treatment
The loss of teeth can cause severe shrinkage of the supporting jawbone ('disuse atrophy') and lead to unwanted changes in the facial appearance. To see how tooth loss can cause unwanted facial changes please <Click here>.
The use of dental implants can support replacement teeth and preserve the bone, thereby helping to preserve a youthful appearance. Dentures can be avoided and it is not necessary to have teeth drilled as in bridge and crown techniques. For these important reasons, implants are often considered to be the best method for replacing missing teeth
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a metal replacement (analogue) for the root of a natural tooth. Implants are made from titanium which is covered with a microscopic layer of titanium dioxide. This oxide layer forms a close and strong bond with living bone because it is 'biocompatible'. The fusion of an implant to the bone is called 'osseointegration”. Implants are scientifically proven, as a safe and reliable means of replacing absent teeth. Dental implants been shown to last up to 30 years.
Uses for Dental Implants
Implants can be used to replace:·
- A single missing tooth and root
- One or more fixed bridges
- To give superior grip and comfort to full dentures. Implants can be used to replace one, several or all the missing teeth.
Timing of Dental Implants
As a general rule, the sooner implants are inserted after tooth extraction, the simpler the surgery is, the better the cosmetic result and the less costly is the procedure. Nonetheless, we carry out many advanced procedures and achieve excellent cosmetic results even when the teeth have been lost as long ago as 15 to 20 years ago.
The time between the loss or extraction of teeth has a major impact on the the level of surgery needed, the cosmetic result and the costs incurred for treatment. Implants can be inserted at 3 times in this context:
1. Immediate dental implants
These are implants which are inserted into tooth sockets immediately after the teeth are extracted (at the same operation and on the same day that the teeth are removed). Typically, this type of surgery is indicated when a patient suffers a severe sharp blow causing a deep fracture of the root. Essentially, there must be no history of infections around the teeth if they are to be replaced by immediate implants.
2. Delayed immediate implants
These constitute the typical implants. They are inserted 6 to 12 weeks after the tooth has been lost. The advantage of this approach is that there is no time for bone to shrink ('disuse atrophy') and they usually gives the best cosmetic result for fixed-teeth. Teeth which have suffered small or medium infection (for example a root treatment which has not settled or has failed though recurrent infection) can be replaced with this technique.
3. Delayed implants
These are implants inserted anytime between 3 months and 20 years after tooth loss. Delayed implantantation is used when significant infection has been present around natural teeth.
Delayed implantation is often used simply because a long period has elapsed before the patient hears about the benefits of implant treatment. Delayed implants can be used to support fixed or removable teeth. As a general rule, the longer the delay between tooth and implant treatment the more likely it is that removable teeth supported by implants will be the most suitable option.
Conditions which Usually Cause Bone Damage and Require Prompt Treatment:
- teeth with root-fractures
- long-standing gum infection (gum disease or 'periodontitis')
- persistent bone infection (apical abscesses)
- teeth that have undergone repeated surgery ('apicectomy')
- teeth with cysts.
All the above problems tend to result in bone loss around the teeth; often without any obvious signs or symptoms. If you have any of the above problems, ask your dentist to refer you to Dr Young as soon as possible.
If at the time you are examined for implant treatment, the bone has dissolved to some degree then it might be necessary for the bone to be repaired or re-grown ('augmented') before implant treatment can proceed.
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