Dental Implants

What is an Implant?

Implants are tiny pins made of specially compatible pure titanium which are inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of a missing tooth. Its placement is usually done in less than an hour in the surgery with only local anaesthesia. During a healing period of approximately 3 to 6 months the bone grows tightly around the surface of the implant and grips it firmly in the jaw. The dentist can then attach crowns, bridges or removable dentures to these artificial roots.

At what time is the implant inserted?

Implants can either be inserted immediately after the tooth is lost (immediate implant placement) or a long time afterwards (delayed implant placement). Implants shaped like roots of natural teeth are used for immediate implant placement. In general, the sooner the implant is inserted the better. Once a tooth is missing, no chewing forces are exerted on this area and the jaw bone recedes.

What are the alternatives to implants?

Bridges:
Conventional techniques involve the dentist closing gaps with a bridge consisting of 2,3 or  multi -units supported by the adjacent teeth. These adjacent teeth have to be trimmed and healthy tooth structure is sacrificed. A drawback of bridges is that the volume of the underlying section of the jawbone reduces as there are no chewing forces exerted on it.
Removable partial- or full dentures:
This option may cause problems as patients often consider the denture a foreign body. It impedes chewing and speaking and may cause choking. It is much more difficult to fit a stable denture to the lower jaw due to the small volume for grip.

What are the indications for implants?

1. A gap between the front teeth:
Conventional methods call for a 3-unit bridge supported by the two adjacent teeth. In this case an implant is a better alternative. As teeth do not have to be trimmed, this preserves healthy teeth and maintains the volume of the jaw bone.

2. A wide gap between the teeth:
In principal it has the same effect as a single tooth gap. Conventional methods call for a multi-unit bridge supported by sufficient adjacent teeth to be available to support it. Bridges or single crowns supported on implants are definitely easier and more pleasant in such cases.

3. Free-ends or shortened row of teeth:
If teeth are lost with advanced age, this process usually begins with the back, "grinding" teeth. This results in the so-called "free-end". Removable partial dentures with connecting bars is the conventional method of treatment. An implant acting as a second bridge support or multiple implants supporting bridges or crowns is a more comfortable alternative.

4. All teeth are missing:
Upper and/or lower jaws with no teeth lead to considerable problems. The only conventional type of treatment is removable full dentures. Your dentist can use implants to stabilise full dentures. A bar is constructed which is supported by two or four implants and retains the denture securely. Even a fixed restoration--bridge--can be fitted by using 6-8 implants inserted around the entire jaw.