Dental Implants
Poor oral hygiene or injury can cause a person to lose teeth. Missing teeth can not only affect a person's smile, but also a person's self confidence. Dental implants, however, can replace missing teeth and improve the appearance of a person's smile.
Dental implants are threaded metal cylinders (they look like screws) that are implanted into the jawbone beneath gum tissue and serve as artificial teeth roots. An abutment is attached to the implanted cylinder and an artificial tooth (dental crown) is attached to the abutment. The dental crown looks like a real tooth and completes the smile.
Dental implants can be used for cosmetic dentistry purposes. If a person is missing a tooth or teeth, and would like to improve their smile without dentures or dental bridges, dental implants may be a good option for tooth restoration.
Dental implant cost - The cost of a single dental implant can range from $1,000 to $5,000.
Dental Implant Advantages
Dental implants have many advantages over other common tooth replacement methods. Dental implants look and function like a natural tooth and can replace a single tooth without damaging neighboring teeth. Also, a dental implant can be more aesthetic and easier to clean than a dental bridge.
Dental Implant Candidates
Ideal dental implant patients are healthy adults who are missing teeth from decay or injury. A dental implant patient should have good oral hygiene, strong gums and jaw bone. A person who is unwilling or unable to wear dentures is also an ideal dental implant patient.
A dentist will perform a complete dental examination and evaluation to help a person determine if he or she is an ideal dental implant surgery candidate.
Dental Implant Surgery
For surgery, a person is given anesthesia for pain control. A person may be given local anesthesia, sedation, or general anesthesia. A person is also given specific instructions about what to eat and drink prior to and after surgery.
During surgery, a dental surgeon cuts into the gum to expose the jawbone and holes are drilled so the implants can be placed. The dental implant is then placed into the jawbone and the gums are stitched closed over the cylinder. The implant sits below the surface of the gum and is not visible when the mouth is open.
Jawbones that are not healthy or strong enough for a dental implant may require bone grafting. Grafting involves taking bone from another area of the body and implanting it into the jaw. Bone graft healing can take about six months after which dental implant surgery is continued.
The surgical process can take a few months if a person requires several dental implants. After a person heals from the implant surgery, the abutment is placed and a person must then heal from this as well. After this, the artificial tooth is applied.
After Dental Implant Surgery
After dental implant surgery, a person may have swelling in the jaw, mouth, and face. Sometimes, bruising around the jaw area occurs, and a person can have problems opening his or her mouth. A person will need to eat soft foods for five to seven days. Typically, stitches dissolve in the mouth, or a person will need to visit a dentist to have stitches removed.
To learn more about dental implant surgery, porcelain veneers (or other dental procedures), dental insurance, tooth decay, gum disease, oral cancer, dental braces, cosmetic dentists or to find a cosmetic dentist, visit Consumer Guide to Dentistry.