Modern dental implant surgery is a relatively new branch of science in comparison to other branches of medicine and dentistry, but the concept and practice began many centuries ago. In China, for example, the problem of missing teeth in 2000 BC was solved by the use of pegs made out of bamboo.
This dental speciality has come a long way, and today if you visit a dental clinic in Los Angeles, California, or even in a European city like Antalya where there is a modern dental clinic known as Dental Centre Turkey, you are going to find modern equipment well suited for the fitting of permanent dental implants.
It is said that the first implant procedure close to modern-day procedures was done around 1000 BC. This approximation is based on a discovery that was made of the body of one Egyptian king, whose upper jaw had a peg made out of copper. What implants do dental doctors use today? Read on to find out.
About Today’s Modern Implants
It is important to understand that today, for a dental specialist to recommend a dental implant the root of your tooth must be fragile. The doctor, therefore, intends to replace that root with some stronger material; normally screwed into your jawbone.
After assessment by a qualified dental doctor, you are likely to have dental implants recommended to serve various purposes: as a replacement for missing teeth; to stand in place of dentures or even bridgework, when these do not suit the gaps on the jaw properly. Other times, dental specialists recommend implants where the roots of the teeth are too weak to support bridgework or dentures.
In short, implants serve as effective support for dentures or other teeth replacements. Although a mouth with a full set of teeth, either natural or artificial, gives you a better look and a more pronounced smile, the condition of your jaw will always guide the doctor on the kind of implants to give you.
If your dental doctor recommends implants for you, prepare yourself psychologically for a reasonable bone-healing period – probably a couple of months – because the drilled areas of the bone, surrounding the implants, require a couple of months to properly heal.
Why You Might Require Dental Implants
How can you guess that implants are better for you than dental veneers? You need to have a conversation with your doctor when you realize you have issues with your teeth, but it can be more reassuring if you already know what the likely option is for you. You might require implants if:
- the base of your teeth is weak
- some of your natural teeth are missing
- you have cavities
- you want a long-lasting solution to damaged teeth
Implants are a better solution to situations just mentioned because dental veneers or bridges might not hold their own. Moreover, alternatives like porcelain veneers might keep slipping and making discomforting noises, unlike implants which are made out of titanium and screwed right into the jawbone.
At the same time, any dental pieces fitted on your mouth that depend on your natural teeth for support are likely to become unstable once your jaw muscles begin to shrink or your teeth begin decaying.
Keep in mind the importance of choosing a licensed dental clinic for your dental services. You do not want to risk having a shoddy job done on your mouth; you must ensure you have a doctor skilled enough to avoid any damage to your jawbone. The skills to fit patients with dental implants are, arguably, more complex than those of fitting them with veneers or bridges.
Conditions for Fitting Implants
For your dental specialist to recommend implants, you must have one or more missing teeth; your jaw must be mature and with sufficient bone to hold implants securely; the tissues in your mouth must be healthy, and you should not have any health issues that would affect the healing of your jawbone.
In the event your bone is insufficient to hold the implants, it should, at least, be healthy enough to enable bone grafting.
It is important to note that for your dental implants to be helpful over the anticipated number of years, and for you not to instigate new health issues, you should not be smoking.
Risks involved in Fitting of Implants
Although the fitting of implants is a specialized procedure, it is a straightforward undertaking when done by a qualified dental surgeon. However, like any medical surgery, there are some risks involved, some of them associated with post-surgery care. Luckily, many of the negative things that can happen during or after surgery can be easily corrected.
Have a look at the eventualities linked to dental implant surgery:
- injury to the area surrounding the implant; especially to a neighbouring tooth
- Damage to a nerve, which can elicit tingling or pain within the gum; or even to one or more of the natural teeth
- infection developing on the site of the dental implant
- Sinus issues; particularly if a dental implant on the upper side of the jaw protrudes and touches a sinus cavity.
Preparation for the Dental Implant Procedure
Like any other surgery, the procedure to fit dental implants needs a certain form of preparation. In certain cases, the preparation might even involve different specialists; like in situations where the patient is not even seeking to have a Hollywood Smile, but a normal functioning mouth. A patient with maxillofacial complications is a case in point, and would require not only a dental implant surgeon but also an oral & maxillofacial specialist and a periodontist, to name but a few.
Steps to be undertaken before Dental Implantation
Among the steps that need to be undertaken in preparation to have implants fitted, steps that may not be necessary when preparing to have dental veneers fitted, include a thorough dental examination; a review of the patient’s medical history; and a plan of treatment.
The examination includes dental X-rays, 3-dimension images, and more, targeting not only the teeth but the jaw. As for the medical history, it is crucial that you disclose any health condition you are experiencing, any treatment drugs you are taking, and other health details. If you have a chronic condition you are managing, you need to disclose that too to your doctor.
You also need to ensure you have a clear treatment plan agreed upon between you and your doctor because that increases the chances of your dental procedures becoming successful. If the doctor prescribes antibiotics before any dental procedures can begin, ensure you take them as prescribed. The treatment plan will give you and your doctor a good idea of how long it will take to have you go home with well-fitted dental implants.
