WHAT ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS?
If you want to replace your own teeth with the closest thing out there that would replace the teeth you were born with, then you want to look into Dental implants.
A dental implant is also a common term used when a bridge, crown or denture is used to perform as a dental anchor for effectively and painlessly replacing one or more missing or broken tooth.
You can now get the next best thing to your original teeth and get your healthy looking smile back again. Once you get your broken or lost teeth replaced by natural looking teeth, you can enjoy your daily routine again without any worry.
Some Facts About Dental Implants
Modern implants have been used for over 30 years very successfully as the best replacement option for real human teeth. They are devices that have been on the market for quite a while and support in the best possible way the option of natural looking teeth replacement.
In brief, an artificial tooth root is created that comes with screws and is similar to real teeth. These teeth are positioned in the jawbone and will naturally and painlessly mold into the bone structure within your mouth after a while. A connector will be used on top of the implant so that it can support the crown and function as a natural tooth. The procedure is safe and the outcome is predictable in almost all cases.
Did you know:
– Dental implants can be traced as far back as 600AD. In those days pieces of shell were used? Also, can preserve the natural bone by stimulating the growth of the bone.
– The first time dental implants were done was in 1951. The group was known as the American Academy of Implant Dentistry or the AAID.
– It was in 1952 that Dr. Branemark, a distinguished Swedish orthopedic surgeon, discovered that the use of titanium was best for implants since it will naturally fuse with the bone and so titanium was first used at that time in some implants.
Procedure
The patient who is going to go under this procedure should be healthy and have good oral hygiene.
1) The mouth will be numbed locally with anesthesia.
2 A small incision will be made in the bone where the tooth will be implanted.
3) A drill will make a hole into the bone
4) The implant will be screwed into the hole either by hand or with a special drill.
5) A special piece of material will be screwed into the implant to assist with the healing process.
6) The gum is stitched over the implant so as to hold it together.
7) With time the implant will fuse with the bone and gum.
8) Later on, a crown will be formed and placed on the implant.
It is expected to have some swelling of the gum and bone area where the implant has been placed. This discomfort can be easily taken care of usually by painkillers that are found over the counter. The healing process takes place within 2-4 weeks.