INTRODUCTION
Since childhood we get so many instructions like do not eat lots of sweets and chocolates, brush your teeth properly, have fibrous diet, etc.etc. in order to keep our teeth healthy, strong and long lasting. But unfortunately at some stage of life we all have to face the awful problem of teeth loss as it hampers eating as well as our facial esthetics.
So, if we plan to replace our missing teeth we have 3 options, removable teeth (removable dentures), bridges (fixed teeth) and dental implants.
Removable teeth are highly intolerable, they have mobility in mouth, they sometimes come out while talking or laughing creating embarrassing situations for patients.
Bridges are fixed but for fabricating a bridge we have to trim the teeth adjacent to the space created by the missing tooth,so it damages our natural and healthy teeth.
Now we are left with the option of implants.Implants are tooth root like posts that are placed in jaw bones. They serve as tooth root and the crown or the tooth portion that we see in our mouth is fabricate over it.
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| Fig 1.Image showing implant in the bone and the crown over it. |
Why should I opt for Dental Implants?
No replacement is better than our natural teeth. But after losing natural teeth, implants is the best replacement available. Let's see how-
- It restores the form and functions of our oral cavity. We can eat normally as we used to with our natural teeth. There would be no restriction on food.
- It prevents our cheeks and lips from sagging inside which always happens after our teeth are lost. So, it restores our smile and beauty.
- When natural teeth are lost, the jaw bones starts resorbing down in that particular area and makes our jaws weak and prone to fractures. And as the implants are placed in jaw bones they prevent this resorption of bone.
- No need to do unnecessary cutting of other healthy teeth for making bridges or more embarrassment due to your removable teeth. Your pets will not run away with your removable teeth.
- Since the implants are exactly like our natural teeth in form and function, we become more comfortable and our speech becomes more confident like it was with natural teeth.
- And yes, say good bye to cavities.
- The results are more predictable and prognosis is excellent. One day we all die but the implants remain intact in the jaw bones forever.
- Even if you have to replace one tooth, multiple teeth or the whole jaw's teeth, it can be done with implants. Se Fig 2 and 3.
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| Fig 2.Single tooth replaced |
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| Fig 3.Whole denture is fabricated over 6 implants |
Am I the right candidate for implants?
- People willing for long term fixed teeth.
- When adjacent teeth not in a condition to support a bridge and patient is not willing for a removable denture.
- People with no immunological disorder like diabetes and blood pressure are better candidates for dental implants, though there being no definite contraindication.
Will implants cause any allergic reaction in my body?
We all have this query in our mind that the implants are like foreign material in our body and can cause some allergic reaction. But the answer is "No". The implants don't cause any allergic or foreign body reaction in our body because they are made of "Titanium". Titanium is a metal that is completely inert in our body. It is categorized under biocompatible materials. These are the material which do not cause any reaction in our body.
How is the Implant procedure performed?
It is a simple procedure performed by your dental surgeon. Generally it is done in 3 stages. See Fig 4.
1. Implant placement: The first stage is surgical. Please don't get scared with the word "surgical". Its a very small procedure done under local anesthesia. In this stage, the doctor makes a small cut in your gums and with the help of a drill the implant is placed in your jaw bone. And then the gums are sutured back.
After this, the implant is left for 2.5-3 months in the bone untouched. In this rest period the implant osseointegrates (osseo- bone, integrates- fuses) with the bone.
2. Abutment placement: In this stage, the gums are opened again and a small attachment known as Abutment is screwed over the implant. Then a weeks time is given to gums to settle around the abutment.
3. Crown placement: In this third and final stage, the impression of the jaw is taken and crown is fabricated over the implant and abutment structure.
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| Fig 4. Three sections showing the 3 stages of implants procedure. |
What precautions do I have to take after getting an Implant done?
1. Maintenance of proper oral hygiene is must.
2. Visit your dentist every 6 months for check-up.
So, we got to know that after losing teeth, implants are the best option available for us for replacement of our missing teeth as they restore the form and function of our mouth, restore our looks and smile, do not cause any reaction in our body and they stay with us lifelong.
