A dental implant is basically an artificial tooth root that is put into your jaw in place to hold onto a dental bridge or replacement tooth. In order to understand how dental implants work, it helps to have a basic understanding of the place where they are implanted. Once the dental implant has been placed into the jaw bone, it will be attached to the jawbone with screws. There are three areas that the tooth implant can be implanted into: inside your mouth, on the gum line, or behind the wisdom teeth. The placement of the implant typically falls into the category of wisdom tooth placement. Dental Implants work on adults and children equally, although they work best for children upon their first bite.
An alternative to dental implants is to place them surgically in a site where the jaw does not heal properly. For instance, if the bone in the middle of the tooth has died or has become weak after a period of decay, the tooth can be surgically placed at this same location. This is more common in adults, though there are also surgical procedures for children who do not get all their teeth through the normal growing process.
After a patient has decided that they wish to undergo dental implants, there are two places from which the device can be surgically placed: into the jaw bone or into the gums. The bone option involves a process called osteoplastic migration wherein the osteoplastic material from the damaged or decaying tooth is moved into a position where it fits comfortably. The gum option involves the placement of hard metal or resin into a good area where the jawbone and gum can fuse. The hard material then serves as the foundation for the prosthetic tooth. The gums are the next step and are used to replace the tissue that was removed during surgery.
Another option for dental implants is the creation of artificial tooth roots or bridges. Unlike with dentures and bridges, there are no lost teeth with dental implants and the patient only needs one replacement tooth per month. This option is much cheaper than dentures and bridges, though the dental implants themselves take about 3 years longer to create than dentures.
One of the most common types of dental implants is the endosteal implant, also called an abutment. These are actually artificial roots that are directly planted into the jaw bone. As is the case with endosteal implants, there is no need to remove any teeth to accomplish this procedure. The artificial roots are then fused to the jaw bone over six to nine months. During this time, the dentist will work on the structure of the jaw in order to make it as strong as possible.
Tooth implants are generally a good choice when it comes to replacing missing teeth. They offer the advantages of being permanent, providing a level of healing that dentures or bridges do not provide, and they can be used to help improve the overall oral health of the patient. They also have a tendency to last longer than dentures or bridges. However, there are some disadvantages to using dental implants for replacing missing teeth. First, they are expensive, tend to break easier, require more follow-up care after the procedure is completed, and may pose certain risks to the jaw and gum area. Learn more about implant basal here.
Implants can be used to improve jaw and neck pain caused by arthritis or sports injuries. When added to the bone, they provide increased stability, and in turn, reduction in pain. Some patients may experience additional benefits such as an increase in facial bone strength, improvement of gums, and jaw tightness. An oral implant can even be used to restore function in the mouth after a traumatic injury that results in loss of facial bones. There are many other ailments for which dental implants can be used. These include bone cancer, oral infections, jaw disorders such as TMJ, serious burns, birth defects, facial bone defects, and spinal cord injuries.
Because there are so many different reasons why an implant might be used, it’s important to understand all the possible benefits and risks associated with the procedure. It’s important to talk to a doctor about the benefits and risks of getting dental implants and to educate patients on the importance of maintaining regular dental hygiene. A patient needs to know how to care for their teeth to ensure that they are as healthy as possible before getting an implant. Improper care of teeth can lead to infection, complications, pain, and many other problems.