A dental implant is an artificial tooth replacement used to counter tooth loss. There are a number of options for the treatment of missing teeth but dental implants are by far one of the functionally most effective and durable. The advantages of getting dental implants are that dental implants are stronger than bridges and dentures and can be permanent solutions for tooth loss. They are also virtually indistinguishable from real teeth.

Today, most dental implants are made from titanium. Titanium is a metal with many advantages for this purpose. In most cases, anyone that is healthy enough to undergo dental extraction or similar surgeries is a candidate for dental implants. It is crucial that the patient has healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. With proper hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, a dental implant generally lasts 10-20 years.

The Advantages with Dental Implants

• Dental implants are stronger and more durable than their restorative counterparts (such as dentures and bridges)
• Implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss
• Implants can be used to support a dental bridge and dentures for maximum effectiveness
• Implants are virtually indistinguishable from other teeth
• Implants are among the most successful procedures in dentistry

The Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implants are usually placed in one single dentist setting. However they do require a period of osseointegration.Osseointegration is the process when the dental implant root is anchored to the jaw. Osseointegrated implants are also the most common and successful type of dental implants. 
 

A dental implant is usually composed of a titanium material screw and a crown. Ah small hole is drilled into the site in the jaw in order to guide the titanium screw that will hold the implant in place. When the whole has been drilled it is slowly widened to allow place for the screw. It takes about three to six months for the implant to wholly anchor and heal. Once the implant has anchored with the jawbone, an artificial prosthesis (often in the form of a crown) is attached and the process is completed. If the osseointegration does not occur, the implant will fail.

What Are Dental Implants made of?

Today, most dental implants are made from titanium. Titanium is a metal with many advantages for this purpose. First of all; it is almost fully nonmagnetic and extremely strong. With time, it also develops a thin film on its surface that protects the material from corroding. In opposition of many other metallic’s, the body does not reject titanium implants as foreign objects.

Can Anyone Get Dental Implants?

In most cases, anyone that is healthy enough to undergo dental extraction or similar surgeries is a candidate for dental implants. It is crucial that the patient has healthy gums and enough bone to hold the implant. Anyone considering dental implants should discuss this with an experienced dentist.

How Long Does Dental Implants last?

With proper hygiene and regular visits to the dentist, a dental implant generally lasts 10-20 years.

Types of Dental Implants

There are many implants available on the market, each designed for a specific function. Most implant types are made of titanium, which has been proven very effective at fusing with living bone, the process described above as “osseointegration”.

Root Form Implant

Root form implants are the closest in shape and size to the natural tooth root. They have a similar shape to the root and has a surface area designed to promote good attachment to the bone. The implants look like screws or thick nails and come in a variety of widths and lengths. This kind of implant is most popular where there is plenty of depth and width in the jawbone. 
At consultation, the dentist decides which type of implant to use based on the quality of the bone in the jaw and the type of crown, denture or bridge placed on top of the implant.

Plate form Implants

Plate form implants are commonly used when the bone is so narrow so that a root form implant is unsuitable for the grafting of the bone. Another name for this kind of implant is Blade-Form Implant. These kinds of implants are flat and long, and can therefore fit better into a narrow jawbone. A plate form implant is placed in the jaw so that the prong(s) stick out into the mouth. This prong will then support the crown, bridge or denture on top of it.

Subperiosteal Implants

A subperiosteal implant is used in the cases where there is not enough bone width or height for the root form or plate form implant. A subperiosteal implant is custom made and designed to sit on top of the bone, but under the gums.