Modern science gives birth to new treatments of medical conditions that were previously thought impossible, almost every day. Among such treatments is the dental implant. People who lost one or many of their teeth thought they will never be able to smile confidently in front of others again, dental implant is like a miracle. If you are one of those people and browsing the web for more information about dental implants, then you have stumbled upon the right information.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are fake teeth that take the place of the missing teeth. Dental implants can be done for one teeth as well as multiple teeth. The patient undergoes a dental surgery while sedated by a professional cosmetic dentist. During this surgery, the dentist incisors the gum to reach the bone and implants the fake teeth into the mouth. This implanted teeth has three parts:
- Base –the screw-like base made of titanium that fuses with the gum bone and provides a stable support for the implant.
- Connector –the hexagonal middle part of the implant joins the base with the crown. It is also called abutment.
- Crown –the visible part of the implant which looks like a natural tooth and is commonly made of ceramic materials.
What does the Process Involve?
The process of dental implants is really easy but it takes a long time to complete, usually in two or more surgeries. In the first surgery, your cosmetic dentist will drill a small hole into your jaw line and place the screw base into it. After a few weeks to allow the base time to fuse with the jawbone, the second surgery takes place on which the connector is fit onto the base. And finally, the crown is attached to the connector with the help of a small screw and dental cements.
The Healing Process
The surgery and healing process of dental implants takes a lot of time. The whole procedure can last from 2 months to a year. This time is necessary for the implant to become part of the body so that the chances of rejection are reduced. During the healing period, you can expect some painful symptoms, but if any of these symptoms persists for a long time or become unbearable, you should immediately contact your dentist. These symptoms include:
- Swelling and bruising around the mouth
- Minor bleeding
- Pain at the implant site
The Risk Factors of Implant Failure
Even though dental implants have a high success rate, the chances of implant failure are also high. Dental implants fail due to many factors, some of which are:
- Failed Osseointegration – Osseointegration refers to the failure of formation of direct connection between the titanium base and jawbone. It is one of the early reasons of implant failure.
- Chronic Diabetes – patients suffering from chronic medical conditions like diabetes, osteoporosis and autoimmune diseases have a high rejection rate to dental implants.
- Allergic Reaction – some dental implants fail due to allergic reactions to metals or simply because of foreign object rejection by the body.
- Infections – the factor that plays the biggest role dental implant failure is the infections caused by bacterial contamination.
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