I used to work in a dentist's office, so I understand the importance of a smile and how frustrating bridges and dentures can be for people who need replacement teeth. That's why more and more people are now opting for dental implants, the only permanent alternative to bridges and dentures.




Why replace missing teeth?
Besides the fact that aesthetically it looks better to fill in the gaps of missing teeth, it is important to replace missing teeth for several other important reasons. Contrary to popular belief, missing adult teeth do not grow back. Missing teeth can affect your ability to chew your food, thus making it difficult to eat. You can also develop digestive problems like heartburn from not being able to chew your food properly. What's more, when teeth are missing for extended periods of time, they will shift because there is nothing to hold the tooth's place. This can cause the remaining teeth to overlap and become crooked. Though patients can prevent these problems with removable bridges or dentures, implants are a more permanent solution since they never have to be taken out. And they are easier to take care of.

What is a dental implant and who should consider it?
A dental implant is a metal screw that is surgically anchored into the jawbone. The screw serves as an anchor for a false tooth, bridge or denture. What makes this option more attractive than dentures is the fact that it is permanent. The patient does not have to be bothered with taking the false teeth in and out. You would take care of the tooth the same way you would real teeth: flossing, brushing, etc.

Dental implants should be done by a prosthodontist. And they should not be confused with dental veneers, a cosmetic procedure in which porcelain is added to an already existing tooth. This cosmetic procedure is usually reserved to repair gaps between teeth or chipped teeth.

Dental implants are typically made of titanium. Titanium, a very strong metal, is used because it does not deteriorate. According to Simple Steps To Better Dental Health, a dental health Web site created by Aetna health insurance, it is resistant to acids, salt solutions and oxygen. Furthermore, the human body does not reject titanium. This is good because when the titanium implant is placed it can integrate very well into the jaw because the bone grows around it. Because the bone needs to grow around the implant, the average patient will typically wait three to six months to allow this process to take place before coming back to finish the remaining implant procedures.

Types of implants
There are four different types of implants. The dentist is able to determine which one is best for you based on the health of the bones in your jaw and the type of false tooth or teeth that will be placed on the implant(s).

The most common type is the root form implant, which is placed directly into the bone. In order for these screw-like implants to be successful, explained Simple Steps To Better Dental Health, they need to be placed in bone that is wide and deep enough to support its foundation. It is important to note that after any implant is placed, a temporary crown (false tooth) is placed in the area while the gum and bone heal around the tooth.

A ramus-frame implant is used for thin, weak lower jaw bones. This is also a good implant for the insertion of dentures. This implant is typically inserted in the back corner of the jawbone. When it heals, the tip, a thin metal bar, is exposed above the gum. The denture can then be inserted.

The blade-form implants are good for patients who need crowns or bridges placed on their implant. Blade-form implants are flat rectangles of metal with one or two metal prongs on one long side, explained Simple Steps To Better Dental Health. They are inserted through the jaw and the crown or bridge is placed onto its tips.

A tran-osseous implant, also used for those with little bone, is least popular because of the extensive surgery that is required to get them. Metal rods have to be inserted through the chin bone and come out through the mouth where a denture can be attached to its tip. The patient must come back for several surgeries to get this type of implant. Rather than go through this now antiquated method, doctors build the bone through bone grafting, which enables the doctor to graft or make bone from the patient's already existing bone.

How long does it take?
The whole process can take from six months to a year. Patients should understand that once the surgeon has inserted the implant, the patient must wait three to six months for the gum to heal around the implant and for the bone to integrate around the base of implant. Once that happens, the surgeon exposes the tip of the implant and takes an impression (mold) of the area so the dental lab can create a tooth, bridge or denture. Depending on how busy the lab is and the amount of work involved to make the false teeth, this can take anywhere from a couple of days to a full month. Once the false tooth/teeth is finished, the patient must come back to the doctor's office to have it attached to the implant, which is why this process can take from six months to a year.

Contraindications
Dental implants are not for people who smoke because smoking can cause bone loss in the jaw bone, thus making it difficult for the implant to stay anchored in the mouth. It also can not be overly-emphasized the importance of flossing. Dental implant teeth should be flossed everyday just like ones own teeth. If one doesn't floss, he or she can develop periodontal disease (infection of the gums), which can result in bone loss in the jaw. In rare cases, an implant may fail because of poor positioning at the time of surgery, or may fail to integrate into the jaw.

Cost
Dental implants are consider cosmetic dentistry and are therefore not covered by insurance. Implants can run anywhere from a couple of thousand for one implant to $80,000 for a whole mouth full of implants. However, one implant can cost $800 overseas in places like Thailand or India.