Overview
Dental implants have replaced bridges and dentures for many people with missing teeth. The implants avoid the problems of bridgework that can damage healthy teeth and dentures that can come loose, the Mayo Clinic points out. Dental implants are surgically implanted in the jawbone and act as roots. With a crown attachment the result is the look and feel of real teeth. People can have one or several dental implants.
Significance
The implants are used when teeth are lost because of decay, extraction or trauma that damages teeth. Other reasons include root canal failure, excessive wear of the teeth or congenital defects. Some people undergo implant surgery because they can’t or don’t want to wear dentures. Depending on where the missing teeth are, the implants can help improve speech. People need to have adequate bone in the jaw area to secure the implants, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Time Frame
The dental implant process can take up to several months. The implant procedure includes the titanium implant or screw that goes into a hole drilled in the jawbone. An abutment fits over the implant that sticks out above the gum line. The crown, created by a restorative dentist or prosthodontist, is then placed over the abutment for a natural appearance of real teeth, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS).
Function
Dental implant surgery is a team effort, according to the AAOMS. The patient decides on having the dental implant after a thorough examination and discussion with the dentist. The oral surgeon surgically implants the titanium screw and the restorative dentist makes the crown. They remain in close contact with each other and follow a careful treatment plan. After the insertion of the implant, the restorative dentist makes impressions of the patient’s upper and lower jaws. The crown is then made to properly fit the space of the missing tooth.
Effects
The surgical process usually takes months, because the area around the implant needs time to heal and the implant needs to be securely anchored in the jawbone before the crown is placed over it. In some cases the process is accelerated for people who have recently lost teeth through extraction, and implants can be placed in those locations, according to the Consumer Guide to Dentistry. Whether an implant can succeed shortly following an extraction depends on the size of the extracted site.
Considerations
After the crown has been placed over the abutment and the implant, follow-up examinations continue to make sure the process has been successful. Dental implants have a success rate of 95 percent and are considered the best option for replacing lost teeth, the AAOMS says. In rare cases, crowns over the implants can come loose or break, but people with dental implants and crowns don’t have to worry about cavities.
About this Author
Jerry Shaw has spent more than 35 years in newspapers, magazines and book publishing. He has written on a variety of topics for various websites, magazines and newspapers, including “Florida Today,” “Daytona Beach News-Journal” and “Today in PT,” an online magazine for physical therapists. He lives in Florida.
