A to Z Overview of Dental Implants

An Overview of Dental Implants from A to Z

Understanding the basic principles of implantology is critical to proper diagnosis & treatment of implant patients. Here we present essential information about implants from A to Z.

A – AGE

Is there any age limitation for dental implants placement?

Dental implants procedure requires completely developed jaw. However, growth completion varies in individual, usually 16-18 yrs in girls & 18-21 yrs in boys. Just to be certain of the growth completion, hand-wrist radiograph is a useful tool for identifying a child’s skeletal development.

Is implant placement contraindicated at any advanced age?

Dental implant procedure has no upper age limit. To get this procedure done one should be medically fit with no medical conditions.

Allergy

Is it possible to be allergic to dental implants?

Implants are made out of commercially pure titanium which is considered to be bone friendly & thus are biocompatible.

Anesthetic

What type of anesthesia is recommended for implant placement procedure?

Dental Implants are placed under local anesthesia. During placement one might feel pressure but no pain as local anesthesia is appropriate to prevent any discomfort to the patient during the procedure.

B-Beautiful Teeth

When can i expect to get tooth attached to the implants once implants placement procedure is completed?

Once the implants have been placed in the bone, they need some time to integrate within the jaw bone in order to act as an anchor to the artificial tooth which approximately takes 2-3 months. Successful osseointegration requires a waiting period. Once healing is completed, implant is ready to provide permanent fixture in the mouth.

Bone Grafting

Is bone grafting necessary with every implant placement?                                           

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure to rebuild deficient bone from patient’s own body, an artificial, synthetic or natural substitute before implant placement in order to provide a good support to the implant.

Not every case requires bone grafting. In many instances, implant site does not offer enough bone volume to accommodate an implant, in such cases your dentist would recommend bone grafting procedure.

C-Cardiac pacemaker

Effect of dental implants on cardiac pacemaker                                                      

Dental implants causes no negative effect to cardiac pacemaker as they have no electromagnetic effect.

Ceramics

What material is used for crowns?                                                                            

It is really important to choose the right crown for your dental implant. Your dentist will make you aware of the differences between the crowns & choice has to be made carefully. All ceramic or Zirconia crowns are the preferred material for dental crowns. They provide the highest strength & appearance just like the natural tooth. Zirconia crowns can withstand biting as well as grinding forces & are the best choice for you.

Cost

How much is the cost for the whole procedure?                                                                   

The whole procedure & its cost will be stated by your dentist before starting the treatment & usually cost depends upon the number of implants & extent of treatment.

D-Day Surgery Procedure

Is the implant placement really a day surgery procedure?                                           

Certainly implant placement is a day surgical procedure without waiting for several months for implant placement procedure. The particular site is anesthetized with local anesthesia & the implants are placed atraumatically by your dentist. Be certain you enlist the medication prescription & medical condition if any, before beginning the procedure.

Dental Care

How to take care of my implant borne teeth?                                                           

Implant maintenance is the key to long-term success of the implant prosthesis. Good oral hygiene is just as important to patients with implant prosthesis as to those who have their natural teeth. The most important areas to clean are the abutment posts, underneath the prosthesis, & the area around the gums. Regular check up appointments will usually be scheduled at 1, 3 & 6 month intervals in the first year. At these check-ups, x-rays may be taken to examine the implant-bone relationship & rule out any disease.

Diabetes

If I am a diabetic can I still go for implant placement?                                              

To get dental implants one must have diabetes under control. Though implant placement requires minor surgery but still Uncontrolled diabetes will lead to delayed healing. Patient must affirm his/her implantologist about the diabetic status before starting the procedure.

Diseases

Are there any diseases that would prevent implant placement?                                  

It is important to ensure your dental surgeon about your medical status & medications prescription you are taking. However, there are certain conditions which affect your implant placement like diabetes mellitus, cancer, radiation, smoking etc. The status of bone is very important for the implant placement which requires detailed evaluation of your jaws.

Durability

How long does an implant last?                                                                               

An implant can last a lifetime if maintained properly. Once implant is integrated within the bone it is very difficult to remove the implant from the same site, once placed correctly it is ready to act as an anchor to the prosthesis. Moreover, it is free of caries. Success refers to implants that are not only in the mouth, but are also functional & satisfactory.

F-Food

Can I bite & eat normally with an implant borne teeth?                                           

You can eat & bite whatever you want to. Implants fulfill the form & function just like your natural teeth would. With your new set of teeth you can eat without any hesitation & with no discomfort.

I – Immediate implant procedure

Is it possible to place implants immediately after extraction of teeth?

Yes, this is indeed possible. The implant is placed right after removing the teeth in the fresh wound. This is named as immediate implant placement (not related with immediate loading of implants).

Immediate

What is immediate loading? Am I eligible or fit enough for it?

The ultimate goal for implant borne teeth is to have a healing period without any loading onto the implants. During this phase the gap is temporarily closed with a temporary prosthesis which is attached to the neighbouring teeth. However with the recent advancements, new implant systems consist of a protocol to load the implants immediately once inserted. This leads to placement of implant in one visit & fixed natural looking teeth on the next visit. The quality of your jaw bone would indicate the position of the implants & if immediate loading can be done. You need to have a visit at dentist for an opinion.

Implant material

What are implants actually made up of?

Implants are made up of pure surgical titanium which is biocompatible. Most of the implant systems have the same composition. Titanium is known to be stable & being firmly integrated into the bone tissue. At present ceramic implants made up of extremely stable zirconium oxide ceramics are still in the trial phase but cannot compete the quality standards of titanium implants. The high end properties of titanium plants have confined its use not just in implant dentistry but even in medical fields like prosthetics joints since decades.

M – Material

Refer “Implant Material” at I

Medications

If I am already under medications, is there any complication?

There is no risk of complications with medications. But in cases of cortisone therapy & anticoagulant medications there are some risk factors involved. For example cortisone delays the healing period due to change in the metabolism & immune system of the body. Anticoagulant medications can cause haemorrhage during surgical process. Therefore you need to discuss your course of medications with your dentist before going for the treatment.

N – Night

Do I have to remove my implant borne denture at night?

Any conventional denture has to be removed at night, because it may drift blocking the airway passage or lead to further bone resorption. But in cases of implant borne denture, it can be worn at night because it’s fixed in its place in the mouth.

P – Pain

Will I have to go through pain during or after the procedure?

The implant procedure is carried out under local anesthesia in order to avoid any kind of pain during the procedure. There will be no bleeding except mild sensitivity in the gums. You might feel sort of being uncomfortable for a while. However, most patients don’t even need a painkiller on the following day after the surgery & can revert back to normal life again.

Periodontosis/Periodontitis

Refer “Bone grafting” at B.

Q – Quality

What are the differences in quality amongst implants?

There are very high as well as low quality implant systems available. Mostly the difference is in the shape of the implants specifically with the surface. The surface of an implant can be modified so as to improve the tissue compatible properties of titanium. Ask & let you dentist inform you about the characteristics of the implant along with its longevity. Inquire about the long term availability of components in cases of denture renewal in future

R – Risks

What are the risks involved with implant placement?

An implant is a surgical procedure though a minor one. Indeed complications like injuries to nerves & blood vessels at the time of implant placement are quite evitable. These days with such advanced diagnostics & treatment planning this is unlikely to happen. With a very high complacent biocompatible nature of titanium implants rejection reaction of a completely healed implant is not possible. When implant is placed by a qualified dentist, such risks can be avoided.

Can the implant get infected after being placed?

Early detection of the infections caused by bacteria can be treated successfully. If you take regular visit for oral prophylaxis & follow ups at your dentist and clean your teeth regularly, the chances of infection are less.

Replacement of the denture

Can implant- borne dentures be replaced?

Yes, the denture can be replaced or modified even after many years. A single tooth implant can be utilized as an abutment for a bridge without any difficulty.

What if I lose the teeth integrated as an abutment in the denture?

If a tooth has to be extracted due to some severe periodontal inflammation, it can be replaced by an additional implant. The denture can be modified accordingly after the new implant placement.

S – Sinus lift

See “Bone grafting” at B.

Smoking

Can I go for implants if I am into smoking?

The overall success of the implants is hindered by smoking. Your dentist can assess the risks in your case.

Sport

Can i play sport or do exercise after implant placement?

Playing sport after implant placement is not an issue. If you are involved into some vigorous movements, you have to consult the dentist first because you might need to take a few days of rest to avoid disruption in the healing process

T – Treatment

How long it takes teeth to be placed onto the implant? What is the procedure involved?

The healing period of the implants to be completely Osseointegrated is about 6 months in the upper jaw while it takes about 3 months in the lower jaw. After the healing period the dentist uncovers the implant & screws a small cap termed as a coping to shape the gum correctly. After this impression is recorded, it is sent to the dental laboratory technician to fabricate the prosthesis. The shade of your teeth is precisely matched & temporary fit is attached to the implants in order to check it. There on your new crowns can be firmly fixed onto the implants.

Can I continue wearing my denture or set of teeth during treatment and the healing phase?

Yes. If prior to the treatment you already have had removable denture; it will just require minor adjustment in order to use it further. If you didn’t have one, the treatment site can be covered with a temporary prosthesis. There are some cases where the temporary crowns can be fixed to the implants immediately. In cases of long term healing period there are many available treatment options which resemble your natural teeth & final prosthesis.

Treatment duration

How many times I have to visit for my Implants?

Foremost single visit would be enough for the consultation wherein your dentist will answer your doubts. The next appointment would consist the examination and planning. With your prior consent the dentist would proceed with the treatment by a small incision in the gums where the implants has to be placed, which is then sutured after the implant is inserted. The wound is examined in the next appointment to ensure its appropriate healing after 2-3 days. After the surgical procedure the next appointment is scheduled on 10th day for suture removal. Then you’ll have to wait for the bone to regenerate & incorporate the implant during the healing phase without any visit. All these procedures along with visits depend on the type of treatment & differ in every case.

W – Work

When can I resume my work again?

You will be able to live your day to day life normally the day after the surgery. However you can resume your work a few days later approximately 3-5 days.

Do I have to take some precautions in future as well?

Implants incorporate as a natural part of your body. You can eat, talk, laugh & live howsoever you want to. They are no different than your natural teeth.

Visit Dr. Rajat Sachdeva’s Dental Institute, the best dental implant clinic in ashok vihar for effective solutions and treatment.