Per-Ingvar Brnemark, a Swedish orthopaedic surgeon, patented dental implants as we knew them today in 1952. They are now considered the gold standard of dentistry for the prosthetic replacement of missing teeth. A dental implant is a surgical fixture implanted into the jawbone and allowed to fuse with the bone over time. A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth root that replaces a damaged tooth’s root. This “artificial tooth root” then holds a new tooth or bridge in place. A dental implant fused to the jawbone is the closest thing to a natural tooth since it stands alone without affecting surrounding teeth and is extremely stable. “Osseointegration” refers to the operation of the dental implant and jawbone fusing. Titanium is used in most dental implants, allowing them to blend with bone without being known as a foreign object in our bodies. Technology and research have advanced to the point that dental implant placement results have vastly improved. Dental implants now have a success rate of nearly 98 percent.
What makes you need a dental implant?
Dental implants may be used to replace a single tooth, multiple teeth, or the entire set of teeth. Teeth replacement in dentistry aims to restore both function and appearance.
There are three tooth replacement choices: a temporary dental appliance (complete denture or partial denture), a fixed dental bridge (cemented), or a dental implant.
Dentures are the most cost-effective choice for replacing teeth, but they are the least appealing due to the difficulty of having a removable appliance in the mouth. Dentures can also influence one’s taste and sensory perception of food.
Before the relatively recent change to dental implant care, dental bridgework was the more traditional therapeutic alternative. The biggest drawback of bridgework is that it relies on the support of natural teeth. Implants are protected solely by bone and do not affect natural teeth. Many considerations go into deciding which choice to go with. In particular, for dental implants, these considerations include the position of the extracted tooth or teeth, the quantity and consistency of the jawbone where the dental implant will be inserted, the patient’s health, dental implant cost, and patient preference.
A dental surgeon examines the region to be considered for a dental implant and performs a clinical evaluation to determine if the patient is a suitable candidate for one.
There are several benefits of choosing a dental implant over other tooth replacement choices. Dental implants are conservative because they can replace missing teeth without changing or modifying the neighbouring teeth. Furthermore, since dental implants are embedded in the bone, they are extremely durable and can mimic natural teeth’ appearance and feel.
What kinds of dental implants are there? What is the purpose of each?
There have traditionally been two forms of dental implants: endosteal and subperiosteal. Endosteal implants are those that are “in the bone,” while subperiosteal implants are those that sit on top of the jawbone under the gum tissue. Because of their bad long-term outcomes compared to endosteal dental implants, subperiosteal implants are no longer used.
Although dental implants’ primary purpose is to replace missing teeth, they can also help with other dental procedures. Dental implants may support a removable denture and have a more stable and supportive fit because of their stability. Also, dental mini-implants can be used as temporary anchorage devices (TAD) during orthodontic procedures to help shift teeth to the correct location. These mini-implants are tiny and temporary attached to the bone, aiding in tooth movement anchorage. They are then withdrawn after their function has been fulfilled.
For patients who have lost all of their teeth due to deterioration or gum disease in the upper or lower arch, a small number of implants may be used to provide a very durable and supportive prosthesis. Nobel Biocare, an implant maker, coined the term “All-On-4” to describe this methodology. The concept behind this procedure is that four implants can replace all of the teeth in a single arch (upper or lower). A thin denture prosthesis is screwed into place after the implants are strategically located in places of good solid bone. Compared to the older system of conventional (removable) full dentures, the All-On-4 approach offers teeth replacement that is durable (not removable) and feels like natural teeth. Without a doubt, implant dentistry has increased the number of treatment options available for replacing single and multiple missing teeth with long-term stability and improved oral health.
