Implant Dentistry

The advancement in medical science has also ushered advancement in the field of dentistry as well. Dental implants are by far the most advanced and versatile replacement options in the field of dentistry.

The natural tooth structure is divided into two major portions.

The first portion is the crown of the tooth; this is the white part of the tooth that is visible to us in the mouth.

The second portion is part of the tooth which is anchored to the bone of the jaws, which is known as the root.

Implants by definition are prosthesis that use inert materials to be surgically embedded into the bone in the area of the missing tooth, with the intention of it being able to mimic the root of the tooth over which a prosthetic natural looking crown will take support.

1. How long do implants take to integrate with natural bone?

Implants once placed in the bone will take about 3 to 6 months to integrate to the bone. Only after the integration process is complete will the prosthetic crown be placed on the implant, which then functions as good as the natural tooth.

2. Can the prosthetic crown be placed immediately after implant placement?

In certain situations the prosthetic crown is placed on the same day as the implants are placed. This decision of placing the crown immediately after surgery is at the discretion of the implantologist.

3. What material are implants made of?

Implants are made using biocompatible titanium, which has the unique property of integrating with the human bone. Titanium also has the advantage of being strong and an inert material which can bear the biting forces extremely well.

4. What are implants supported dentures?

In situations where the patient has lost all the teeth, the only option usually given to him/her is complete dentures. These dentures sometimes do not have the kind of desired retention and fail to achieve the expectations of the patient and/or doctor. The patient might keep complaining of the denture falling or moving inside the mouth during biting. Implant supported dentures help overcome this problem.

Implant supported dentures are basically similar to complete dentures, but they take support from placed implants instead of the bone and muscles of the mouth. This is advantageous because the denture acquires more stability. This stability makes the patient more comfortable using the dentures by giving the confidence that the denture will not fall. In simple terms the dentures fit over the implants like press buttons!!!

The number of implants to be placed for implant supported dentures is at discretion of the implantologist and the needs of the patient.

5. Is surgery for implants painful?

The surgery for implants is carried out under local anaesthesia. Apart from slight discomfort after surgery there is absolutely no pain to the patient. In fact the patient is conscious throughout and can walk home once the procedure is done.