Are you looking for dental implants in Plymouth, Michigan?
With the evolution and research of technologies, contemporary solutions have been developed to solve any oral health-related issues. Therefore, missing one or multiple teeth is no longer a problem due to the efficiency of modern dental implants. Not only becoming more accurate and effective as time passes, but also more affordable. If you are missing a tooth and planning to replace it with an implant, there are a few basics you must know. So, in this article, we’ll talk about what implants are, how the process to get them is, and who is a good candidate for them.
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are the current gold standard to replace any missing teeth. They are prosthetic appliances placed inside the jaw or maxillary bone to sit a crown or denture on top. It is essential to understand that a dental implant only refers to the appliance drilled inside the bone, which acts as a tooth root and not the crown. Traditionally, all dental implants were made of titanium. This metal is highly biocompatible, meaning that the odds of implant failure, allergy, or rejection are minimal since the body is not likely to treat it as a dangerous foreign material. Moreover, the success rate of implant treatment is 95-98%.
However, different alternatives to titanium have been researched and led to the development of Zirconia implants. Zirconia is a metal-free ceramic material with even higher biocompatibility and better optic properties. However, both material options are proven to deliver excellent results, one having excelled in some properties better than the other.
Different types of implants
All implants possess two portions:
- Implant portion: The part screwed inside the bone.
- Abutment portion: The portion that serves as a base for the crown to sit on.
There are two types of dental implant systems. They can either be a one-piece system or a two-pieces system. The difference between them is how both portions are connected. On one-piece systems, the implant and abutment portion come together as a single unit with no way to separate them. This system is used for immediate loading, meaning that the dentist will sit a provisional crown right after the implant placement surgery.
On the other hand, the components on two-pieces systems are separated, and the abutment needs to be screwed to the implant portion before sitting the crown. This system is more commonly used, as is it allows to place a healing cap or completely cover the implant with gum while it heals and fuses to the bone. Therefore, assisting in the efficiency of the recovery. Aside from the material they are made from and the system used, dental implants come in different forms and sizes, depending on the brand. However, the selection of the type is directly related to the dentist preference as they will choose to work with the brand they have more experience with and feel more comfortable with.
Who can get an implant?
Every adult with the bones fully developed can be a candidate for dental implants. Since implants are highly versatile, they can be used to restore any missing teeth, being capable of working on cases where one single tooth needs to be replaced or cases where a whole arch is missing.
How is the process to get implants?
The first thing to do is book a dentist appointment for an examination. The dentist will perform a thorough clinical evaluation of the case and ask for some X-rays, such as a panoramic dental X-ray, periapical radiography, and more importantly, a CT scan. The CT scan is an essential element in the planning as it gives the dentists the most vital information about the case, such as the bone architecture, quality, and density. As a result, letting the professional team know if bone grafting is required or if there is any other aspect that should be taken into consideration.
With the planning stage done and all the information gathered, a surgery to place the implant is appointed. The procedure is performed by a dental surgeon using special tools to drill the bone and place the implant while being under local anesthesia. After that, the surgeon needs to protect the implant, which can be done in two ways, stitching the gums over the implant to cover it or placing a healing cap that will help the gums heal while leaving space to fix the crown.
Patients usually prefer to use a healing cap since it can be easily replaced with the abutment, whereas completely covering the implant require a second surgery to cut the gums and expose the implant after it has healed to screw the abutment. After the implant is placed, it is necessary to wait around 4-6 months for the implant to fuse with the bone and heal completely. Once this happens, the implant is ready to sit a crown or denture safely on top of it and finally restore the missing teeth.
Thanks to dentistry technologies improvement, replacing missing teeth is now a routine procedure performed daily by hundreds of dentists worldwide. If you need to replace a tooth, all you need to do is get a CT scan and book a dentist appointment. Although the 6 months wait for the implant to heal before the crown can be placed is a big downside, getting a solution that will feel like your natural teeth is worth the wait. Therefore, a dental implant is the best alternative to replace a tooth.
Let’s get started. Request An Appointment for Dental Implants
Dr. Rahaf Suede, DDS at Great Lakes Smiles Dental is trusted by many patients in Plymouth and surrounding areas for comprehensive dental care. She is recognized for her high quality dental treatment and patient satisfaction. Contact her now for an appointment Call (734) 459-9360
