Dental Implant Basics
Dental implants are fabricated from surgical grade titanium and are placed in the bone where you are missing a tooth. Placing an implant replaces the root of the tooth you lost. The implants are bio-compatible and offer strength and durability, as well as the ability to fuse to the bone, through a process called osseo-integration. Your bone is better preserved because the implant integrates with your jawbone, helping to keep the bone healthy and intact. Placing dental implants helps preserve the structure and contour of your face while preventing bone deterioration that naturally occurs when we lose teeth.
The three basic components of dental implants are: the “fixture” which is the implant that is surgically placed in the bone, the “abutment” which acts as a connector between the implant or “fixture” and the “final restoration”.
Implants for Dentures
Dentures can look esthetic but they can be very uncomfortable. Trouble with eating and talking as well as the formation of “denture sores” as a result of the dentures moving around can limit happiness. Additionally, denture wearers may have a fear of their dentures falling out when they laugh, sing, cough, or sneeze. Implants will retain a denture, making it more stable. You will find it easier to eat and speak. You will lessen the number of denture sores you develop, and your fear of your dentures falling out will be a thing of the past!
Lower dentures can often be stabilized with just 2 implants. Additional implants can be added for more stability. In some cases your existing denture can be converted to fit to the new implants.
Upper dentures require at least 4 implants to retain them because the upper bone is less dense. Your denture will still cover the roof of your mouth for support when biting, but we can usually remove about 1 centimeter from the palate of the denture and we can reduce the size of the flanges (extensions) by your lips to increase comfort.
Another great use for dental implants is to stabilize partial dentures. Often 1 or 2 implants can make your partial denture fit tightly and we can usually remove unsightly clasps on your partial denture too!
Lastly, missing teeth and bone structure may result in unwanted changes to your appearance. Your lips can lose support and your cheeks can sink in. Both situations can make a person appear older and can result in wrinkles. Replacing this lost structure with implants and a new denture can take years off of your appearance and can keep you looking and feeling young!
Can I Lose a Dental Implant?
Dental implants cannot get cavities, but they are susceptible to peri-implantitis, which is similar to periodontal disease. This process attacks the surrounding soft tissue and bone and causes the implant to loosen. Peri-implantitis is a growing concern in the dental implant community. Multiple studies found that more than 10% of dental implants will be lost to peri-implantitis within 10 years of being placed.
Dental implants used to support dentures or large fixed bridges are more susceptible to peri-implantitis and loss.
Patient concerns about the cost of dental implant loss inspired the Dental Implant Coverage membership option. Your implants will be maintained to help prevent peri-implantitis, and if you lose one or more implants the costs associated with replacing them are covered by your membership.
Why do we lose bone?
When a tooth has been extracted it is common to lose the volume of bone that supported the tooth. This is because bone volume is maintained due to stimulation from chewing, either on a tooth or dental implant. Chewing stimulates the bone and keeps it strong similar to how weight lifting keeps our bone more dense.
Why do we graft bone?
Lost bone volume needs to be replaced so that dental implants can be placed. A certain volume of bone is required for long-term success of the dental implant. Bone can be added to widen the jaw (horizontal grafting), make the jaw taller (vertical grafting), or to replace lost bone in the sinus (sinus grafting). The most difficult type of graft to have succeed is vertical grafting. The larger the amount of graft needed, the lesser the chance of the graft succeeding, so it is important to have dental implants placed as soon as possible after extraction or to have a socket preservation graft.
What is a socket preservation graft?
When a tooth is lost and an implant is not immediately placed it is possible to lose bone volume. Immediately after an extraction the chance of retaining this bone can be increased by having a socket preservation graft, which fills the hole made from the missing tooth. The most common types of bone graft material are from cadaver donors or cows. Synthetic materials exist, but they typically result in less successful grafts.