Dental Implants
Answers to Commonly Asked Questions
This page is intended to answer some of the questions you
may have regarding dental implants.
- What are dental implants? Dental implants are basically
sophisticated screws made of a medically pure metal, Titanium.
These screws are then placed in the jaw bone and rest under the
gum for 3 - 6 months. During this time they actually fuse to the
jawbone and become osseo(bone)integrated. After the appropriate
healing time, we uncover the implants and use them to replace
one or more missing teeth by fabricating some sort of dental prosthesis.
- How long have implants been used in dentistry? Dental
implants have been available for the past 50 or so years. There
are significant differences, however, between the various types
of implants that have been used to replace missing teeth. These
differences are important since they are directly related to the
implants success rates. The implants currently in use today, OSSEOINTEGRATED
IMPLANTS, were originally developed in Sweden by Dr. P.I.
Branemark., a Swedish Orthopedist approximately 25-30 years ago.
They have been used in the U.S. for the past 12 years.
- I understand they originated in Sweden? Is there a difference
between the different implant manufacturers? All implants
in use in the United States are regulated by the Food and Drug
Administration. Originally, the only system available was the
Noblepharma™ Branemark implant. Today, there are numerous
implant companies in use on a daily basis. All of these companies
are FDA approved and must meet very stringent requirements. Your dental team
will choose the system that is best for you and the one that allows
them to accomplish your mutual restorative goal.
- What are implants made of? Implants are made of commercially
and medically pure Titanium. This is the same metal that has been
successfully used in hip implants for many years. It is inert
and is not known to cause any type of rejection phenomenon.
- How complicated is the surgery? Implant surgery
is done in two stages. The first stage involves the placement
of the implants into the available jaw bone. This is most commonly
done with just local anesthesia. It is complicated only in the
sense that the surgery requires great precision. Every attempt
is made to insure success. The room is set up similar to an operating
room, the equipment thoroughly sterilized and the most modern
techniques utilized. Stage two involves the uncovering of the
implants after they have integrated ( fused ). This can
be accomplished with minor gum surgery or with a dental laser and is a relatively minor
procedure. In both instances, minimal postoperative discomfort
is noticed. You will be given the appropriated antibiotics and
analgesics just as a precaution. Very definitive postoperative
instruction will be given to you at the time of surgery. If
you follow the guidelines, everything should proceed without a
hitch.
- Can implants be rejected? No! They are made of an inert
metal which has no history of rejection by the body. They are
not a living organ such as the lung or liver and therefore there
is no rejection phenomenon. If failure should occur, and this
is only a remote possibility, it is mechanical in nature and not
due to rejection by the body. By the way, depending on the source
you read, implants are anywhere from 85-95 percent successful
depending upon certain factors such as implant location, amount
and quality of bone etc. These factors will be evaluated before
we place your implants. If you have any questions regarding this
or any other aspect of the implant process, ask your dentist.
- If I lose several teeth, do they each have to be replaced
with a separate implant? No. Although implants simulate the
roots of teeth, biomechanically one implant can be used to replace
one or more teeth. This will depend upon the mechanical requirements
of your chosen prosthesis. At your consultation your dentist will discuss
the various treatment alternatives and the type and number of
implants that are needed in order to fulfill our treatment objectives.
- What about infection and complications? During the
surgery every attempt is made to maintain a totally sterile field.
This tends to minimize any potential for postoperative infection.
Once again, your dentist will prescribe the appropriate antibiotics as a
precautionary measure. Once the implants have been engaged in
your prosthesis, it is imperative for you to maintain scrupulous
oral hygiene. Success very often depends on your cooperation and
homecare efforts.
- What types of restorations can be placed on implants?
The answer to this question depends upon your treatment objectives.
This can vary from simple removable prostheses, using the implants
for retention , to totally implant supported porcelain fused to
metal crowns and bridges. Implant bridges can be either removable
or fixed (not removable) depending upon the number of implants.
We are now finally able to replace single or multiple missing
teeth returning the dentition to a biologically healthy and esthetically
pleasing state.
- Will I be able to chew and function normally? Yes.
Once your implants have integrated, you will be able to function
normally without any unusual sensations. Your chewing ability
will really depend upon the type of prosthesis you have chosen.
- How long is the entire implant process? Dental implants
take approximately 3-4 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in
the upper to integrate. Once integrated, it takes several visits
to several months to complete the restoration depending upon the
complexity.
- What is the cost? The cost of implant dentistry is
based upon a combination of the surgical phase and the prosthetic
phase. Your total treatment fee will depend upon the number of
implants and the complexity of your final restoration.
We hope that this brief explanation will answer some of your questions
regarding implant dentistry. Your dentist will be happy to discuss any of
these questions with you at your consultation. Please write down
your questions so that we can be sure to answer them to your
satisfaction.