What Are Dental Implants: Types, Procedure, And, Advantages

In the past, dental bridges and dentures were the only solutions to replacing missing teeth. However, with modern technology and innovation, today, dental implants are a superior choice for replacing missing teeth. One of the biggest benefits of dental implants is that they not only look like your natural teeth but also feel and function like one. 

Moreover, with dental implants, you don’t have to worry about tooth decay and cavities any more. Thus, if you want to learn about implants for teeth, their different types, facts and the cost of dental implants in Australia (Sunshine Coast), then continue reading below.

A] What Is A Dental Implant?

Dental implants are used for replacing missing teeth. They are a piece of metal that looks like a screw and is integrated into the jawbone of the patient as a tooth root. This process is referred to as dental osseointegration.

Dental implants include three components; the post, abutment, and restoration. Once the dental implant post is integrated into the jaw, an abutment is attached to the post, followed by a crown that is specially made to look like your natural teeth.

Usually made of titanium or titanium alloys, the dental implant procedure is quite straightforward and since we offer dental implant services in Sunshine Coast, here is a quick glimpse of the dental implant before and after photos.

Go here: Dental Implants Before and After Images

B] Different Types of Dental Implants

• Endosteal Implants: Typically made of titanium, these are small screw-shaped implants that are placed in the jawbone. Endosteal implants are the most commonly used titanium implants, which also include an abutment and a crown made of ceramic or polymer.
• Subperiosteal Implants: When there is not enough jawbone to support an implant, Subperiosteal implants are used. Placed under the gum, but on/above the jawbone, these implants protrude through the gum to hold the replacement tooth.
• Zygomatic Implants: Zygomatic implants are the rarest types of dental implants. The procedure is very complex, hence, it is generally avoided. The zygomatic procedure is only done when the patient doesn’t have enough jawbone for the Endosteal implant. The implant is placed on the cheekbone rather than the jawbone.

C] Dental Implants Stages

1. Dental Consultation

If you are looking for a dental implant, firstly, you need to speak to a trained and experienced dentist. The dentist examines your mouth and will ask about your medical history and current medications. The dentist will diagnose your mouth’s X-rays and 3D images to make sure that Dental implants are the right treatment for you. They may even recommend a different treatment altogether for undiagnosed issues like tooth decay and cavities.

2. Treatment Planning

It is a vital step in tooth implant procedures that sees the dentist assess your bone density and gum health, and plan how and when the procedure will take place. Some patients may even require some additional dental work done before the procedure, such as a bone graft implant. They can even inform you to stop smocking or provide alternatives to blood thinning medication before the procedure.

3. Dental Implant Surgery

During the treatment planning stage, the dentist will schedule a date and time for the appointment. The dentist uses a local anaesthetic to make your mouth numb for the procedure. With the help of surgical tools, the dentist will create an incision into the gums and jaw bones and place the implant. This is just one part of the surgery. After the implant, you would require about 2 weeks to recover from the mild pain and swelling.

4. Abutment Surgery

During the first recovery process, the jaw bone will fuse with your implant. The dentist will schedule a second appointment to attach a hook to the implant. An incision will be made only to the gums for this procedure. The same recovery period will be required to follow.

5. Designing the Crown or Artificial Tooth

After your mouth has healed, the dentist will take a 3D picture of your mouth to create a mould for artificial crowns or tooths. These can be made from metal, porcelain or plastic, depending on your dentist’s recommendations.

6. Fitting the Crown or Artificial Tooth

The dentist will fix the crown or the artificial tooth in its position with a hook. Then they will make some final adjustments to see if the crown or tooth is secure. They may even consider your opinion for the adjustment for aesthetics purposes, if possible.

D] Important Dental Implant Facts: Everything You Need To Know

• Low-risk Surgery: The dental implant procedure is a relatively simple procedure with a high success rate. Anyone with good general health and good bone health can opt for this routine procedure. During the planning stage, the dental surgeon will examine the patient’s mouth and determine the quality and quantity of the jawbone before moving forward. During the surgery, a local anaesthetic is administered. Following the surgery, the patient might feel gum sensitivity and slight pain at the implant site, while bleeding may also occur along with some facial swelling and bruising.
• Stronger Than Natural Teeth: Did you know that dental implants are made with the same material that is used in space shuttles, missiles and rockets? That’s right! Dental implants are made using titanium, which makes them stronger than your natural teeth. Titanium is a biocompatible material, and once inserted into the bone, your mouth heals around it without any complications. Dental implants are long-lasting as they are resistant to decay. Also, with implants for teeth, you can regain the lost bite strength that you used to have.
• Designed to Match Your Natural Teeth: After the implant is surgically fused to the bone, the crown is custom-made to match the colour, size, and shape of your adjacent natural teeth. You have the option of choosing durable metals like gold or ceramic. Ceramic, in particular, looks like your biological teeth and is compatible with the gum tissue.
• Offers Comfortable Fit: Unlike dentures, dental implants offer you a comfortable fit as they are fused into your jawbone. They feel like natural teeth, so you can talk, chew and eat without any trouble. Plus, it helps restore your confidence to smile without the fear of dentures shifting or falling out.
• Prevents Bone Loss: Dental implants prevent the resorption of bone tissue, which is a natural result of tooth loss. Once the implants are in place, your gums and jaw undergo natural healing, and the process of “osseointegration” follows, which helps to permanently bond the artificial tooth root to the surrounding tissue. This helps facilitate a stronger jaw, thereby preventing bone loss.
• Restores Bite Force: One of the other dental implant facts is that it restores your full bite strength, similar to what you used to have before. So, you can eat what you love without the hassle of removing dentures in and out of the mouth or without the worry of shifting and pain.
• Improves Speech: With poor-fitting dentures, your speech may sound muffled or have a slur. However, with full-mouth dental implants, you don’t have to worry about this as they are a permanent replacement of your teeth, which allows you to speak with clarity, without the worry that the denture might slip or fall.
• Reliable and Long-lasting: While it’s impossible to get cavities with dental implants, you still need to maintain your daily oral hygiene to enjoy optimal dental health. With proper care and maintenance, your dental implants can last for a long time, and it is a reliable solution compared to conventional methods of teeth restorations.
• Makes Eating and Chewing Easy: As a tooth-replacement option, the titanium dental implant post and crown perform the exact functions of the natural teeth, which makes it easier to eat and chew without any discomfort.
• Prevents Cavities: Unlike natural teeth, dental implants are not susceptible to cavities and decay because they are made with sustainable materials. Once they are fully healed, they require minimal care, which includes regular brushing and flossing to keep the gums healthy.
• Convenient and Easy Aftercare: It doesn’t take much to care for your teeth after the dental implant process. To reduce the chance of infection, you need to keep the implant site clean, which can be easily done with salt water rinses. Post-surgery, your dentist would recommend over-the-counter pain relief medicine (if needed). Also, it is best to avoid foods that could damage your teeth in any way and stick to a soft diet.

Further reading: The best and worst foods for your teeth.

• Permanent Solution for Tooth Loss: Be it replacing one tooth or several teeth, dental implants are a permanent solution for tooth loss. It offers greater benefits in the long run compared to dentures and dental bridges. More importantly, while dental bridges and dentures require replacement throughout the years, implants for teeth can last you for many years.
• Improve Facial and Bone Features: After tooth loss, the ridge of the bone (the alveolar bone) that supports the teeth begins to deteriorate. This could affect your existing facial and bone structure. Thus, dental implants help to prevent this by mimicking the entire structure of teeth (the root and crown), thereby improving the facial and bone features, and helping you maintain your youthful and natural appearance.

E] Advantages of Dental implants over conventional prosthesis

• Better fitting prosthesis due to Osseointegration of the implant to the bone.
• Does not require cutting other natural teeth (bridges).
• Prevents or reduces bone loss after tooth extraction.
• More comfortable than dentures.

F] Risks Of Dental Implant Treatment

• Surgical risks: General risks associated with surgery and anaesthetic as with any surgical procedure
• Affected sinuses: In the upper jaw the implant may contact or perforate the sinus lining and cause sinusitis.
• Fractured Jaw: Rarely the lower jay may fracture if it is inherently weak or thin
• Nerve damage: The inferior dental nerve runs the length of the lower jaw. Contact of the implant to this nerve may cause temporary or permanent numbness to the lips and skin around the mouth on the same side.
• Local infection: The local area around the implant may get infected.
• Loose implant: The implant may fail to Osseo integrate with the bone and may fail.
• Loose crown: The artificial crown may come loose and have to be recemented or screwed in.

Contact Oris Dental, your Sunshine Coast Dentist for more details.

#Cost of Dental Implants in Sunshine Coast, Australia

Now that you know all about dental implants, let’s look at the tooth implant cost or the cost for teeth implants in Sunshine Coast, Australia. While there are many dental implant myths stating that it can be expensive, the fact is that while the procedure may be expensive, the lifetime benefit it provides helps mitigate the cost. Therefore, as a Sunshine Coast Dentist, here is an overview of our dental payment plans that you can look at if you require a dental implant service.

FAQs

How Long Does A Dental Implant Take?

The dental implant surgery takes around 1-2 hours for each implant being placed. You will also be required to have an appointment with the dentist for the second time for Abutment surgery, which can take a similar time.

What Are Factors Impacting The Lifespan Of Your Dental Implants?

Lifestyle and Diet are the two major factors affecting your dental implants’ lifespan. High-sugar food, poor oral health and hygiene, chewing tobacco, and smoking are most likely to damage and degrade your dental implants in a short period.

How Long Do Dental Implants Take To Heal?

A week is more than enough for most patients to heal from the surgery. However, some may experience mild pain and swelling for up to two weeks. You can eat any food you want in a week as soon as the pain and discomfort is gone.

How To Care For Dental Implants?

Maintaining good oral is paramount for keeping dental implants healthy. Brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing, and using antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria and freshen your breath are key.

How Long Do Dental Implants Last?

With good oral care, dental implants can last a lifetime for some people. However, in rare cases without proper hygiene or due to accidents they can degrade and break over time. On average, a dental implant can last anywhere from 10  to 30 years.

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