Dental implants are a comprehensive form of tooth replacement. First offered in the early 1960s, dental implant technology has only continued to evolve and improve, resulting in numerous implant solutions available to those seeking to replace missing teeth today.
The dental implants currently available are equally suited for the replacement of a single tooth to the replacement of entire upper and lower arches of teeth; they can stand alone to support prosthetic crowns or work in concert to retain streamlined versions of dental bridges and even dentures. They can be made to be permanently fixed in the mouth, cared for as simply as one cares for one’s natural teeth; or removable, thereby allowing their user to remove them for thorough cleanings or easy repairs outside of the dentist’s chair.
In short, the flexibility and customization options available in today’s dental implants make them perfectly poised to solve virtually any tooth replacement scenario possible. Enjoying a nearly 95% success rate, they are also safe, effective, and have a thoroughly proven track record.
Installation of Dental Implants
The installation of dental implants usually takes place in either a two- or three-step process, depending on the system chosen. For traditional titanium implants, the implant fixture (a small post made of titanium) is first surgically inserted into the jaw, where it is then left to become a permanent extension of the jaw. This usually takes two to four months.
Once the implant fixture is healed in place, a connecting piece called the abutment is then attached to the implant. After the gums have been stitched up and allowed to heal, this connecting piece is what joins the prosthetic crown, bridge, or denture with the foundational support of the implant fixture.
Types of Dental Implants
Titanium Implants
Traditionally, dental implants have been made of titanium, a metal that was chosen not only for its notable strength but also for its high degree of biocompatibility. Used in alloy form, titanium is capable to withstanding the surprisingly large amounts of force generated by the jaw during biting and chewing; unlike many other metals, it is capable of transferring this force into the jawbone where it is implanted without breaking or cracking.
Typically, titanium implants are designed and installed in three separate pieces: the implant fixture, the abutment, and the prosthetic crown. This allows for some fine turning of positioning following the placement of the implant fixture, which is embedded into the jawbone and becomes permanently anchored in place.
Zirconia Implants
While titanium implants have long been the standard in dental implants, a small percentage of the population is allergic to titanium and other metals, making this a poor choice for a device that is implanted into the body. For this reason, zirconia implants were created and first introduced in 2009. Composed of a ceramic material rather than a metal, zirconia is hypoallergenic, stronger than other metals or ceramics that were identified in studies, and also has some positive aesthetic benefits, as well.
In contrast to titanium implants, zirconia implants are usually created and installed in two pieces. In zirconia implant systems, the implant fixture and the abutment are combined into one single piece, making accurate placement during the initial surgical procedure extremely important.
Once placed, zirconia implants are nearly as strong as titanium implants (though not quite – they can necessitate more repairs than titanium implants do over time) and also blend seamlessly into the mouth due to their natural white, tooth-like color.
Mini Dental Implants
One of the most important considerations in screening patients for dental implants is determining if enough viable bone mass is available in the jaw. Over time and particularly when teeth have been missing for a while, bone mass can start to decrease. While this is only natural, it presents a problem in that the implant fixtures of a dental implant must be inserted into the jaw, where they then become part of the bone over the course of two to four months. Without enough healthy bone for the implant to gain purchase, it is impossible to anchor the implants into place and make them as strong and dependable as they are designed to be.
For those patients who do not have enough healthy bone mass available at the time that they wish to begin the process of getting dental implants, there are two options. One choice is to undergo bone grafting ahead of the surgical implantation process. This must be done months in advance so that enough bone mass can be generated before starting the dental implant process. The second option is to opt for mini dental implants.
Mini dental implants are a smaller, thinner profiled version of traditional dental implants that require less bone mass for installation due to their size. Tiny but mighty, mini dental implants can solve many of the same problems as regular dental implants do, with the added benefit that they require less invasive surgical procedures to place and reduced healing time, as well. For this reason, mini dental implants are very attractive to those who are wary of the surgery involved in dental implants as well as the healing time that they require.
Implant Retained Bridges and Dentures
Dental implants can be made to replace a single tooth, which is a use of dental implants that many people are familiar with, but a less commonly recognized use of dental implants is their ability to support implant-retained bridges and dentures.
While single dental implant crowns require their own implant, implant-retained bridges and dentures do not require their own individual implants. In fact, an entire arch of implant-retained dentures can be supported by as few as two to four dental implants. For this very reason, implant-retained dentures are sometimes referred to as “all on four” dentures, in which an arch of dentures is supported by four strategically placed dental implants.
The number of dental implants required for each implant-retained appliance depends on individual cases as well as dentist recommendations, but generally speaking, four to six implants are usually recommended to support a full arch of dentures. Once the implants are in place, patients are happy to find that the dentures and bridges that they retain are much more streamlined that conventional dentures. Absent is the bulky acrylic base, as the dentures are held in place by dental implants; many find implant-retained dentures to be a “Goldilocks” middle ground between uncomfortable and ineffective conventional dentures and a full mouth of implants.
Determining Candidacy for Dental Implants
For anyone interested in pursuing a dental implant system, you’ll first want to consult with a trusted dentist about your candidacy. In screening you as a potential candidate for dental implants, your dentist will perform an oral examination, take X-rays, talk you through the process, and ask questions about any underlying health concerns that might be of concern.
If you are a good candidate for dental implants, your dentist will then talk to you about building a team of providers to assist in the creation and placement of your dental implants. At this stage, it is important to listen to the recommendations that are given to you and to opt in all cases to work with providers who are skilled and experienced in the placement of dental implants; while other providers might offer discounted rates or other seemingly attractive hooks, the benefits of a seasoned dental implant practitioner cannot be overstated. Working with a team that is experienced in this process will lead to fewer problems later, which will also lead to cost savings.
Likewise, be advised that different providers will have different levels of comfort with the various kinds of dental implants. If you are set on zirconia implants for allergy or other reasons, be sure to work with an oral surgeon that specializes in zirconia implants. There are many types of implant systems available to providers, and as they work with these systems over time, they tend to develop expertise with these specific systems; be sure to work with this experience rather than against it, and you’re sure to be happier with the process as well as the results.
Maintaining Dental Implants
Once dental implants are placed, it is exceedingly important to follow all of the at-home care instructions provided by your oral surgeon and/or dentist. These usually include some parameters surrounding activity as well as direct care of your dental implants.
In the weeks following implantation, you’ll want to look out for any signs and symptoms of infection, loose implants, or problems with your gums. While these are rare, they can compromise the future integrity of your implants, so it is very important to get immediate attention if any of these issues occur.
In the coming months and years, the care and maintenance of your dental implant system is quite simple; brush, floss, and rinse as directed; be sure to maintain biannual visits to your dentist’s office for regular check-ups, and take care not to use your teeth for anything that they are not meant to be used for. As long as you’re doing all that, you should be all set to enjoy the many benefits of your dental implants for years – even decades – to come.