Dental Implants

Dental Implants have changed the face of dentistry over the last 25 years. They are the closest thing we have to natural teeth when replacing missing teeth. They offer versatility in how we replace missing teeth, much like an adaptor between you and the artificial teeth placed on top.

At Lanark Dental Care we use Straumann and Biomet Implant Systems.

How are they used to replace missing teeth?

This section will give you an overview of the topic of dental implants.

As with most treatment procedures in dentistry today, dental implants not only involve scientific discovery, research and understanding, but also application in clinical practice. The practice of implant dentistry requires expertise in planning, surgery and tooth restoration as well as about art and experience.

Let’s start from the beginning:

A dental implant is actually a replacement for the root or roots of a tooth. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and are not visible once surgically placed. They are used to secure crowns (the parts of teeth seen in the mouth), bridgework or dentures by a variety of means. They are made of titanium, which is lightweight, strong and biocompatible, which means that it is not rejected by the body. Titanium and titanium alloys are the most widely used metals in both dental and other bone implants, such as orthopedic joint replacements. Dental implants have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device.

Titanium’s special property of fusing to bone, called osseointegration (“osseo” – bone; “integration” – fusion or joining with), is the biological basis of dental implant success. That’s because when teeth are lost, the bone that supported those teeth is lost too. Placing dental implants stabilizes bone, preventing its loss. Along with replacing lost teeth, implants help maintain the jawbone’s shape and density. This means they also support the facial skeleton and, indirectly, the soft tissue structures — gum tissues, cheeks and lips. Dental implants help you eat, chew, smile, talk and look completely natural. This functionality imparts social, psychological and physical well-being.

What are the options for implant tooth replacement?

Single Tooth Replacement:

Immediately (at the same time an implant is placed) or after a period of healing, an abutment is attached to the implant. This is a device that “abuts” or joins the implant to a tooth form called a crown, which replaces the tooth part you see in the mouth. It will hold a custom-made crown that the dental laboratory will fabricate and match to your existing teeth. The custom crown is cemented or screwed onto the abutment to permanently keep it in place. Once the crown is in place, it should be indistinguishable from your natural teeth.

Typical timeline for existing teeth would be removal of the existing root and immediate placement of the implant on the same day. Then a period of time elapses to allow the bone to grow onto the implant – you cannot feel the implant integrating. Once the implant is accepted as part of the body we test its stability and then take a scan of the mouth with our 3d scanner and 2 weeks later we screw on the new tooth (crown). After this together we maintain a rigorous oral hygiene schedule where we check up avery 3 months on your care of the implant.

Fixed Multiple Tooth Replacement:

As with single tooth replacement, temporary healing caps or abutments may be placed on multiple implants until the healing phase is complete. After healing, permanent abutments are attached to the implants. They can attach to custom-made crowns or bridgework that a dental laboratory will fabricate to match your existing teeth. In the final step, the custom bridge, which will replace multiple teeth, is cemented or screwed onto the abutments. The teeth have been replaced without disturbing the healthy teeth next to them, and bone loss has been halted.

Removable Implant-Supported Tooth Replacement:

If all of your lower teeth are missing, depending on the design of the removable restoration, two to six implants may be used to support a lower denture. If all of your upper teeth are missing, a minimum of four implants may be used to support an upper denture. Removable dentures are often used to replace extensive tooth, bone and gum-tissue loss, thus providing support for the facial skeleton, lip and cheeks. A new denture can have attachments that snap or clip it into place on the implants or a custom made, milled bar can be fabricated to create additional strength and support for the restoration. Design variations are often related to your bone density and number of implants present; your dentist will discuss these options during your consultation. A significant advantage of a removable denture is facilitating the cleaning of the dental implants.

FAQs

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

Generally speaking, if you have lost teeth you are a candidate for dental implants. It is important that you are in good health, however, as there are some conditions and diseases that can affect whether dental implants are right for you. For example, uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, radiation to the jaws, smoking, alcoholism, or uncontrolled periodontal (gum) disease may affect whether dental implants will fuse to your bone. It is important to let your dental surgeon know all about your medical status (past and present) together with all medications you are taking, whether prescribed, alternative (herbal) or over-the-counter.

Where and how implants are placed requires a detailed assessment of your mouth. This will necessitate compiling records that include study models of your mouth and bite, and specialised radiographs (x-rays)

Surgery! drilling! this sounds scary?

This is one of the most common concerns we encounter for implant placement, the idea that on the day of placement there will be an operating theatre set up with machines and numerous staff ready to undertake this critical procedure! Well, the reality is far less exciting or worrying. Implant placement is a relatively simple procedure, and our patients have testified that it is less involving then having a filling. Recently we interviewed one of our patients about her implant experience, she commented on Mr Davenhill having worked for something in the region of 20 minutes then stopped and sat the chair up. The patient thought he was having a break, only to find the implant was placed and that was the end of the session. We explain regularly that placing the implant is the delicate part of dentistry and not the rough experience that can be the extraction of a tooth.

How and why is bone lost when teeth are lost?

Bone needs stimulation to maintain its form and density. In the case of alveolar (sac-like) bone that surrounds and supports teeth, the necessary stimulation comes from the teeth themselves. When a tooth is lost, the lack of stimulation causes loss of alveolar bone. There is a 25% decrease in width of bone during the first year after tooth loss and an overall decrease in height over the next few years.

The more teeth lost, the more function lost. This leads to some particularly serious aesthetic and functional problems, particularly in people who have lost all of their teeth. And it doesn’t stop there. After alveolar bone is lost, the bone beneath it, basal bone — the jawbone proper — also begins to resorb (shrink away).

How can bone be preserved or re-grown to support dental implants?

Grafting bone into the extraction sockets at the time of tooth loss or removal can help preserve bone volume needed for implant placement. Surgical techniques are also available to regenerate (re-grow) bone that has been lost, to provide the necessary bone substance for anchoring implants. In fact, a primary reason to consider dental implants to replace missing teeth is the maintenance of jawbone.

Bone needs stimulation to stay healthy. Because dental implants fuse to the bone, they stabilize it and prevent further bone loss. Resorption is a normal and inevitable process in which bone is lost when it is no longer supporting or connected to teeth. Only dental implants can stop this process and preserve the bone.

How are dental implants placed and who places them?

It takes a dental team to assess and plan dental implant placement and restoration — the fabrication of the crowns, bridgework or dentures that attach atop the implants and are visible in your mouth. The dental team consists of a an oral surgeon or a general dentist with advanced training in implant surgery,a specially trained dental nurse to assist with the surgery and to help coordinate the treatment and a dental laboratory technician who fabricates the restorations.Placing dental implants requires a surgical procedure in which precision channels are created in the jawbone, often using a surgical guide. The implants are then fitted into the sites so that they are in intimate contact with the bone. They generally require two to six months to fuse to the bone before they can have tooth restorations attached to them to complete the process.

The big question is, “Are dental implants right for me?”

We can help you answer that question! Call us today to book your implant consultation.