You’ve heard about them, but you may be wondering exactly what are dental implants? These implants consist of a metallic frame that is placed into your jawbone beneath a portion of your gums. These frames or posts are positioned in this area to account for the placement of a new tooth. Once the dental implant is in place, replacement teeth will be able to be mounted onto them. The implant is typically made from titanium and is placed into the gum line with a surgical procedure. This surgical procedure ensures that the dental implant won’t loosen over time.
Although the implant does not need to be supported by other teeth, you will need to have enough bone in the area to act as support for the implant. If you don’t have enough bone in the area or the bone that you do have is too soft, you can consider obtaining a bone graft before the implant is installed.
How These Dental Implants Work
Due to the fact that implants are essentially fused to your jaw, the artificial teeth that are placed on the implants will be stable enough to remain in place. Bridges can also be placed onto dental implants if necessary. Since the implants won’t loosen or move slightly, the artificial teeth will feel natural when placed into your mouth. Your gums will need to be healthy if you want to have the implants installed into your gums.
When you’re considering making use of dental implants, you might also want to keep in mind that these implants are compatible with dental crowns. The procedure associated with the placement of dental implants typically takes around 1-2 hours to complete.
Types of Dental Implants Available to You
There are two basic types of implants for you to consider, which are referred to as subperiosteal implants and endosteal implants. The subperiosteal implants available to you are made from a metal frame, which is placed slightly below your gum tissue within the jawbone. Small metal posts are attached to the frame. Once the implant is installed, you will notice that the metal posts are slightly visible above the gum. The artificial teeth will then be placed onto the metal posts.
As for endosteal implants, a small surgery is used to place the implants into the jawbone. The frame and posts necessary for the implants aren’t placed onto the small implant until the gums have fully healed. The artificial tooth can then be put into place.
How to Care for Dental Implants
If you want your dental implants to last for a long time, it’s important that you know how to properly care for them. The most important care tip that you should follow is to continue to practice good oral hygiene. Make sure to brush and floss your teeth at least twice every day for the best results. Consider using an interdental brush to specifically assist with brushing the implants.
Smoking causes the bone surrounding the implant to weaken, which could lead to the failure of the implant in question, so you should consider quitting the habit if you’re a smoker. Make sure that you schedule appointments with your dentist at least twice each year to ensure that any dental issues are caught before they worsen.
Now that you have a clear picture of what dental implants are, contact the Good Samaritan Dental Implant Institute to learn whether this type of treatment is right for you.