Basic Information of Dental Implants

Overview

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are inserted into your jaw to replace lost teeth. Putting in dental implants involves the surgical placement of a metal post into the bone underneath your gums. This makes dental implants the best solution when replacing missing teeth as they are anchored into the jawbone.

Who can get dental implants?

But not everyone is a candidate for dental implants. To receive dental implants, you must be in good overall health, your jawbone must be able to adequately hold the implants in place, and your gum tissue should be healthy and free of disease. So, in some cases, a bridge or dentures without dental implants may be a better choice. In cases where you are missing multiple teeth, or all of your teeth, dental implants can be used in conjunction with bridges or dentures to make these tooth replacements more secure. On consultation we will examine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants.

How are dental implants placed?

If found that your health is good enough to maintain a dental implant, Dr Sagathavan will take an impression of your teeth and send it to the dental technician to create. The replacement tooth, called the crown, will be attached to the post (which is anchored in the jawbone) giving the appearance of a natural tooth.

To fit a dental implant, Dr Sagathavan will numb the area with local anesthesia. He will then make an incision into the gum tissue and drill the implant into place. A healing cap is placed on top temporarily and the gum tissue is then stitched closed. Your dentist will then wait for healing, which may take up to 6 weeks. Once the crown is ready and your gum has healed, your next appointment will involve the healing cap being removed and the permanent crown being cemented in place.

Dental implants are often a preferred tooth replacement option because they do not affect the adjacent teeth like a bridge does. Dental implants also look and feel like natural teeth, and are more secure than removable dentures.

Oral care tips for dental implants

Dental implants have a 98% success rate and can last up to 25 years if well cared for.

• Maintain good oral hygiene by brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice a day
• You should floss daily
• Use mouthwash diligently to avoid infection
• See your dentist or oral hygienist regularly for checkups and professional teeth cleaning
• To prevent damage to your new implant avoid chewing hard foods, ice or other hard objects