What are dental implants?
Dental implants resemble a tooth. They are a replacement for a missing or hopeless tooth, in which case we need to perform extractions and replace them with implants.
What is the process I will go through if I decide to get a dental implant?
First, we need information, including clinical and paraclinical information. We have several steps or phases that follow one after another. The first step is gathering clinical and paraclinical information, including X-rays, CT scans, impressions, models, and an intraoral exam to see if you are a good candidate for an implant or to determine the best and most proper way of placing and restoring that implant.
What conditions would cause a dentist to recommend dental implants?
Several conditions would lead a dentist to recommend dental implants, such as missing teeth or teeth that are hopeless or don't have enough structure to be salvaged and kept with a filling, crown, or other procedures.
Why is my medical history important?
Several medical conditions affect the survival and success rate of placing implants, such as diabetes (if it's not under control), osteoporosis, or any kind of bone defects and conditions. Some liver problems and kidney diseases also affect enzyme production, proteins, and the healing process.
How many steps are there in the process of dental implant placement?
From A to Z, the process of dental implant placement means from placing the implant to having an artificial crown. If we need to add bone or if there is a hopeless tooth that needs extraction, the first step is extracting the tooth, performing the artificial bone graft, and waiting for healing, which usually takes between four to seven months. Then we proceed to place the implant and wait for the healing of the implant, which means fusion of the implant to the bone, called osseointegration. Once the bone and implant are fused and strong enough, they can be restored. The next step is taking the impression on the implant, making an abutment (a core) that sits on top of the implant, and then finally creating the ceramic crown, which usually looks, works, and functions as well as a natural tooth.
How long do dental implants last?
Complications can arise in any procedure in the world of dental and medical science, but I usually prefer not to think about complications. Instead, we want to think about success. According to statistics based on many articles, research, and textbooks, we know that more than 97% of dental implants last a lifetime. The remaining three percent are affected by various situations and conditions, including dental, personal, and medical factors. Parafunctional habits like clenching and grinding severely without using protection like night guards or different day and night intraoral appliances can damage the implant after restoration. However, if we protect everything and anticipate potential problems, implants can last a lifetime.
How long does it typically take to recover from dental implants?
If it's just a simple implant placement, meaning no bone grafts or aggressive procedures are needed, the healing and recovery after implant placement is very smooth. With analgesics and painkillers, the whole recovery typically does not exceed 34 hours in most cases of implant placement. Another factor is how many implants need to be placed, which affects the time and severity of recovery. If multiple implants are placed, you might need a few days for recovery. However, if there is only one implant in solid bone, the recovery, as mentioned, is usually less than twenty-four hours. You will need a few painkillers and, most of the time, post-operative antibiotics to support the body's defensive system, and that will be all.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants resemble the root of a tooth in case of a missing tooth and they replace one tooth or multiple missing teeth.
What conditions would cause a dentist to recommend dental implants?
The conditions that would cause a dentist to recommend dental implants is when a patient has lost their teeth from a single tooth to multiple teeth and even the entire teeth in the mouth.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
The advantages of dental implants include replacing a missing tooth without involving other teeth or changing the condition of the entire mouth in a patient.
What is the process for getting dental implants?
The process of getting a dental implant depends on two situations, whether we have a hopeless tooth or we are already missing a tooth. It involves extracting the tooth, preserving and keeping the residual bone, placing the implant after healing, waiting for the implant to heal and then installing a crown on top of the implant.
What is involved in the dental exam for evaluating a patient who needs an implant?
A dental exam involves clinical observation in the mouth and taking x-rays to evaluate the gum tissue and health of the mouth. We also take a three-dimensional image called CBCT or CT scan to evaluate the quality and quantity of the bone and any anatomical or pathological patterns.
Why is my medical history important?
The medical history is very important in implant patients because there are so many medical conditions that compromise the implant longevity and success for an implant placement.
How will my dentist come up with a treatment plan that is right for me?
Your dentist comes up with a treatment plan by reviewing your medical condition, reviewing the x-rays and every paraclinical information to evaluate the possibilities of failure and can give you an estimate about the success and the function of your implant.
What are the steps in the process of placing a dental implant?
The process of performing an implant dentistry and giving a patient an implant involves several steps. It starts with removing a tooth or extraction of a hopeless tooth and preparing the jawbone includes bone augmentation. Then placing the implant after healing and a fusion of the implant to the bone which is called osteointegration. Finally, applying abutment means a core to hold on a crown which is the final process.
Where would bone grafting be required?
Bone grafting will be required in cases that we have insufficient bone that three-dimensionally may it could be horizontal, vertical or both. In those cases, we need to add to the bulk of bone and we call it a bone graft or bone augmentation.
When choosing new artificial teeth, what options will I have and what are the pros and cons of each?
When we are choosing to use artificial teeth to replace the missing teeth, we have two choices or two options, fixed and removable. Removable artificial teeth can be made faster, easier and are less expensive compared to fixed artificial teeth. The cons of having removable artificial teeth is they are not as strong compared to fixed artificial teeth and natural tooth and they might be uncomfortable when the situation of the mouth environment changes. The pros or advantages of fixed artificial teeth is you don't have to remove them, they are stable, strong and they last way longer than removable artificial teeth. The cons of fixed artificial teeth is you have to involve the neighboring teeth in the mouth and they need more steps to make and can be a little more complicated.
How long does it typically take to recover from dental implants?
The amount of time it takes to recover from dental implants varies based on the condition of the patient, medical condition and local condition. For simple implants when everything is ready and patient has enough bone in regards to quality and quantity and is a healthy patient, it won't be more than two to three months.
How long do dental implants last?
Dental implants last forever, that's the goal, but every procedure in the world of medical and dental complications happens and depends again on the patient's health, home care, in other words oral hygiene and the quality of the implant that has been placed.
Can dental implants get cavities?
Dental implants cannot get cavities because bacteria cannot cause cavities in an inert piece of titanium or porcelain which is the crown on top of the implant.
What are the cost and financing options involved with dental implants?
The cost and financing options with dental implants vary from case to case based on the patient's basic financial status and the facilities and utilities the dental office provides for their patients.
Do most insurance plans cover the cost of dental implants?
Some insurance companies cover dental services, some of them cover dental implants, some don't. It depends on the insurance company and the type of insurance they recommend. They will cover different percentages. The best person to answer the question would be the front desk and office manager at Yalda Dental.
How can I schedule an appointment to talk to a dentist about dental implants?
There are several ways to schedule an appointment for a consultation about dental implants. You can go online at http://www.yaldadental.com and schedule based on our website or call Yalda Dental office and they will schedule the first available time for the dentist to do the consultation. You can schedule online or you can call us at (215) 240-4088.
People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can't keep up. If you've lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.
Single or Multiple Implants
Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages Over Dentures or Bridges
Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural, but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don't directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don't compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.
Post-Treatment Care
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.
Mini Implants
A mini implant consists of a miniature sized titanium implant that acts like the root of your tooth. On the top of the implant sits a retaining fixture that snaps into a corresponding fixture on your denture. The result is a more comfortable, stable denture that enables you to enjoy life without worrying about your teeth.
How are mini implants different from ordinary sized implants?
With a regular sized dental implant, there needs to be a certain amount of bone structure available to place the implant. With mini implants, less space is needed, allowing the use of a site that has less than adequate bone.
Placing mini implants is also often simpler and less time-intensive than placing full-sized implants. Full-sized implants generally require several months of healing before they can reliably support dental restorations, while mini implants can often support a denture right away.
The procedure for placing mini implants is usually simple and relatively pain-free, and the recovery time is often just a day or two. Modifications to the denture are made on the same day the implants are placed, so you can begin wearing it with your new implants right away.
Implant Services
Sinus Lift Augmentation
After the loss of upper back teeth, your sinuses may enlarge in size. Before new implants replace the lost teeth, a sinus lift augmentation or graft relocates the sinus cavity into its original position and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.
Autogenous Bone Grafting
Occasionally, ideal areas where dental implants are to be placed do not have sufficient bone quantity to predictably place the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to "borrow" bone from another area of your mouth to graft into the deficient area. Often the area of choice is from the chin or in the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.
Implant Site Development
When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have bone loss around the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.
Computer Enhanced Treatment Planning
We have special 3D software that allows us to evaluate your bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location for the best possible placement of your dental implants. This also allows us to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result for your dental implants.
Implant Maintenance
Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and free of infection. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, professional cleanings will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.