Dental
Implants Frequently asked Questions
Is
the concept of dental implants a new
one?
Interestingly, dental implants have
been performed for thousands of years.
Egyptian mummies have been found with
gold wire implants in the jawbones.
Pre-Columbian skeletal remains exhibit
dental implants made of semi-precious
stones. Recently, a Roman soldier was
unearthed in Europe with an iron dental
implant in his jawbone. In the Middle
East, implants made of ivory have been
discovered in skeletons from the Middle
Ages.
Modern
implantology began in the United States
at the beginning of the 20th century.
However, popularity really grew in the
1980’s with the increased success of
the titanium cylinder. Since then, many
brand name implants with minor variations
have been approved.
________________________________________________________________
What
factors contribute to long-term success
of Dental Implants?
Long-term
success depends on multiple factors.
First off, success will depend on the
quality and quantity of bone. The better
the bone and the more available, the
greater the chance of long-term success.
Secondly, the experience and ability
of the dental surgeon will be a factor.
As with any surgical procedure, there
is no substitute for the experience
and individual talent of the dentist.
And finally, the quality of the restoration
placed on top of the implant will play
a big role in long-term success. If
the design of the implant crowns or
overdentures are poorly constructed,
and biting forces are not balanced,
even the best-placed dental implant
will have a compromised survival rate.
________________________________________________________________
Who
can place a dental implant in my mouth?
A
periodontist, an oral surgeon, or an
implantologist places dental implants.
The periodontist and oral surgeon are
teamed with a restorative dentist. They
will place the implants and then the
patient will be seen by a restorative
dentist for completion of the crowns
or overlying appliance. There will be
two dentists during the course of treatment.
An implantologist is trained in both
dental implant surgery and restoration
of the dental prosthesis. An implantologist
will do both the surgery and the restoration,
and there will be only one dentist during
the course of treatment. Click here
to find an implantologist near you.
________________________________________________________________
Who
can restore the teeth on the top of
dental implants?
A
general dentist trained to restore implants,
an oral implantologist, or a prosthodontist
can restore teeth. It is the choice
of the patient to use a "one doctor
approach," whereby the oral implantologist
does both the surgery and the restoration,
or the "two doctor approach,"
whereby the surgery and restoration
are performed by two different clinicians.
Click here to find an implantologist
near you.
______________________________________________________________
Are
there any age limitations for dental
implants?
No.
Any person at any age can have dental
implants as long as there is enough
bone available in which to place the
implants.
What
might be some of the factors that would
prevent me from being an implant candidate?
There
are some medical factors that might
prevent a person from being a good candidate
for dental implants. Some of these may
be uncontrolled diabetes, chemotherapy
or radiation therapy, parathyroid disorders,
blood disorders, rare bone disorders
or bone marrow cancer. Some physical
factors may include insufficient or
poor quality bone, low sinuses or nerve
bundles.
How
often will I need to have my dental
implants checked?
The
success of your implants will depend
greatly on how well you maintain them.
They will need to be professionally
cleaned by a hygienist and examined
by your implant dentist every three
to four months. This hygienist should
be trained in the specific procedure
of maintaining dental implants. Also,
brushing and flossing daily is absolutely
necessary for long-term success.
Is
dental implant surgery painful?
No.
An effective local anesthetic is used
during the surgery so that you do not
have any discomfort during the placement
of the implants. The mild discomfort
you might experience after surgery can
be controlled with medications.
______________________________________________________________
When
can I return to work after implant surgery?
You
can go to work the next day, unless
some particular surgical circumstance
arises. Your implant dentist will discuss
all postoperative instructions with
you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Additional
Information
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefits
Dental
implants have given countless patients
many amazing benefits.
You
will smile again
Improved
appearance
Improved
comfort
Improved
speech
Eat
better, enjoy more foods, better nutrition
Convenience
Improved
self-esteem
Dental
implants are also a great value for
your investment. You will be getting
a product that you will be using 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks
of the year, probably for many, many
years of your life.
>>
Back to Top
>>Click
here to visit our Smiles Gallery of
Orthodontic Treatments
|
