Dental implants are a common and effective solution for replacing missing teeth. Understanding what dental implants are, can alleviate your stress and anxiety before this procedure. Find out more in this article, below.

A dental implant is a titanium post that acts as an artificial tooth root, surgically inserted into your jawbone. This implant serves as a stable foundation for a custom-made crown that mimics the appearance and function of a natural tooth.

This is an important procedure that is done for health and cosmetic reasons. Missing teeth can throw your bite out of alignment, and can even impact how you chew and speak. By replacing these teeth with an implant, you greatly improve your oral function and restore your self-esteem with a permanent, durable smile.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

For patients who are good candidates, dental implants are among the safest dental procedures available. Several explanations exist as to why.

First, the materials used for dental implants, like titanium, are standardised under the International Organisation for Standardisation and therefore meet extremely high safety standards.

The process of osseointegration allows the implant to fuse with the jawbone over time, becoming a permanent part of your mouth.

Even when made out of zirconia and not titanium, zirconia also stands as a biocompatible ceramic metal that does not irritate the body and is used to great effect in patients with allergies to metals.

Additionally, dental implants have a great success rate that testifies to their safety. In the United Kingdom, dental implants have a success rate of 95 to 98%.

Benefits of Best Dental Implants

The benefits of dental implants are numerous. They:

• Restore the ability to chew
• Restore a patient’s cosmetic appearance
• Support a shrinking jawbone due to bone loss
• Preserve gum health
• Keep a patient’s teeth stable

Parts of a Dental Implant

The parts of a dental implant include the implant body – the structure that is surgically inserted into a jawbone as an anchor point – an abutment that is fitted atop this dental implant and works to connect the crown and the implant, and the custom-made crown.

The image below shows these different parts, and how they work together to restore the form and function of your mouth.

Types of Dental Implants

There are many types of dental implants, including the following:

There are several types of dental implants, each suited to different needs:

• Endosteal Implants: These are the most common type, surgically inserted into the jawbone. They provide a strong anchor for one or more teeth.
• Subperiosteal Implants: These are placed on or above the jawbone, beneath the gum tissue, and are used when there is insufficient bone height for an endosteal implant.
• Zirconia Implants: Metal-free alternatives to titanium implants, ideal for patients with metal allergies.
• Mini Dental Implants: Smaller and less invasive, these are used to stabilize dentures or replace teeth when there’s insufficient bone density for standard implants.

Different Dental Implant Methods

The method of dental implant placement varies depending on your specific dental needs:

• Single-Tooth Implants: Replace a single missing tooth with one implant and one crown.
• Full Mouth Implants: Replace all teeth in the upper or lower jaw with several strategically placed implants.
• Multiple Implants: Replace a few missing teeth with a series of implants supporting individual crowns or bridges.
• All-on-4 Implants: Utilize four implants to support a full arch of teeth, reducing the need for more extensive surgery.
• Immediate Load Implants: Allow for the placement of a temporary crown on the same day as the implant surgery, providing immediate functionality.
• Zygomatic Implants: Anchored in the cheekbone, these are used when there is severe bone loss in the upper jaw.

Additional Procedures

Some patients may be unable to receive a dental implant outright. Indeed, this procedure depends on the number of teeth that need to be replaced, where the implants must be inserted within the jaw, the quality of bone at the implant site, and a patient’s oral health. Other additional procedures may be needed to make a dental implant viable, including:

• Sinus Augmentation

For patients with upper jaw tooth loss, a sinus augmentation surgery may be needed to lift the floor of their sinuses if they are in an unfavourable position. This enables more bone to develop for the successful insertion of a dental implant.

• Ridge Modification

Some patients also have deformities in the quality and quantity of bone in their jawbone, preventing a dental implant from being fitted. A ridge modification procedure can correct many of these issues. Here, the gum is lifted to expose the deformed bone, and a bone substitute is then used to repair this area to allow for an implant.

Surgery Timeline and Recovery

The usual procedure of a dental implant surgery and the recovery process should be as follows:

Evaluation

A dentist will evaluate your teeth, gums, and jawbone to see whether you have enough healthy jawbone to support a dental implant. You will be prepped for the requirements of dental implant installation, which counts as an outpatient procedure that may require anaesthesia, local or general.

Placing the implant

If your dentist determines that an endosteal implant is most suitable, the surgery will commence in the following manner:

1. An oral surgeon will cut your gum, exposing the jawbone underneath.
2. Holes will then be drilled deep into the bone, where the implant post will be inserted.
3. Once healed, a permanent tooth or ‘crown’ will be attached to the implant via an abutment, which is a metal extender.

If you have a subperiosteal implant, your jawbone won’t be drilled, and the implant will be placed on or above the bone.

Whether you have an endosteal or subperiosteal implant, discomfort and swelling is an expected reactions to the procedure. This may last for several days, although your daily activities are unlikely to be disrupted.

Osseointegration

After the dental implant is placed, osseointegration will occur between two to six months after your procedure. Here, your natural jaw bone will grow around the dental implant, securing and strengthening it! As a result, it truly functions as a tooth root.

Placing the tooth

Once the implant site has healed completely, your dentist will take an impression of your teeth to create a permanent replacement tooth – or teeth, if required – that matches seamlessly.

These permanent teeth or ‘crowns’ can be fixed or removable.

Removable teeth are mounted onto a metal frame and attached to the abutment, where a fixed tooth is permanently screwed onto the abutment. Regardless of the type of crown fitted, your new teeth will feel natural, and must be cared for as such; regular brushing and flossing is a requirement.

How Much Are Dental Implants

Many patients are concerned about how much dental implants are.

The cost of dental implants varies based on several factors, including the number of implants needed, the type of implant, and whether additional procedures are required. In the UK, the cost can range from £1,000 to £3,000 per implant, including the crown. It’s important to discuss the cost with your dentist and explore if any of the procedure is covered under the NHS.

Eligibility for dental implant surgery

Unfortunately, not all patients are eligible for dental implant surgery.

Dental surgeons are unable to safely operate on people with:

• Acute illness
• Uncontrollable metabolic disease
• Bone or soft tissue disease and infection

These issues must first be safely resolved.

Certain conditions and lifestyle choices also influence your eligibility for an implant, for example:

• Heavy smoking
• Tooth grinding and clenching
• Behavioural and psychiatric disorders
• HIV
• Diabetes
• Osteoporosis
• AIDS

These conditions increase the risk of implant failure.

Bisphosphonate drug treatment for bone loss diseases, alongside chemotherapy and radiotherapy of the head and neck, also increases the risk of implant complications, and patients undergoing such will therefore be directed to another solution.

Potential complications of dental implant surgery

No surgery is without potential complications. If a dental implant surgery has been carried out incorrectly – i.e., without adherence to regulated standards, or check-ups to ensure the proper healing process – patients could experience the following:

• Damage to surrounding natural teeth
• Injury to the surrounding tissues during surgery, such as sinus perforation
• Injury during surgery (for example, fracture of the surrounding jawbone)
• Inadequate function, such as feeling like their teeth do not bite together normally
• A sensation that the tooth is loose or twisting in place resulting from an abutment screw loosening
• Implant body failure (looseness of the implant body) – which could be due to a systemic infection, local infection, or delayed healing
• Difficulty cleaning the gums around the implant, resulting in poor oral hygiene
• Untreated periodontal disease
• Post-surgical numbness due to nerve impingement or damage

Always feel empowered to raise dental implant surgery issues, whether with your dentist or another healthcare provider. For patients in the UK, the Dental Complaints Service also exists to resolve problems resulting from a surgical procedure or dental malpractice.

How long do dental implants last?

When installed correctly and maintained with good oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime. They are as durable and functional as natural teeth.

Should you go for a Dental Implant Surgery?

You should go ahead with dental implant surgery if you require a permanent solution for missing teeth, and want to improve your ability to eat, speak and smile confidently in the long-term. Leaving missing teeth untreated can impact your facial structure, and even contribute towards bone loss. Ultimately, for eligible patients, an investment in dental implant surgery is an investment in their quality of life.

If you decide to go ahead with dental implant surgery for your health and well-being, consult with Beech Lane Dental Care in Reading. Here, dental implants are delivered with precision and care, tailored towards your requirements.