Dental Implants
Dental Implants
have changed the face of dentistry over the last 25 years.
As with most
treatment procedures in dentistry today, dental implants not only involve scientific
discovery, research and understanding, but also application in clinical
practice. The practice of implant dentistry requires expertise in planning,
surgery and tooth restoration; it is as much about art and experience as it is
about science.
Let’s start from
the beginning: A dental implant is actually a replacement for the root or roots
of a tooth. Like tooth roots, dental implants are secured in the jawbone and
are not visible once surgically placed. They are used to secure crowns (the
parts of teeth seen in the mouth), bridgework or dentures by a variety of
means. They are made of titanium, which is lightweight, strong and
biocompatible, which means that it is not rejected by the body. Titanium and
titanium alloys are the most widely used metals in both dental and other bone
implants, such as orthopedic joint replacements. Dental implants have the
highest success rate of any implanted surgical device.
Titanium’s
special property of fusing to bone, called osseointegration,
is the biological basis of dental implant success. That’s because when teeth
are lost, the bone that supported those teeth is lost too. Placing dental
implants stabilizes bone, preventing its loss. Along with replacing lost teeth,
implants help maintain the jawbone’s shape and density. This means they also
support the facial skeleton and, indirectly, the soft tissue structures — gum
tissues, cheeks and lips. Dental implants help you eat, chew, smile, talk and
look completely natural. This functionality imparts social, psychological and
physical well-being.