Dental implants might be described as replacement roots installed in both lower and upper jaw of a patient. The need to have a dental implant is to hold a false or a replacement tooth in position. If there is a need to install a dental implant it helps protect the mouth from gaps forming which could eventually affect a person’s general oral hygiene.
How are implants fitted?
Implants are fitted in place by qualified dentists by drilling in the location where replacement teeth are needed. There could be two ways to fit an implant into the desired location as some implants may have scree thread, and thus can be screwed into position. If the implant is not screw-shaped, then the drilling process has to tap it into place. The important end result is to place implants as close to the surrounding bone area as possible. This positioning would allow steady growth of the bone around the implant. This is completed through a surgery, and the fusion of the bone to the implant takes several months.
Following this process, dentists can fit crowns, bridges and dentures using screws or clips to be attached on the part designed for this purpose that emerges on top of the gum where the implant was positioned. This part is commonly referred to as ‘abutment’.
Time the time the treatment of installing an implant may vary according to the individual’s situation. More recent developments mean that positioning a replacement teeth on implants could be done instantly after the transplant surgery. Such implants are called ‘immediate implants’. Others may require a three to four month period to fit replacement teeth on the installed implant. The process could cause some pain, although a local anesthesia is administered, taking out teeth that need to be replaced could result in aches during the first week after the surgery is done. Only serious cases require sedatives.
Materials dental implants are almost all from titanium and titanium alloys. Reasons for using these elements is due to the bones tolerating them which has been demonstrated by their successful use for years, now. More recently some implants have been manufactured using monolithic Zirconium-oxide. Because years are needed to be able to test and conclude performance and benefits, it is still not knows if using Zirconium improves positioning of implants or their attachment to bones.
Care and Maintenance, many sources emphasize the safety and reliability of dental implants as treatments, but stress the need to maintain and care for them just like normal teeth. This is to avoid, like normal teeth, of coating to form on them. Regular maintenance appointments may be set depending on the case and how many implants had to be installed.