Dental Implants – Everything you should know about them

General introduction on Dental Implants

Dental Implants have become very common nowadays and replacing a missing tooth is quite simple and fast using a dental implant, but few people know what a dental implant involves.

A dental implant is basically a titanium screw which will replace the root of a missing tooth being inserted in the bone of your upper or lower jaw.

On top of the implant the crown will be attached either screw retained or cemented.

Full arch reconstructions can be done on implants as well either fixed or removable depending on the number of implants placed.

Google articles can be useful if you read the right ones, comments from other people can be useful as well only if they understand the situation and know what they are talking about.

Some people think that treating their own teeth would be a waste of time and it would be best to have them all out and replaced with a new set of teeth, something similar with replacing a piece of furniture or a car.

Who can have dental implants ?

First of all dental implants should be used only when necessary and not every patient is capable of having dental implants.

From General health problems such as diabetes or any other blood clothing related, osteoporosis , leukemia up to local issues such as a poor oral hygiene or aggressive oral bacteria are factors which do not allow implant placement.

Another important aspect is the bone quality and quantity and this is all about having enough volume to place the implant and the right bone density.

Bone Graft - What if there is not enough bone to place an implant ?

If the patient has a satisfactory health and risks factors are reduced including smoking for example, grafting materials can improve the bone level and create new bone so the implant will be integrated.

Bone grafting has been used for ages in orthopedic surgery and research allows us to study, innovate and develop more ways of growing bone.

The latest bone grafting materials are made out of Calcium Phosphate, Hydroxyapatite and beta- tricalcium Phosphate in various combinations, materials which have osteoinductive and osteconductive properties.

Bone graft can be done after implant placement, before implant placement or at the same time with the implant placement and this can only be surgeon’s choice according to the surgical situation.