Dental implants are medical devices surgically put into a person’s jaw to help them chew better or look better. They hold up fake teeth like crowns, bridges, or dentures.
When a person loses a tooth because of an accident or illness, they may have problems like rapid bone loss, trouble speaking, or painful changes in the way they chew. When a person loses a tooth, putting in a dental implant can significantly affect their health and quality of life.
Dental implant systems include a dental implant body, a dental implant abutment, and sometimes an abutment fixation screw. The body of the dental implant is surgically placed in the jawbone where the tooth root used to be. Most of the time, the abutment screw connects the abutment to the implant body.
Recommendations For Patients
Talk to your dentist about dental implant benefits and risks before you get them. Your dentist can also tell you if you are a good candidate for the procedure.
Things To Think About Before Implant Procedure
- Before any dental implant procedure it is necessary to assess the overall health which is a big part of whether or not you are a good candidate for dental implants. How long it will take to heal, and how long the implant may stay in place is also important.
- Ask an implantologist what brand and model of dental implant system is used, and note this information.
- Smoking can make it take longer for an implant to heal and make it less likely that it will last for a long time.
- The healing process for the implanted body can take a few months or even longer. During this time, a temporary abutment is usually used to replace the tooth.
After The Procedure For The Dental Implant:
- Carefully do what your dentist tells you to do to take care of your teeth. For the implant to last a long time, it is very important to clean it and the teeth around it regularly.
- Make regular appointments with your dentist.
- Tell your dentist right away if your implant feels loose or hurts.
Dental implants can make a big difference in the health and quality of life of a person who needs them. But sometimes, things get complicated. Complications can happen immediately or long after a dental implant is put in. Some complications result in implant failure (usually defined as implant looseness or loss). If an implant fails, it may need to be fixed or replaced with a new system, which may require another surgery.
Dental implant systems have these advantages:
- It brings back the ability to chew.
- Restores the jawbone’s look and keeps it from shrinking because of bone loss.
- It keeps the bone and gums around the tooth healthy.
- Helps keep the teeth next to each other stable. It makes life better.
How The Safety Of Dental Implants Is Checked?
Most dental implant systems are made of materials that meet international standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or ASTM International. In these standards, there are specifics about what makes a material safe. Titanium or zirconium oxide is used to make most dental implant systems. Sometimes other materials are used, like gold alloys, cobalt-based alloys, titanium alloys, or ceramics. People know a lot about how safe these materials are.
Biocompatibility testing as part of the evaluation that helps ensure the materials in the dental implant system are safe and won’t hurt people when put in their bodies. This test shows that the device doesn’t cause problems like irritation or an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with the body.
Before companies can sell dental implant systems in the US, they have to show the FDA that their systems are just as safe and effective as the ones already on the market.
We invite you to contact us at Glacial Peak Dentistry in Thornton, CO for the best implant dentistry in a nearby location.