Dental implants are metal frames or posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone beneath the gums. These metal implants, serve as the root of the missing teeth and allows the dentist to fix replacement teeth on top of them. The procedure of placing artificial tooth roots and teeth to fill the missing gap isn’t new. Dental implants were invented back in 1952, although with the passage of time the process has gotten more secure and advanced.
The success rate of dental implants has now reached 98% and is considered standard of care in the world of dentistry. Titanium is used as the metal for the implant, as it is capable of integrating with bone without being seen as an impostor and getting rejected by the body. The whole process of surgically placing implants and prosthetic tooth spans over a couple of months and has quite a few steps involved.
Dental Implants: Procedure
The dental implant procedure is specifically designed to make sure both the functioning and the aesthetic of the teeth are restored to their older ways. Although the process is long and physically taxing, it is the best solution for teeth replacement, mostly because of how independent and stable implants are when compared to other solutions such as using dentures and dental bridges.
The implants fuse well with the jawbone and provide a solid base for the artificial tooth or teeth to be mounted on. This process of fusion between dental implant and jawbone is called “osseointegration.” The implantation process actually takes place in different stages, with ample gaps in between each stage, to make sure everything runs as smoothly as expected. The first part of the process is assessing the region of the gum where the implants are going to be placed. This is achieved by carrying out X-rays and CT scans.
Once the assessment is done, the patient can be administered to the first step of the surgical procedure, which generally involves tooth or teeth extraction from the implant location and the placement of an alveolar bone graft for a solid base for the implant. The patient is asked to let the area heal for two to six months and come for regular check-ups.
After the site has properly healed, the dentist puts the patient on local anesthesia and carries on with fitting the titanium implant with special drills and tools. A healing cap is placed over the implant, after which the gum is stitched up. During the time of healing, a removable denture can also be placed there for aesthetic reasons. The healing phase lasts for two to six months, with regular appointments in between.
If everything goes smoothly and the implant has fused properly with bone, then the crown or the replacement tooth is placed on top of the implant and gets connected to it via a screw. Before the placement of the crown, the dentist takes proper impressions of the tooth and gets it custom made to fit the patient perfectly.
Dental Implants: Price
The cost of the surgery and the overall procedure might be one of the constraints for many of us. Like any other surgery, dental implants cost a lot. The price can range anywhere between $3000-$4500 for a single dental implant and higher if you are getting more teeth replaced. And under this cost, the surgery, implant crown, and all other components are covered. It is also to be noted that, dental implants are not covered by insurance companies in most cases. Some of the dental insurance might cover the cost of the implant crown portion, but that is also a rare feat. This is mostly because dental implant surgery is seen as an elective procedure and not an essential healthcare procedure. But people all across the globe opt for this tooth replacement method due to its high success rate and long-term results.
Risks, Problems, and Complications with Dental Implants
Apart from functioning as only a tooth replacement technique, dental implants have other important uses as well. Some of the most notable ones being their help in supporting removable dentures, acting as temporary anchorage devices (TAD) which helps in moving teeth to the desired position. But like any surgical procedure, dental implants have some risks and complications involved as well. Infection, allergies, bleeding disorders, and ill-effects on other underlying medical conditions are some of the common complications one might face. But, thankfully not many people face these issues and the procedure has quite a high success rate. Yet, it is important to undergo this procedure with careful planning and lots of care.