Dental Implant Surgery Overview

If you have lost a tooth or several teeth, dental implants are a great solution to fill in those gaps. People can lose teeth over time as a result of decay or trauma. Missing teeth also lead to dental problems. It is important to seek a dentist as soon as possible for any dental issues that you are experiencing.

There are various cosmetic dental procedures that allow you to maintain a healthy smile and these range from temporary to permanent. Dental implants are a permanent solution.

A dental implant is a dental prosthesis that is typically made from titanium. It is designed to fuse with the jaw bone through a process called osseointegration. Rather than relying on a superficial tooth replacement, the dental implant actually replaces a missing tooth root allowing for a strong tooth foundation. The dental implant is covered with a replacement tooth, also known as a dental crown.

If you are missing several teeth, you can get as many implants as required. Another option is to get one or two implants and then use them to support a dental bridge. People with gaps in their teeth undergo cosmetic dental procedures so that they feel better about the way their teeth look. They also choose to get dental implants in order to prevent oral hygiene issues that occur in the gaps between teeth.

There are many benefits to getting dental implants rather than dentures or dental bridges. Many people like the idea of a prosthesis that is a part of your mouth, that looks and feels like a natural tooth. When you are trying to work out what is the best course of action for you, make sure you take the time to speak to your dentist about all of the available options.

Most people who have a missing tooth or missing teeth make good candidates for dental implants. There are, of course, a number of criteria they need to meet before undergoing the procedure. Most of the criteria is related to how much bone they have in their jaw and how healthy their gums are. Your dentist will examine your situation and help you decide accordingly.

Of all the cosmetic dentistry procedures, dental implants are one of the most expensive. In places such as the United States and United Kingdom, dental implants range from $1,500 to $4,000. However, for example, the cost of dental care in Mexico can be much less. That is why many medical tourists travel abroad for dental treatments. Many European patients choose dentists in Hungry because of the country’s affordable and quality dental care treatments.

Mini Dental Implants are for people who need extensive mouth restoration, mini dental implants are a good choice. These tiny implants are used to secure dentures so that the dentures are not loose. They are about the width of a toothpick and you can get as many as you need.

A Good Candidate for Dental Implant Surgery

Missing teeth often leads to issues such as plaque build-up, tooth decay and gum disease – not to mention irritation. That is why it is important to fill in the gaps with dental implants or other prostheses as soon as possible. A missing tooth may make chewing difficult and affect the way you speak.

It can also affect your self-confidence, particularly if the missing tooth is located close to the front of your mouth.

Most people with missing teeth are generally good candidates for dental implants. For various reasons, you may not be suitable for this type of treatment. It is important to be aware of the dental implant risks and side effects.

People Who Are Good Candidates for Dental Implants:

· Someone who has enough bone in their jaw for the implant to fuse with. If you do not have enough bone, you may need a bone graft and this can add significantly to the cost of dental implant treatment

· Someone whose jaw is strong enough to accommodate the implant. In some cases, a patient has enough bone but not enough strong bone. They are also likely to need a bone graft. If they are only getting mini dental implants they won’t need as much bone

· A person with healthy gums. It can take months to recover after getting the dental implants inserted and you need to have healthy gums to allow good healing

· A good candidate for dental implants needs to be prepared to look after their implants. They will have to practice good oral hygiene habits so no complications would occur later. This is not difficult, simple brushing and flossing each day should be enough

· If you think you might not be a good candidate for dental implants because you grind your teeth, talk to your dentist about this. He will probably fit you with a dental splint to wear at night so the implant is protected while it is fusing with the bone

People Who Are Not Good Candidates for Dental Implants:

· A young person whose jaw has not yet fully developed

· Someone with diabetes or other health issues

· A person with gum disease will need to get that treated before they are able to get dental implants inserted

· Smokers are not good candidates for dental implants because smoking slows down healing. It is very important that the gums heal well and quickly around the implant. Alternatives such as dentures or dental bridges may need to be discussed with patients who can’t stop smoking

Dental Implant Surgery Procedure

The first part of the dental implant procedure involves an appointment with your dentist. It is vitally central for your dentist to diagnose you as a good candidate for dental implants before undergoing treatment. During your first consultation, the dentist will outline each stage of the procedure and explain some of the risks and side effects associated with dental implants.

It is important that you know exactly what the dental implant surgery entails before and after surgery.

The dentist will examine your teeth, gums and jaw bone before suggesting a type of dental implant. You may need extensive dental work or your treatment might be fairly straightforward. You may need to learn about the cost of dental implants options before you undergo the treatment.

Dental implants are performed at an outpatient clinic under general anesthetic so you will not need to stay overnight. The procedure itself will be carried out by a general dentist, oral surgeon or prosthodontist if you are getting dentures at a later date.

The dentist starts by drilling a hole where the missing tooth is. This hold is located where the dental implant is to be inserted and replaces a missing tooth root. Once the implant has been screwed into place, dissolvable stitches are used to close up the incision.

Over the next 6-12 weeks, your gums will slowly heal around the implant as it fuses to the jaw bone. It is important not to rush the healing process because this foundation needs to be as strong as possible.

Once your gums have healed, you need to visit the dentist again so that he can attach a connector post or abutment to the implant root. This is what will eventually keep the dental crown or dental bridges in place. Some dental implants already have connector posts in which case you won’t need to come back for this appointment.

While all this is taking place, your new tooth will be created. This should fit perfectly into the gap that was left by your previous tooth and match the color of the rest of your teeth.

After about 3-6 months, the new tooth will be put into place. As you can see, the dental implant procedure takes quite a bit of time so you do need to be patient. The results, however, can make a huge difference to your smile.

Risks and Side Effects of Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants are actually a relatively safe treatment to replace missing teeth. However, not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants so make sure you talk to your dentist about whether this procedure is right for you or not.

He or she will outline all the dental implant risks and side effects so you can make an informed decision about how you want to proceed.

There are various things that can increase the likelihood of complications so you need to know what they are in order to avoid them.

Dental Implant Risks and Side Effects:

· Improper osseointegration – There is a chance that your jaw may reject the implant. In this case, the living bone will not fuse with the titanium prosthesis

· Bone inflammation – If the implant inflames your bone material, bone loss can occur and the implant will destabilize

· Necrosis – Also known as skin death, this is common in smokers who do not heal as quickly as non-smokers. The gum tissue around the implant heals badly or simply dies

· Infection – This may occur in anyone who has undergone the dental implant procedure but the chances of infection increase in patients who do not practice good oral hygiene. The implant needs to be cleaned properly

· Gum disease - Dental implants are not susceptible to cavities or tooth decay but need to be taken care of in order to avoid gum disease

· Soreness – Pain is expected after your surgery and this ranges from mild to severe

· Swelling – It is common for your gums to be swollen straight after treatment. As with pain, this ranges from mild to severe

· Difficulty eating – As getting dental implants is quite an invasive procedure, your body will need time to recover. Your mouth in particular will be quite sensitive for a while so you may need to eat soft foods or simply drink liquids until your feel better

· Attached dental crown can become loose

· Bleeding

· Change in teeth sensitivity

Costs of Dental Implant Surgery

Dental implants are one of most expensive cosmetic dentistry treatments in the US and Europe. Out of all the treatments that correct missing teeth, the cost of dental implants are often the highest. A number of factors contribute to the final price and these include: materials used, number of implants, type of dental implant, individual dentist fees and overhead fees of the clinic itself.

If you require additional treatments such as a bone graft, then this also adds significantly to your treatment costs. Dentists in Malta can offer cost-effective dental implants to patients who can't afford the expensive dental bills in their home country.

Factors affecting the Cost of Dental Implants:

· The type of equipment used during the dental implant procedure will influence the overall cost. CAT guided surgery will be more expensive than manual surgery

· Mini dental implants cost much less than regular implants. If you are getting mini implants to secure dentures, that will be less expensive than getting multiple implants

In places such as the United States or the United Kingdom, the cost of a dental implants range from $1,500 to $4,000. This is often too expensive for the average person to afford, especially if they require more than one implant.

As a result of these high costs, many people are choosing to travel abroad for treatment. They are going to places such Guatemala, Turkey and Croatia that offer affordable cosmetic dentistry.

For example: the cost of dental implants in Hungary averages at $500 to $1,500. This is much less than you would pay in most countries.

Most insurance companies won’t cover the cost of dental implants; others will only cover part of the total. Dental treatment abroad becomes an attractive option in these cases.

Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants (MDI’s) are just like regular dental implants but much smaller. They are made of titanium and inserted into the jaw so that the bone can fuse with the implant and thus create a stable foundation. Mini dental plants are mostly used to support dentures but can also support a single dental crown or a dental bridge. As dentures often move around inside the mouth, mini dental implants are fixed in place and prevent further discomfort.

As the size of mini dental implants remain small, they are particularly useful in patients who don’t have enough strong bone for the regular dental implant procedure. They are also not submerged into the jaw bone as much which refines the recovery time to be significantly shorter. You can actually have a soft meal a few hours after the surgery.

This type of implant is less invasive than the traditional types of dental implants. The surgery takes an hour or two and the dentist only has to drill small holes into your jaw before inserting the mini implants. There is no cutting or stitching up of incisions afterwards.

The mini dental implant itself is composed of two parts: a screw end that is inserted into your jaw and a ball shaped end that connects to your dentures. The entire implant is one piece of titanium and 2mm in size as opposed to the 4-5.75mm size of traditional implants.

If the implants are going to be used to fix dentures into place, small holes are drilled into the dentures which are then fitted with a rubber O-ring. This ring creates the right amount of force needed to hold the head of the implants. The suction allows you to eat and talk without the dentures moving around inside your mouth.

Mini dental implants are usually much more affordable than traditional implants. The cost of dental implants can be very expensive so mini implants might be an affordable alternative. Although mini dental implants are usually used to secure lower dentures, they can also be inserted into the upper jaw.

Talk to your dentist today to find out if this is the right treatment for you.