SWELLING OF GUMS CAN CAUSE GINGIVITIS WHICH CAN LEADS TO PERIODONTITIS. TREATMENT & CAUSES.

 How Implants are Placed in BONE?

Dental implants are medical devices surgically implanted into the jaw to restore a person's ability to chew or their appearance. They provide support for artificial (fake) teeth, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Dental Implants: What You Should Know

Dental implants are medical devices surgically implanted into the jaw to restore a person's ability to chew or their appearance. They provide support for artificial (fake) teeth, such as crowns, bridges, or dentures.

Benefits and Risks

Dental implants can significantly improve the quality of life and the health of a person who needs them. However, complications may sometimes occur. Complications can occur soon after dental implant placement or much later. Some complications result in implant failure (usually defined as implant looseness or loss). Implant failure can result in the need for another surgical procedure to fix or replace the implant system.

Benefits of Dental Implant Systems:

• Restores the ability to chew
• Restores cosmetic appearance
• Helps keep the jawbone from shrinking due to bone loss
• Preserves the health of the surrounding bone and gums
• Helps keep adjacent (nearby) teeth stable
• Improves quality of life

When a tooth is lost due to injury or disease, a person can experience complications such as rapid bone loss, defective speech, or changes to chewing patterns that result in discomfort. Replacing a lost tooth with a dental implant can significantly improve the patient's quality of life and health.

Dental implant systems consist of a dental implant body and dental implant abutment and may also include an abutment fixation screw. The dental implant body is surgically inserted in the jawbone in place of the tooth's root. The dental implant abutment is usually attached to the implant body by the abutment fixation screw and extends through gums into the mouth to support the attached artificial teeth.

How do dental implants work?

A surgeon places a dental implant into your jaw during an oral surgery procedure. Once the implant heals, your dentist can place a crown on top. Depending on your oral health goals, your dentist can restore your implants with crowns, bridges or dentures.

Who might need dental implants?

People who have one or more missing teeth can benefit from dental implants. You might need a dental implant if you have tooth loss due to:

• Cavities (tooth decay).
• Tooth root fracture.
• Bruxism (clenching or grinding your teeth).
• Gum disease.
• Facial injury.
• Congenitally missing teeth (you were born without certain teeth).
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Procedure Details

How should I prepare for a dental implant?

Before the dental implant procedure, you should:

• Give your dentist a current list of medications and supplements you take. It’s important to tell your dentist if you’re taking a blood thinner (anticoagulant). Your dentist will decide in coordination with your primary care provider whether you need to stop taking any medications before your implant procedure.
• Make sure that you’ve seen your primary care provider recently for a checkup and blood work to ensure that there aren’t any conditions that would interfere with implant success.
• Talk to your dentist about sedation options. Most surgeons offer sedative medications that help you relax during your dental implant surgery.
• If you plan on having sedation, arrange for a trusted friend or family member to drive you home after your procedure.

What happens during dental implant surgery?

During dental implant surgery, your surgeon will:

1. Give you anesthesia. They’ll administer local anesthesia to numb your gums. If you opted for sedation, they’ll give you those medications as well.
2. Create an incision. Once you’re comfortable, your surgeon will make an incision (cut) in your gums where the dental implant will go. This exposes the bone underneath so your surgeon can place the implant.
3. Prepare your jaw. Your surgeon will use a series of specialized instruments to create an opening in your jawbone. They’ll widen the opening until it’s just the right diameter for your new dental implant.
4. Place the dental implant. Next, your surgeon will carefully place the dental implant into your jaw.
5. Close the incisions. Finally, your surgeon will reposition your gums and close the incision with stitches.

The steps for dental implant placement are generally the same for everyone. But sometimes, a surgeon can place a dental implant and restoration (like a crown or bridge) all in one visit. Most of the time, however, you’ll need a few months for the implant to heal before your dentist can safely place a final restoration. In these cases, your dentist can make a temporary (usually removable) restoration for you to wear during the healing phase.

What happens after dental implant placement?

Your surgeon will give you a detailed list of postoperative instructions. They’ll also prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection. There are several things you can do to reduce your risk of soreness and discomfort:

• Take all medications exactly as prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Avoid exercise or heavy lifting for at least 72 hours. (An elevated heart rate can result in increased pain and swelling.)
• Chew on the other side of your mouth. (If you had implants placed on both sides, eat soft foods for a few days, and then add other foods as your comfort level allows.)
• Brush and floss every day.
• Clean the implant site as directed by your surgeon.

Risks and Complications

Like any surgery, dental implant placement carries the potential for complications. Possible risks include:

• Infection.
• Sinus damage.
• Nerve damage.
• Improper implant placement.
• Allergic reaction to titanium (very rare).

When an experienced surgeon places implants, the risk of complications is minimal. If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, be sure to find a provider you trust.

Types of Dental Implants

There are different types of dental implants and procedures. Your doctor will help you choose which may be best for you.

Single Implants vs. Multiple Implants

Dental implants can replace one tooth or many teeth. Here are your options.

Single-tooth implant. If you have one tooth that needs to be replaced, your doctor will do a single-tooth implant, then put in a single replacement tooth or crown.

Multiple-tooth implant. If you have a few teeth missing, your doctor may do a multiple-tooth implant with custom-made replacement teeth.

Full-mouth implant. If you don’t have any teeth, your doctor may do a full-mouth dental implant.

Basic Types of Implants

The most common types of dental implants are endosteal and subperiosteal implants. The main difference is how they’re attached to your jawbone.

Endosteal implants

This is the most common type of dental implant. It’s shaped like a small screw, cylinder, or blade. It goes in your jawbone and holds one or more replacement teeth, which are also called prosthetic teeth.

Your doctor may recommend an endosteal implant if you already have dentures or bridges.

Subperiosteal implants

This type of implant is placed on or above your jawbone. It’s a metal post that’s put under your gum and sticks through your gum to hold it in place.

You may get a subperiosteal implant if you can’t wear regular dentures, you don’t have enough natural jawbone to hold an endosteal implant, or you don’t want to do a bone augmentation procedure to build up the bone.

Mini dental implants (MDIs). These small implants are the size of a toothpick or the lead of a pencil. They’re narrower than most implants. Your doctor may choose this if you need to stabilize a lower denture. Mini dental implants can be placed through less invasive techniques than other dental implants.