Dental Practice

Who To See When Thinking About Getting Dental Implants

If dental implants are what you need to replace your missing teeth, you should select an implant dentist with in-depth knowledge of, and prior experience with all aspects of the treatment. It is important to know that treatment with tooth implants consists of two components: a surgical phase and a restorative phase.

Traditionally, a dental surgeon, like an oral surgeon or a periodontist, performs the surgical component. A general dentist, or prosthodontist and laboratory technician, performs the restorative component.

As dental implant dentistry has become more sophisticated, the restorative dentist, at times, also has become the one that places the dental implants. However, each clinician involved in implant treatment must be aware that the type of final restoration a patient wants dictates the position, size, and number of the tooth implants within the jaws.

What Types of Dental Implants Are There?

For each unique missing tooth situation, there is an equally unique way to use dental implants for tooth replacement. However, all of the treatments can be placed in two categories: removable or fixed prostheses.

Implant dentists use removable implant dentures when a patient is missing all of their teeth. Fewer tooth implants are necessary when used in conjunction with a removable denture.

Conversely, more dental implants are necessary when used in conjunction with a fixed bridge. Fixed bridges feel most like your natural teeth and are usually more desirable than removable dentures.

Mastering new surgical and restorative techniques as they are developed is the mark of an excellent tooth implant dentist as well as overall implant dentistry. An implant dentist's meticulous attention to fine detail conveys a feeling of confidence to the patient. The dentist should be committed to restoring full function to the missing teeth as well as recreating natural-looking teeth. These are the qualities a patient should look for in an implant dentist.

By Benjamin O. Watkins, III, DDS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Dental Implantology

Much is being said about dental implant procedures. A national radio spot states that steak and corn-on-the-cob are no longer just a memory for people with tooth loss. Tooth implants, they say, can bring back bite strength and, certainly, improve all-around dental function.

Just what are dental implants though?

Tooth replacement systems differ but continue to evolve as materials and methods allow. Teeth implants are a great and functional alternative to removable dentures.

An implant device is inserted into the upper or lower jawbone. After a healing period, posts are attached to each implant. And to that, a fixed bridge or "over-denture" is placed by the implant dentist. This is known as the "business end" of the implant. Only the "tooth part" is visible. The result is not new teeth. But for more and more people, tooth implants count plenty as the next best thing.

Why go for it?

Over 42% of people 65 and have a missing tooth or teeth. Dentures work fine in some cases, and not so well in others. In fact, ill-fitting dentures can contribute to the loss of supporting teeth or bone, and aggravate deterioration of your mouth.

Other tooth replacement alternatives?

Well, you could go toothless. But along with that comes a change in eating habits, quality of speech, and level of self-esteem.

"My mouth is me again."

In many dental practices, implant dentists have had great success with "osseointegrated" (osseo = bone) dental implants, a system where bone and implant mesh. As implant research has grown into dental implantology, many types of appliances have been tested (and some discarded). The Branemark implant, a titanium device developed in Sweden, has the longest track record, a 95% success rate over 20 years.

What makes a successful tooth implant?

In the Branemark system, it's the osseointegration, the meshing of implant and bone. The properties of the implant are such that a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the implant. But the real benchmark for the success of a dental implant procedure is this: The patient has to be happy with it. For years.

For certain people, a single implant to bridge a gap is called for. Another person might require two to support a bridge, or two to four implants to stabilize a lower denture. In other people, bone loss is already severe, and what remains cannot support an overdenture, so a tooth implant procedure is not the solution. However, when they work, they're as real as it gets.

If you think you might benefit from teeth implants, call your implant dentist for a consultation.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.