Dental Implants

• Appearance: Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. Since they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
• Speech Improvement: Unlike poor-fitting dentures, which can cause the teeth to slip within the mouth, implants eliminate the worry of slipping, allowing you to speak without the fear of teeth slipping.
• Comfort: As they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
• Easier Eating: Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain.
• Oral Health: Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
• Durability: Implants are very durable and will last many years. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
• Convenience: Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep them in place.

The Procedure for Dental Implants

1. Consultation and Planning: Involves thorough diagnostics such as X-rays or CT scans and planning with dental specialists.
2. Implant Placement: The implant cylinder is surgically inserted into the jawbone. This process is typically performed under local anesthesia or conscious sedation.
3. Healing and Bone Integration: The bone around the implant heals in a process called osseointegration, which can take several months.
4. Abutment Placement: Once healed, an abutment is installed on the implant to hold the new tooth.
5. Artificial Tooth Placement: An artificial tooth (crown) is made and fitted to the abutment.

Aftercare and Maintenance

• Regular Cleaning: Just like your natural teeth, implants require regular brushing and flossing.
• Dental Check-ups: Regular dental visits are crucial to ensure the health of the implant and the surrounding natural teeth.
• Avoiding Hard Foods: Immediately after the implant procedure, it's important to avoid hard and sticky foods that can cause damage.

Potential Complications

• Infection: If dental implants are not properly cleaned, it can lead to peri-implantitis, a periodontal disease that can lead to loss of the bone around the implant.
• Mechanical Failure: There is a small risk of the implant breaking or the crown coming loose.
• Nerve Damage or Discomfort: In rare cases, implant placement can lead to nerve damage, which can cause pain, numbness, or tingling.