Implants

An implant is a replacement for a missing root.  It allows us to place a false tooth then can then have a new crown placed on it.  Implants are only necessary if the root of a tooth is missing or so decayed that it cannot be used to place a crown.

I always tell patients that an implant is not a replacement for a tooth; it is a replacement for a missing tooth. When a tooth is missing there will be several options to replace it.  The best choice is usually an implant.  This is because it does not involve connecting to any other teeth.  When we fabricate a bridge or other types of appliances, we must alter or use the other adjacent teeth in the area.  This may lead to problems with these other teeth in the future. Once the implant is in place, it feels like your own natural tooth.  It is just as easy to clean, floss and eat with as when you had your own teeth in that area.

Placement

Implants can be placed in many areas where teeth are missing or have been lost. .  If there is not sufficient bone, we can often add bone (graft) so that there is enough bone available.

Placing an implant is not a painful.  Implants can often be placed at the same time that a bad tooth is removed.  In fact, this is the ideal time to place an implant.   Placing the implant during the extraction has many positives.   The implant may actually keep the bone in place.  It helps to maintain the bone from dissolving away (as often happens after an extraction).  The bone is strong and dense immediately after an extraction.  The body uses many healing cells to fill the extraction site, which aids in the implant healing.

If there is an infection present when the old tooth is extracted we may have to wait for healing before the implant can be placed.  The implants are usually left to get strong for3-6 months for the implants at which time the post and crown can be placed.

It is estimated that implants are successfully placed approximately 95 percent of the time.  In most cases if an implant does not  (integrate) attach to the bone on the initial placement, it can be removed and replaced.

Overdentures

Implants can also be used to help retain (hold down ) dentures.  This is especially important when a patient has little or no bone left for the denture to rest on.  If the denture moves around it will cause a lot of pain and not allow you to eat a healthy diet.   With poor fitting dentures a person eats only soft foods like bread and pasta.  

Implants can be used with snaps or other attachments to keep the denture in place.  The denture rests on the implants or attaches to the implants keeping it stable and holding it in place.  This greatly imprves the comfort and efficiency of the denture.  When the denture fits better and is more comfortable the patient can start improving their diet and enjoying eating again.

Risks of Implant Placement

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved with implants.   Patients should be healthy.  Surgery is most successful when there is adequate bone to place the implant.  The best areas to place an implant are where there is a lot of bone, that is very dense and far from any nerves.   The complications are very rare, they can include infection, bleeding and damage to a nerve causing permanent numbness.   The risks of any of these complications are very small.  

The most common complication is when the implant fails to integrate (attach) to the bone.   In most cases the implant can easily be replaced.  We may have to wait an additional 3- 6 months for healing and then the implant can be restored.