Friday 24 February 2017

Replacing a Single Tooth With an Implant

Are you looking to replace your missing tooth? If yes, then you should go for a dental implant. This procedure is used by dentists to replace one or more teeth. The resulting substitute totally looks natural, becomes part of the jawbone, and, therefore, lasts long. This dental procedure was invented by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon called Per-Ingvar Branemark in 1952.
What is a dental implant?
To fully understand, you will need to picture the structure of the tooth. There is the crown, the part located above the jaw, and the root, which is the part found inside the jaw. A dental implant is a fixture, surgically placed into the jawbone to replace the missing tooth root. After a successful fusion with the jawbone, the procedure ends with adding an artificial crown on top of the implant.
The success of this procedure is based on the fact that the implant does not affect the nearby teeth and has enormous stability. Since the 1970s, when the first dental implant was available for medical use, continued research coupled with advancement in technology have seen a vast improvement in the success rate of the procedure to about 98%.
How is the implant placed?
The procedure of placing the implant is smooth and efficient. The implant looking like a cylinder or a screw is placed into your jaw and allowed to fuse with your jawbone over the next two to six months. The actual duration will depend on the condition of your jawbone and if bone gratification will be necessary. The fusion is crucial for the formation of an anchor for the artificial tooth.
During the period when you wait for the implant to fuse with the jawbone, you can opt for a temporary tooth replacement over the implant. The second step is usually to add an extension on the implant that will form the foundation on which your new tooth will be placed. Due to possible damage on the gum, there will be time for the gum to heal before proceeding to the next step.
However, the need for the second phase will depend on the condition of your gums. One-stage implant system uses an implant with an extension, making the second stage unnecessary. Your dentist will advise on the best option for you. The whole procedure is comfortable and painless, usually done under anesthesia.
The last step is the placement of the crown. Your dentist will create one for you and attach it to a metal post called the abutment. After a short period of healing, you will have a restored ability to smile, chew and speak comfortably, and you may even forget that you had lost a tooth. The steps may be combined in some instances, and the duration of the healing processes before the next step may vary. Your dentist will advise.