Dental implants

Mini dental implants, on the other hand, are very much like regular dental implants, except they are smaller in size.  Their diameter is 3 millimeters and smaller, while regular implants are usually 4 to 5 millimeters in diameter.  While both mini and regular dental implants are made of titanium alloys, their prices vary significantly.  Regular dental implants cost twice, sometimes even four times as much as its mini counterpart.

Pre-Operative Procedures of Dental Implants Surgery:

Candidates must be prepared for the following steps prior to the actual tooth root replacement procedure.  These tests and procedures help ensure the overall success of the surgery.

• Undergo Necessary Tests

X-rays and Computerized Tomography scans or CT scans are the basic tests one must undergo.  Results from these tests will give the periodontist or the dental surgeon a clearer vision of what he has to work with, and will allow him to think of the best possible operation plan.  Ct scans allow the surgeon to pinpoint vital structures including the inferior alveolar canal and the mental foramen.  The facility to pinpoint vital structures in the operation can lead to decreased chances of complications and decreased chairtime as well.

• Lifestyle Check

Patients who are hypertensive will be asked to lower and maintain their blood pressure before going through with the procedure.  This is done to eliminate or at least minimize the risk of heart attacks on the chair.  Interestingly, smokers will be asked to quit prior to the operation, and should remain smoke-free during post-operative care.  This is done to reduce the risk of infection, and to facilitate in the speed of healing, as smoking acts as a deterrent in the body’s natural healing process.

Risks of Dental Implants:

Regardless of size, whether regular or mini, even top quality dental implants still pose a risk to all who undergo it.  These include:

• Failure in Osseointegration

Osseointegration is the firm anchoring of a surgical implant by the bone around it, without the use of soft tissue.  In dental implants, when the artificial tooth root is not properly placed or it is placed in a poor position, osseointegration may not take place.  The bone will not adhere to the implant when it regenerates.  The implant may break, the area in which it was placed may become infected, and the crown placed on top of the dental implants may come loose.  In cases like this, the implant must be removed to avoid further damage and infection.  Once healed, the patient and periodontist can begin with teeth implant consultation once again and further discuss the best treatment option available.

• Poor Oral Hygiene

The patient’s oral hygiene and basic oral habits can mean the difference between a successful and a failed dental implants surgery.  Poor oral hygiene, especially right after the procedure, can lead to peri-implantits, an inflammatory disease affecting both soft and hard tissue surrounding a dental implant.

• Poor Post-Operative Compliance

Poor post-operative care is one of the top reasons dental implants procedure may fail.  Complete commitment and compliance must come from the patient, in order to minimize the risks of infection and in order to increase the chances of the surgery’s success.

Post-Operative Procedures After Dental Implants Surgery:

• Right after surgery, the patient will be asked to firmly but gently bite on a gauze pad, using the area where the implant was placed.  This is done to stop the bleeding.  The patient must continue doing this, replacing the gauze pad when necessary, until the bleeding completely stops.  If the bleeding persists or increases, the patient must phone the doctor immediately.

• Pain is expected and painkillers will be given.  However, it is also suggested to use an ice pack on the area for the first 6 hours after the dental implants procedure.  Two days after the surgery, ice packs should be completely banned, and replaced instead with moist heat such as tea bags.  This will aid in the inflammation cause by trauma to the gums by the incision.

• To avoid swelling and additional inflammation, treat the head like a sprained ankle.  Keep it elevated at all times for the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery.  If there is a need to lie down, do it with at least 2 big pillows to prop the head higher than the rest of the body.

• Chewing will not be allowed for one whole week after the dental implants surgery.  Keep the menu limited to soft food like yogurt, and liquids like soups and shakes.  Also, drink as much water as possible.  Cheating on this liquid diet during the first week may result in infection or complications as the wound from the surgery will still be open and therefore highly susceptible to being penetrated by food particles.

• Post-surgery, patients are advised to gargle with a warm water and salt solution.  Mix one teaspoon salt with one cup of warm water.  This acts as a natural disinfectant and should be done three to four times a day.  Patients should be very careful, though, to spit very gently.  Spitting with force may put unnecessary pressure on the implants or open up the healing wound, and may result in dental implants complications.

Dental implants

Why Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are ideal for replacing missing teeth.  People who have lost their tooth due to injury, tooth decay, gum disease, excessive wear and tear, or a root canal failure, have the option to undergo dental implants surgery to get the tooth root placed.  After several weeks, a crown can be placed on the implant, to mimic an actual tooth.

• Dental implants can also be placed to support a bridge and do away with the need for removable (partial) denture.
• Top quality dental implants can also provide support for a denture, making it more secure and comfortable.  This makes the wearer more at ease, without the constant fear of embarrassment a falling or loose denture can create.

As with any type of medical surgery or procedure, dental implants surgery also lists a few considerations or patient requirements before the actual procedure can take place.  These considerations ensure the safety of the patient, as well as the success of the procedure.  First on the list is the need to have good oral health.  The gums must be healthy and the teeth beside the implant area should be in good shape.  Dental implants may cause complications when done on someone whose oral health is a bit questionable, as the gums and other teeth may not adjust well to it, causing the entire dental implants procedure to do more harm than good.

Another requirement is to have enough bone in the jaw, and for it to be strong enough to support the dental implant.  In case there is not enough bone, or the jaw bone is not strong enough to hold and support the implant, a bone graft should be done.  This means the bone should be replaced by one of three different options.  These options are: autologous or using bone taken from the same patient from somewhere else in the body.  This is usually taken from the crest of the Ilium from the pelvic area or from the person’s chin.

The second bone grafting option is allograft or using bone taken from a cadaver from a bone bank.  The last option is synthetic, which makes use of calcium phosphates (i.e. materials like hydroxyapatite or other naturally biocompatible substances).  When done correctly, a bone graft regenerates and produces live vascular bone that is very much similar to the actual jaw bone.  It provides the ideal support and anchor for implants.  Bone grafts can take anywhere from two weeks to two months to heal completely.  Once healed, the dental implants can be placed.

The final consideration for dental implants procedure is the patient’s overall physical health, particularly his blood pressure.  To err on the side of caution, dental surgeons do not do the procedure on patients with high blood pressure.  This is because most patients get nervous and agitated while on the dentist’s chair, and the procedure might increase their heart rate and blood pressure.  It is extremely risky to operate on hypertensive patients.  Therefore, if a patient needs implants but is also hypertensive, it is best to bring that blood pressure down significantly and keep it monitored before going through with the dental implants procedure.  It should also be noted that one’s hypertension medication should not be a contraindication for the medication one needs during treatment and recovery from the dental implant surgery.

What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

• Permanency and Durability

Teeth implants cost more than bridges or dentures, but implants offer permanency which bridges and dentures do not.  Crowns have to be replaced every so often because of normal wear and tear.  Dentures must also be upgraded regularly because it will not always fit exactly as it should.  Dental implants, on the other hand, are much durable and will last a lifetime, provided the patient is not into contact sports or does not get into any accidents involving major facial injuries.

• Low Maintenance

Dentures have to be cleaned and dealt with separately.  They require the use of denture adhesives and their own separate cleaners and cleaning rituals.

After the procedure and recovery time, dental implants simply require regular, ordinary routines, like brushing, flossing and gargling.  It eliminates fussing with other products other than the basics for good oral hygiene.  As with everybody who practices good oral hygiene, regular visits to the dentist must be observed.

• Aesthetics and Comfort

Dental implants are the most natural looking, not to mention the most natural feeling, alternative to real teeth.  Dentures always somehow change the shape of one’s face ever so slightly, but making it quite noticeable to the most observant people.  Dentures also make the wearer more wary that it might come loose or come off completely at the most inopportune times.  This makes the wearer feel unnecessary uncomfortable and insecure.  With dental implants, there is zero risk of it coming loose, so the patient does not feel guarded or uncomfortable.  It feels just like real teeth once healing has completed.

• Reliability

With a reported success rate of 95%, dental implants are perhaps the most reliable option for tooth replacement today.  This success rate is highly dependent on three important factors: the experience and skill of the operator or periodontist, the quality of the jaw bone or the bone graft to which the implant will be attached, and the overall oral hygiene of the patient.  Post-operative care is crucial too and is an important factor in determining the procedure’s overall success, which is established by the achievement and maintenance of the stability of the dental implants placed.