An Implant procedure is essentially a titanium post that is surgically placed in the jaw. A prosthesis (artificial tooth/teeth) is attached to the post. Implants are primarily used to replace missing teeth. They are of various kinds and made of a bio-friendly material which is principally titanium.
Anyone with one or more missing teeth can undergo dental Implants provided adequate bone and healthy gum tissues are present. A thorough medical and dental health examination is required to be done by the dentist before advising Implants.
Dental Implant procedure is essentially a 2 step procedure; the first step is placing the Implant inside the jaw bone which is done as a single sitting under local anaesthesia. Then there is a waiting period to allow natural bone to grow around the Implant. After healing is complete, the post and artificial teeth are placed on top. In SELECTED cases Implant is done as a Single Step Procedure & final prosthesis is given immediately.
The main advantage of Implant is that at the end of the treatment, the Implant feels and functions like a natural tooth and the patient forgets the presence of any artificial element in the mouth.
The pain, discomfort and aged appearance associated with artificial dentures is eliminated. The looks and speech of the patient remain natural and the chewing efficiency is far superior. Also there is no fear of dentures becoming loose and falling off while eating
Missing teeth can also be replaced by a bridge. In that case, adjacent teeth are shaped and often root canaled to receive the bridge. Advantage of Implants over a conventional bridge is that we do not need to grind the adjacent teeth at all. Hence the anatomy of the natural teeth is maintained, which is very important.
The cost of the treatment depends upon the type and number of implants being used, Surgical procedures like gum surgery, bone grafting and also the type of final Prosthesis to be fabricated. (Prosthesis may be a Crown or a Bridge or a Denture.
The success of implants greatly depends on the health of the surrounding oral tissues. Hence the patients have to be meticulous in maintaining a good oral hygiene and regular follow up
visits to the dentist.
An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to implants. An implant-supported overdenture is attached to implants, while a regular denture rests on the gums, is not supported by implants, and tends to fit less firmly in the mouth.
An implant-supported denture is used when a person doesn't have any teeth in the jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants. An implant-supported denture has special attachments that snap onto attachments on the implants.
Implant-supported dentures usually are made for the lower jaw because regular dentures tend to be less stable there. Usually, a regular denture made to fit an upper jaw is quite stable on its own and doesn't need the extra support offered by implants. However, you can receive an implant-supported denture in either the upper or lower jaw.
You can remove an implant-supported denture easily. Some people prefer to have fixed (permanent) crown and bridgework in their mouths that can't be removed. Your dentist will consider your particular needs and preferences when suggesting fixed or removable options.
