Teeth Implants

What are teeth implants?

Implants are for people who have had teeth removed due to decay or as part of a surgical treatment after an accident. An implant replaces the natural tooth with a replica, not just aesthetically, but functionally as well – a titanium root is formed and fixed into the jawbone for a secure, long-lasting alternative. The practice has really taken off in recent years, as more dental patients look for a permanent solution to missing or decaying teeth.

What kind of circumstances can they help with?

Sometimes tooth loss can occur through injury or just bad oral hygiene, whatever the reason, it’s better to consult with a healthcare professional as soon as you can before the jawbone underneath the vacant socket starts to deteriorate. This happens because the action of chewing and using the teeth stimulates bone growth, without any teeth to maintain the jaw it will be resorbed into the surrounding tissue. If a jaw is left without teeth for too long, it can become brittle and dissolve to an irreparable degree – permanently changing the shape of the face. Patients in this type of situation can still be suitable for implant surgery, but their dentist will have to graft a new piece of bone into the area, so that the implants can be attached properly.

Dental implants are a great solution for people who have damaged or lost teeth as a result of an accident, particularly if the whole structure of the tooth has been completely removed and can’t be fixed. Losing teeth in this way can be quite traumatic, so it’s good to know that there is a way of repairing the damage without feeling like the new tooth is not really a part of you. The Pearl Dental Clinic can offer this procedure for patients who have had extractions too, but there may be some waiting time if there is a serious case of gum disease or several teeth that need to be seen to – implanting new dentures into infected tissue won’t help anyone.

Is it safe and will it hurt?

Implantology is still a developing science, but the operations that are performed daily have been proven to be very safe and offer a high rate of success – most teeth that are properly implanted will last for years and years. As with other types of surgery, there will be some pain throughout the healing process, but you won’t feel anything during the operation itself. Your dentist will give you a local anaesthetic so you remain awake but unaware of the pain, understandably this can make some people anxious, so some surgeons may provide sedation to calm nervous patients. More complicated case may require a general anaesthetic, but whether you’re asleep or awake, you won’t feel a thing. After the surgery your gums will be swollen and there may be some discomfort, but this should last no longer than a week or so. If you experience severe pain and you become concerned, you can always return to your dentist before the follow-up is scheduled, or if it’s out of hours you could make an appointment with an emergency clinic.

Does long before I can get back to my normal routine after treatment?

That depends on how many teeth need to be replaced, the skill of your dentist, and how fast you naturally heal. After your condition has been assessed, your surgeon should be able to give you a rough idea of the length of your treatment, it can take some time for the titanium to bond solidly with the jawbone, so you will have to be patient. A period of around six to nine months is probably the norm, and then the permanent teeth can be fitted.
As technology is improving at a rapid rate, you may be a candidate for ‘immediate implants’; this means that the fake teeth are added at the same time as the titanium rods. This isn’t a procedure that is for everyone; your dentist will be able to advise you on suitability.

How do I look after my new teeth?

In the first few weeks after you have the implants fitted you will have to be careful with what you eat and how you behave, you don’t want to damage them before they’ve fully healed. The dentist may be able to provide you with some painkillers if you are in a lot of discomfort, but for mild pain you should be fine with over-the-counter medications like Ibuprofen. Don’t exercise or drive a car on the day of the surgery, and even for a few days after just to be on the safe side. Keep your mouth clean with a toothbrush and mouthwash – antibacterial is great for post-surgery gums – and make sure you stick to soft foods and drinks that are low in sugar – water if you can. Hard foods are going to make life very difficult and could rupture the implant site, so avoid anything that means a lot of chewing.

Over the next few months you will notice that the gums start to stabilise the implants and they become more solid, this may take a little longer if your jaw was in bad shape before the operation – the titanium needs to integrate with the new bone completely.

Are they difficult to take care of?

No more so than natural teeth, but if your questionable oral hygiene is the reason you needed implants in the first place it’s vital that you learn some new habits, if you want your implants to take successfully and last a long time. Once the implants have healed fully, you can brush and floss twice daily, and be sure to keep those hard to reach areas clean too, problems will start to arise again if bacteria is allowed to grow unchecked. It may be the case that you should visit your oral hygienist more than you did before your new teeth were fitted, this way you can be certain they are getting a thorough clean on a regular basis. Your dentist should be able give you some tips on cleaning techniques and the best course of action for your particular situation.