Implants

What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth root (synthetic material) that is surgically anchored into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge in place.

The benefit of using implants is that:

	They don't rely on neighboring teeth for support
	They are permanent and stable> Because the implant is secured within the jawbone, the replacement teeth look, feel, and function just like your own natural teeth.
	Improved appearance. Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. And because they are designed to fuse with bone, they become permanent.
	Improved speech. With poor-fitting dentures, the teeth can slip within the mouth causing you to mumble or slur your words. Dental implants allow you to speak without the worry that your teeth might slip.
	Improved comfort. Because they become part of you, implants eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.
	Easier eating. Sliding dentures can make chewing difficult. Dental implants function like your own teeth, allowing you to eat your favorite foods with confidence and without pain. No more food restrictions.
	Future bone loss from dentures will no longer occur when you have implants.
	Improved self-esteem and confidence. Dental implants can give you back your smile, and help you feel better about yourself.
	Improved oral health. Dental implants don't require reducing other teeth, as a tooth-supported bridge does. Because nearby teeth are not altered to support the implant, more of your own teeth are left intact, improving your long-term oral health. Individual implants also allow easier access between teeth, improving oral hygiene.
	As a denture wearer you will not have to suffer from the inconvenience of adhesives or dentures insecurely shifting around in your mouth.
	Durability. Implants are very durable and will last many years.
	No extra work involved in their care. They require the same care as real teeth, including brushing, flossing, and regular dental check-ups. With good care, many implants last a lifetime.
	Convenience. Removable dentures are just that; removable. Dental implants eliminate the embarrassing inconvenience of removing your dentures, as well as the need for messy adhesives to keep your dentures in place.
	Implant material is made from different types of metallic and bone-like ceramic materials that are compatible with body tissue.

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There are different types of dental implants:

	One is placed directly into the jaw bone, like natural tooth roots.
	Second is used when the jaw structure is limited, therefore, a custom-made metal framework fits directly on the existing bone.

Purpose of Implant:

	Replace a Single Tooth with an implant and crown.
	Retain an Overdenture with several implants (as seen here).
	Eliminate a Partial Denture with several implants and a bridge

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Can anyone receive dental implants?

Talk with us about whether you are an implant candidate. You must be in good health and have the proper bone structure and healthy gums for the implant to stay in place.

People who are unable to wear dentures may also be good candidates. If you suffer from chronic problems, such as clenching or bruxism, heart disease, radiation therapy to the head/neck area systemic diseases, such as diabetes, the success rate for implants decreases dramatically and need to be evaluated on an individual basis. Additionally, people who smoke or drink alcohol may not be good candidate. Success rates vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are located. In general the success rate if 97% and with proper care, implants can last a lifetime.

Are implants for you...considerations?

	You can’t get decay around an implant-supported crown because there’s no tooth structure there. Crowns on implants are much more likely to last indefinitely than crowns on teeth.
	While implants have the highest success rate when placed in a healthy mouth, people with gum disease still may be candidates for implants. All people with dental implants---even those with healthy gums---need to have a cleaning once every three months.
	Non-smokers have an implant failure rate of 5%. That rate doubles in smokers, but the failure still is only 10%. In fact, if you stop smoking four weeks before implant placement surgery and continue smoke-free until 12 weeks after the implants are placed, the success rate is the same as for non-smokers until bone grafting needs to be done.
	There’s a 5% difference in implant success rate between diabetics and non-diabetics. The better your diabetic control, the higher the implant success rate.

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The procedure:

Placement of dental implants is a minor surgical procedure performed in one or two office visits.

Development of an individualized treatment plan. The plan addresses your specific needs and provides coordinated care based on the implant option that is best for you.

Than tooth root implant, which is a small post made of titanium, is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth.
As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, anchoring it securely in the jaw. The healing process can take from 6 to 12 weeks.
When the implant has bonded to the jawbone, a small connector post – called an abutment – is attached to the post to securely hold the new tooth. To make your new tooth or teeth, your dentist makes impressions of your teeth, and creates a model of your bite. Your new tooth or teeth are based on this model. It will match the color of your natural teeth
A replacement tooth, called a crown, is then attached to the abutment.

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What is the success rate of implants?

The success rate for implants depends on the tooth's purpose and location in the mouth. The success rate is about 95 percent for those placed in the front of the lower jaw and 85 percent for those placed in the sides and rear of the upper jaw.

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How do I care for implants?

Your overall health may affect the success rate of dental implants. Poor oral hygiene is a big reason why some implants fail. It is important to floss and brush around the fixtures at least twice a day, without metal objects. Your dentist will give you specific instructions on how to care for your new implants. Additional cleanings of up to four times per year may be necessary to ensure that you retain healthy gums

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What is the cost of implants?

Since implants involve surgery and are more involved, they cost more than traditional bridge work. However, some dental procedures and portions of the restoration may be covered by dental and medical insurance policies.

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Updates

Implant loss & associated factors

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long- term result of implant therapy, using implant loss as outcomevariable. Two hundred and ninty-four patients had received implant therapy (Brånemark System®) during the years of 1988–1992 in Kristianstad County, Sweden. The patients were recalled to the speciality clinic 1 and 5 years after placement of the suprastructure. Between 2000 and 2002, 9–14 years after implant placements, the patients were again called in for a complete clinical and radiographic examination.

Two hundred and eighteen patients treated with 1057 implants were examined. Twenty-two patients had lost 46 implants and 12 implants were considered "sleeping implants". The overall survival
rate was 95.7%. Implant loss appeared in a cluster in a few patients and early failures were most common. A significant relationship was observed between implant loss and periodontal bone loss of the remaining teeth at implant placement. Maxillary, as opposed to mandibulary implants, showed more implant loss if many implants were placed in the jaw. A history of periodontitis seems to be related to implant loss.

Roos-Jansåker A-M, Lindahl C, Renvert H, Renvert S. Nine- to fourteen- year follow-up of implant treatment. Part I: implant loss and associations to various factors. J Clin Periodontol 2006; 33: 283– 289.

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The 5-year survival rates were 97% and 94%, respectively, for the two- and the one-stage implants. The 10-year survival rate remained high at 97% for the two-stage implants, but had dropped to 78% for the one-stage implants. Smoking, short implant length, and
insertion during the later period (1995-2002) were found to be associated with an increased failure rate.

Implants placed in patients with a history of periodontitis have a 5-year survival similar to that observed for implants installed in non-diseased persons. Although the 10-year survival of the one-stage implants was somewhat lower than has been observed for non-diseased patients, implant placement remains a good treatment alternative also for periodontally compromised patients.

October 2004 (Vol. 75, No. 10) Implant Survival in Periodontally Compromised Patients Vibeke Baelum and Birgit Ellegaard J Periodontol 2004;75:1404-1412.

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