Understanding Dental Implants

Apart from chewing food (mastication), a tooth plays an important role in maintaining the strength of the jaw and the alignment of the other remaining teeth so a missing tooth can impact many things. The alignment of the teeth is a major factor in a proper functioning bite and consequently affects the bones, joints and muscles in our head, neck and jaws.

For these reasons, Suwanee dentists always advise patients to have the tooth replaced. Bridges, full and partial dentures and dental implants are techniques and materials that can be used to restore a patient’s bite. Of these, the dental implant is the best choice for maintaining the quality of the jawbone as it replaces the missing root along with the tooth.

The tough external covering of a tooth is known as the enamel, the soft middle area is known as the dentin, and the spongy innermost tissue in the roots is known as the pulp which holds the bone marrow, blood vessels and nerves.

Dental implants are similar to normal teeth in that they have a “root” like region as well as crown that serves the same function and has the same appearance as the original dentin and enamel portion of the tooth. The size of implant fixture used depends on the size of the tooth being restored and is surgically inserted into the jawbone. A phase of osseointegration takes place after the surgery for three to six months, during which time the surrounding tissues bond to the anchor.

When the anchor is firmly integrated into the jawbone, a crown is put onto it.

Recent dental statistics show a rate of success as high as ninety-five percent for the implants in the lower jaw and ninety percent in the upper jaw. Most dental experts agree that the difference has something to do with lower bone being denser than the upper jaw areas, which make successful osseointegration more difficult.

Not everyone is a candidate for implant placement and only a properly trained dentist or oral surgeon will be able to make the final determination. Different considerations like the room available for implant or bone condition can have a bearing on the decision. Dental practitioners may recommend placement of a “mini implant” as opposed to a standard implant, where a much smaller anchor is implanted into the bone. Mini-implants are better suited to replacing smaller teeth or acting as anchors for dentures and overdentures.

Suwanee patients who undergo implant placement should maintain a regular dental hygiene routine, because the soft tissues (gums) around the implants are as vulnerable to bacterial infection as those surrounding natural teeth.