Dental Implant : What You Don't Want to Hear

In January of 2006 I learned through my dentist that I needed four teeth replaced on the upper left side of my mouth. My dentist recommended a dental implant surgeon to me with great credentials. I visited this implant surgeon and we came up with a plan to restore my mouth. We decided to pull four teeth and install four implants. This specialist explained the details of the procedure to me and all sounded fine. She provided me with prescriptions for pain medication to use during and after the procedure. I could see I would experience "happy hour" during the operation.

On the day of the surgery my wife drove me to the clinic. She had to pick me up after the surgery as I would be in no shape to drive. You also can forget driving to the clinic as some of the pain medication will be taken the night before the surgery and you will not be in any shape to drive. Matter of fact I was not in any shape to drive the day after the surgery. I imagine I could have gotten arrested as a "public drunk" had I walked around my neighborhood the day after the operation.

By the time I sat in the dentist's chair I was half zonked by the tranquilizers and Demerol. The first three teeth were removed without a problem. The last tooth was different. I felt as if the tooth was being unscrewed out of my head. On a 1 to 10 pain scale this rates a high 7 or low 8, it just plain hurt, hurt bad if you know what I mean. I was relieved that the worse was over, so I thought.

After the extractions the dentist installed three implants without a hitch. Now we are back to the fourth socket. Remember I have a socket now as the tooth was pulled. The dentist uses device that looks like an Allen wrench and proceeds to screw the implant into the newly made socket in your jaw. The final three turns of this wrench caused excruciating pain. On a one to ten pain scale this gets the 10. On the last turn I think I passed out from the pain. I woke up saying, "I'll talk, I'll talk". I must have momentarily thought I was being tortured in some POW camp. The pain pretty much ceased when she stopped screwing in the implant. The implant must be some kind of expansion anchor. I should have looked at the device.

You might wonder just what this procedure is costing me. The extractions are separate when it comes to billing for the procedure. The implants were $1,800 a piece. This does not include the crowns that will be attached to the implants. I just received a quote from one dentist for $5,000. I am shopping around and trying to get a better price for the crowns. I know a lady that needs implants and she is taking a second mortgage on her house to pay for them.

Right now one of my implants is out as it failed to take hold. The hole made in the socket goes all the way into my sinus. When I drink water the liquid will run out my nose if I am not careful. This can be fixed but for the moment I have to live with this condition. Overall I have confidence that this entire procedure will work out just fine. My advice is take care of your teeth, get them cleaned, and be on the lookout for gum disease.

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Dental Implant : A Blessing in Disguise

As compared to other parts of the body, we pay the least amount of attention to our teeth till we get alarming signals. After a visit to the Dentist which is always long overdue in any case, we promise ourselves to be more particular in future but once we get busy in our daily activities we forget about it all over again.

Due to this careless attitude, we ruin a few teeth. But thanks to our Dental Surgeons and technology, they have devised ways to cure and fix our teeth and restore our smiles. Dental Implants are a blessing in disguise where missing tooth/teeth are replaced so perfectly that no one can ever make out the difference. Implants help preserve facial structure, preventing the bone deterioration which occurs when teeth are missing.

Dental Implants are the most rapidly growing field in dentistry today. Similar to a hip replacement, dental implants are made from surgical grade titanium. This dental implant system is thought by many to be the finest in the world.

The implants are tiny titanium posts, which are inserted into the jawbone where teeth are missing. These metal anchors act as tooth root substitutes. They are then surgically placed into the jaw bone. The bone bonds with the titanium, creating a strong foundation for the artificial teeth. Then Small posts are attached to the implant, which protrude through the gums. These posts provide stable anchors for artificial replacement teeth.

In most cases, the placement of dental implants involves one surgical procedure. First, implants are placed within your jawbone. For 6-12 weeks following surgery, the implants bond with the jawbone. The entire procedure usually takes two to six months. Most patients do not experience any disruption in their daily life.

In India, we can boast highly skilled Dental surgeons at par with the international standards. Which is why a lot of people from the U.K., U.S.A. and Canada are preferring to visit India for their Dental Treatments as they save enormously on cost, get the same quality of treatment and can enjoy a holiday with their families or accompanying person.

For more information on dental implants and dental surgery in India, please visit our Medical Tourism site.

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Dental Implant : A Way to Save Your Smile

Do you know anyone who has had a dental implant? You may know someone who has had this dental procedure done, but you don’t know that they have had it done, because it looks so natural. A dental implant is basically a replacement tooth (or teeth) that you can have put in instead of a bridge or crown. A titanium post is inserted in the tooth socket right into the jaw where it fuses with the bone forming a permanent bond. On top of the titanium post, a replacement tooth is cemented or secured. If you think that you might be a good candidate for an implant read on:
Who can get a dental implant? If you are healthy and you have a healthy gum line and no significant bone loss you might be a good candidate. The dental implant procedure is usually performed under a general or local anesthesia, so you would need to be healthy enough to undergo this minor surgery. It is also important that the patient is willing to take care of the tooth (or teeth) once it is implanted.
Who can put in a dental implant? It is generally recommended that a maxillofacial surgeon or a periodontist performs the implant procedure with a prosthodontist making the replacement tooth. Just a note: The ADA does not offer certification in implants, so if you find a dentist that says he is certified in dental implant procedures, you know that it is not an ADA certification.
How long will it take? Some procedures take more than one session spaced a few months or weeks apart. But, most of the time you can have your implants placed in one day. Only when you need significant gum line reconstruction do you have to wait.
What is recovery like? Your mouth will be sore for about 7 to 10 days and then healing may take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months.
What will it cost? The cost is based again, on the complexity of the procedure and the number of teeth involved. It may cost you anywhere from just over $1000 to over $20.000.
Eriani Doyel writes articles about Dental Health. For more information about a dental implant visit fcdental.com
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What are Dental Implants?

There are some people that have missing teeth and there is no other option than to have dental implants. For some, dental implants will give them back their smile that feels and even looks like the one that they used to have. Implants are a surgical procedure that does require some time. They are placed below the gums and are fused to the jawbone to act as a base for the replacement teeth.

Dental implants do require a few appointments. You must make a few trips to the dentist in order to have the smile that you want. It is defiantly worth the time and the effort that needs to be put forth in order to have this beautiful smile once again.

Dental implants will be a form of stability for you as they are fused to your bone. There is no chance for them to move or shift on you while you are eating. Integration of the implants into your jawbone also helps your new teeth feel more natural and some will even find that the fit is more secure and comfortable that crowns or bridges.

In order to be qualified to have dental implants you have to have healthy gums and a good jawbone to be able to support the replacement teeth. You will have to be thoroughly evaluated by your dental professional to make sure that you are the right candidate for this procedure. If you are then there is no reason why you should not be able to have your new smile in a short time.

One thing to remember is that dental implants are not cheap. They can be very expensive for some people that do not have the right insurance. This can cause a problem for some that so desperately want to have their smile back. For these cases, it is a good idea to check with a dentist that does except a payment plan. There are a few of those wonderful dentists out there that truly do want to help patients.

You should also do a little research before you choose just any dentist. This is a surgical procedure and it is important for you to have a qualified dentist install your dental implants. You want to make sure that you are in good hands so that you will be able to enjoy your new smile for many years to come.

Dental implants are a great new form of dentistry that will allow people that have missing teeth the opportunity to feel good about them again. They will no longer be afraid to show their pearly whites!

Types of Dental Implants

There are a variety of types of dental implants available as there are many different circumstances under which patients could require them. As well, no two patients’ mouths are exactly the same. The majority of dental implants on the market today are constructed from an inert metal called titanium. Titanium has been found to work exceptionally well at connecting with live bone tissue in the mouth. The process where titanium fuses with existing bone is referred to as “osseointegration.” Either a periodontist or an oral surgeon who works from the hospital or a private clinic usually undertakes dental implants.

Root form implants are “cylindrical or screw type implants” that greatly resemble the form of a root of a tooth with a surface area that makes for good adhesion to the existing bone. Root form implants are the most commonly used of all dental implants and there are positioned in a patient’s mouth where the depth and width of the jawbone is the greatest. If the patient’s jawbone is deemed either too short or too narrow for root form dental implants then sometimes bone grafting will need to be done before implants can be even considered an option for the patient.

Some patients have jawbones that for one reason or another (such as a very narrow jawbone) make bone grafting impossible therefore an other option must be taken into consideration. This option is called plate form implants. This narrow implant can be positioned directly into the existing bone. In other more extreme cases when there is a great deal of bone loss, another type of implant, known as the subperiosteal implant may be used. This type of dental implant is placed on top of the bone while still being under the patient’s gums.

Another type of implant is an artificial bone substitute which is made of synthetic material land is positioned on top of the existing bone to do two important functions- first to help encourage the rebuilding and regrowth of the ridge that is shrinking and secondly to provide as much support as possible for the fitting of dentures. The material used in this kind of implant is very much like a person’s natural bone therefore it easily affixes itself to the jawbone and begins to grow. An other form of dental implants, known as endosteal implants are placed directly into the patient’s jawbone and take over the function of the root of the tooth.

Root form implants are used in the case of deep, wide bone and their purpose is to provide a foundation for the replacement of one to a number of missing teeth. The shape of the plate form implant is both long and flat as it is designed to fit into the mouths of patients who have narrow jawbones. Subperiosteal implants have two methods for placement in the mouth- the “dual surgery method involves an impression being taken of the bone and later the jawbone is exposed and the implant is put in place; the second is the “single surgery” method whereby a CAT scan is taken of a patient’s jawbone and from that, a model of the jawbone is designed.

There are four types of bone grafts. The first, autografts are taken from the patient’s own body. The second grafts, allografts come from recently deceased human donors. The third type, xenografts are taken from animals, most often cow (called bovine). The fourth type, alloplastic grafts are inert and are constructed from synthetic man made materials. By Stephanie Dilson

Proper Maintenance of Dental Implants

Dental implants are something you want to last your lifetime, especially after all of the money and time as a patient you put into their placement. Dental implants mimic natural teeth and therefore need to be cared for in much the same way as your original teeth do. In other words they require regular brushing, flossing, check ups and cleanings at the dentist and a careful consideration of what foods can help as well as harm them. For instance too much starch and sugar can leave behind traces of material on the teeth that can cause acids to develop on teeth and gums which can serve to cause damage in the long term.

Proper maintenance of dental implants should become an important part of your day to day routine. This can be accomplished by developing excellent oral hygiene habits. Remember, if you want your dental implants to last, you must take exceptional care of them.

A healthy mouth is a clean mouth, as free of bacteria and plaque as possible therefore if you don’t do it already, get into the habit of brushing your teeth after every meal. Even if you don’t always use toothpaste during a busy workday, just using a toothbrush and water will still get your teeth clean. Not only will they look sparkly white but also you will dislodge any food particles that are trapped between the teeth and in the gums.

As far as the kind of toothpaste that is best for those who have dental implants, look for a small sized toothbrush or a special interdental brush that can be used to easily clean the abutments of the implants. Look for a toothbrush with a bent handle as this type is best used to get behind the back teeth to clean the, aforementioned, abutments. The type of toothbrush you buy should always be a gentle one. Look for a brush that is either “soft” or “extra soft” in terms of the bristle. Never buy a hard bristled toothbrush nor a medium bristled one, as they are too abrasive to gums and teeth. Brushing is important but not enough. Next comes the flossing stage Buy a special floss that contains a foam coating or else use gauze to properly clean around your abutments, prosthetic teeth and gums. For a super clean result you might want to first use the floss and then run the gauze over the areas afterwards.

When it comes to the process of brushing your teeth if you have a removable prosthesis, take it out of your mouth and proceed to carefully brush both the inside and outside of the appliance. After that is done, take your toothbrush and brush around your gums as well as the abutments. Finally use dental floss around the abutments.

If you have a fixed prosthesis (meaning it stays in your mouth) then brush it exactly as you would natural teeth. Take the brush and reach it in behind the teeth to thoroughly clean the backside of the abutments. Next take your dental floss and floss around the area of the abutments. Make sure to floss the front, sides and back of the abutments.

Just as natural teeth require check ups at the dentist, so do dental implants. Make a trip to the dentist at least every six mouth to have the implants professionally checked and cleaned. At this time the dentist will determine whether or not it is fitting properly in your mouth and any repairs that need to be made can be done so at this time. Also during these six-month appointments the health of a patient’s gums and jaws will be looked at as well as how stabile the anchors of the implants are. By Stephanie Dilson