The Ten Thousand Whys of Dental Implants: Common Questions Explained in One Go
"How are dental implants placed?"
"Does getting a dental implant hurt?"
"Am I a candidate for dental implants?"
"How long can dental implants last?"
"Are there any side effects of dental implants?"
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What is a dental implant?
A dental implant, also called an artificial dental implant, does not mean actually planting a natural tooth. It is a restoration method in which a biomaterial with high compatibility with human bone (generally called an implant) is placed into the alveolar bone, and then an artificial tooth is built on the implant.
The implant in the alveolar bone is equivalent to the root of our natural tooth. It can grow tightly together with the alveolar bone as one, so it can steadily support and fix the artificial tooth outside the gums.
Because dental implants require no grinding down of adjacent teeth, offer powerful chewing function, last longer, and look natural and lifelike, they are called humanity's third set of teeth and have gradually become the internationally recognized first-choice restoration method for missing teeth in oral medicine today.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
Stability of dental implants: Unlike ordinary removable dentures, dental implants will not possibly come loose while eating or talking and cause a danger of blocking the trachea or esophagus.
Safety of dental implants: The artificial root is deeply planted in the alveolar bone and provides functional stimulation to the alveolar bone, which can protect the alveolar bone structure and prevent it from shrinking.
Healthy teeth fully preserved: Healthy teeth can be completely preserved, with no need to grind down adjacent healthy teeth.
Stable artificial tooth root: Good retention and stability can increase comfort, and the chewing function is greatly superior to other dentures.
Service life of dental implants: Artificial implants can have a very long lifespan, generally lasting more than 40 years, and with good care they can be used for life.
Attractive appearance: No metal is exposed, and they look as natural and attractive as natural teeth, which is more conducive to maintaining oral hygiene.
How long does the entire dental implant process take?
The treatment and restoration of ordinary artificial dental implants are roughly divided into three stages:
(1) Preoperative preparation stage. This includes extracting residual roots, removing decayed teeth, treating periodontal disease, removing poor dentures, and adjusting and correcting poor occlusal relationships. The time required for this stage varies depending on each person's treatment situation, ranging from as little as one or two days to as much as two or three months.
(2) Implant placement surgery stage. Your doctor places the implant into the bone through surgery according to the preoperative plan. The surgery is usually performed under local anesthesia, and the surgery time is about 10 minutes to 1 hour.
(3) Implant prosthesis restoration stage. Three to six months after surgery, a permanent crown or denture is installed. This involves taking impressions, making the denture, and fitting the tooth. Treatment generally requires 2-3 weeks. The permanent crown is generally made of porcelain-fused-to-metal material, which has excellent texture, lifelike color, is comfortable and attractive, and is durable.
Does getting a dental implant hurt?
Dental implant surgery sounds serious, but it is actually just a minor alveolar surgical procedure. It belongs to minimally invasive surgery, similar to tooth extraction, uses local anesthesia, and causes little trauma.
No hospitalization is needed, and it can be completed in the dental chair. You can eat right after surgery, and there is very little pain. Generally, implant placement surgery only takes a few tens of minutes to a few tens of minutes to complete. Because the biomaterial used has excellent compatibility with the human body, dental implants will not cause any adverse reactions in the human body. Even if osseointegration of the implant fails, after removal you can wait for the wound to heal and then improve the method and place it again, or switch to an ordinary denture.
Are there any discomforts after dental implant surgery?
Modern anesthesia techniques and good postoperative nursing measures can minimize the patient's discomfort. The intraoral wound can generally heal in about 7 to 10 days.
During healing, there may be some expected discomfort. The degree of this discomfort varies from person to person, but most patients will not have any obvious problems.
Generally, as long as you follow the doctor's instructions to take medication and apply ice, the discomfort can be minimized. At the same time, attention should be paid to cleaning the wound area promptly and avoiding chewing hard objects.
Many patients feel that the discomfort of implant placement surgery is even milder than that of tooth extraction.
Is the success rate of dental implants high?
Since implant technology began to be applied in 1950, thanks to advances in medicine and materials science, the success rate has also been continuously improving.
At present, using the five-year success rate as the clinical evaluation standard, the success rate of dental implants can reach 94% or even higher, and it is believed that it will further improve in the future.
In foreign countries and economically developed regions domestically, dental implants are the first choice for replacing missing teeth.
Are there age restrictions for dental implants?
People in good health can receive artificial implants without age restrictions.
In the records, there are examples of patients over 90 years old successfully receiving artificial implants.
However, adolescents whose bones have not yet fully developed are instead not suitable for dental implants.
Are dental implants really as strong and durable as real teeth?
Research shows that many dental implants are actually even more stable than real teeth.
Compared with removable dentures, research shows that dental implants achieve 100% restoration of chewing efficiency.
With the advent of dental implants, patients with missing teeth can finally eat foods they previously dared not eat and enjoy the pleasure of a life of good food.
How long is the service life of dental implants?
How long dental implants can last is the first thing patients care about, and it is also a concern for implant dentists. Generally speaking, as long as they are used with care, dental implants can be used for a long time. For whether an implant is successful, its retention time is an important indicator. In the past, it was considered that only a 5-year implant survival rate of 85% and a 10-year survival rate of 80% met the conditions for success, but now the requirements are higher. At present, the longest-used dental implant has already been in use for 48 years.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
In general, healthy adults under the age of 70, patients with a single missing tooth, partial tooth loss, or full-mouth tooth loss, and those whose conditions meet the requirements after clinical examination can all undergo dental implant restoration.
Patients with the following diseases are not suitable for dental implants: heart disease, blood diseases, hypertension, diabetes, renal dysfunction, endocrine system diseases, severe osteoporosis, malignant tumors, mental disorders, and those during high-level use of chemotherapy, hormones, anticoagulants and other drugs that affect bone metabolism and integration cannot undergo dental implant surgery.
Local gingival inflammation and inflammation of nearby teeth will both affect the integration of the implanted tooth root and may even lead to surgical failure.
Precautions after dental implant surgery
Oral cleaning: Dental implants have a relationship between the tooth body and periodontal tissues similar to that of natural teeth. Therefore, you should brush your teeth morning and evening just as you care for real teeth to ensure a clean oral environment.
Dietary habits: Try to avoid eating foods that are too hard, because dental implants, like real teeth, will also suffer wear.
Regular dental cleaning: After dental implants, you should regularly go to a dental hospital for teeth cleaning to remove tartar and dental plaque that cannot be removed by ordinary brushing, thereby maintaining the long-term cleanliness and stability of the dental implant.
Regular follow-up visits: Promptly observe the use of the dental implant and the health status of the entire oral cavity, take maintenance measures, and ensure the stability of the dental implant and the entire periodontal area.