Mini Implants

Immediate Dental Implants: What Are They?

Implant dentistry is a safe, predictable method for replacing missing teeth. "Immediate dental implants" or the placement of tooth implants at the time of extraction is a great method of implant placement. This method can be considered when a single upper front tooth is traumatized, when one or two teeth have advanced decay, or when the remaining roots are too short to support a crown. The purpose of this method of tooth replacement is to maintain as much bone volume as possible. This means preserving bone height and width. The benefits to the patient after restoration of dental implants are a beautiful, natural-looking tooth without cutting down healthy adjacent teeth and being able to eat in comfort without the fear of having the tooth loosen or fall out.

An implant dentist can easily determine if a person is a candidate for the immediate dental implants method of replacing missing teeth. They will examine the teeth adjacent to the involved tooth for periodontal disease and take a traditional dental X-ray. Impressions of the teeth will aid in determining one's prognosis. Additional X-rays may be necessary to determine the exact bone width and height, as well as the root position.

Implant placement is performed with local anesthesia. The remaining root is removed and the gum tissue is gently displaced from the surrounding tissue. The dental implant site is prepared with small drills. Special equipment is used to gently place the tooth implant into the prepared site, after which the gums are replaced over the implant with sutures. A temporary tooth replacement is placed in the space where the tooth was removed. Post-operative discomfort is minimal. The sutures are removed in a week, and oral hygiene is resumed.

In the upper jaw, bone grows and adheres to the tooth implant within five to six months, while the immediate dental implants in the lower jaw require three to four months for proper bone formation. After healing, there is a series of visits when an implant dentist will make a tooth that will be attached to the implant. Within a few weeks after receiving the implant-supported crown, patients consider the restoration as their own tooth, rather than an implant.

Implants require good oral hygiene, dental maintenance, and periodic evaluation by a dentist. For further information regarding placement of tooth implants at the time of extraction, look in PubMed, searching the following key words: placement of implants at time of extraction, dental implants, immediate implants.

By William Becker, DDS

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Teeth Implants: The Permanent Solution to a Lost Tooth

Whether it's due to accident or decay, tooth loss can be a pretty traumatic event. But it's not irreplaceable. If you lose a tooth, you might be surprised at the options modern dentistry can offer to replace that missing tooth.

If it's a sudden, accidental injury and you lose the entire tooth, roots and all, it may even be possible to replace the tooth in its socket. But time is of the essence, the tooth replacement must occur within an hour of the accident.

A more realistic alternative is a tooth implant. Teeth implants are the next best thing to having natural teeth restored to your mouth. That's because, instead of being a removable device inside the mouth, like dentures, implants are permanently anchored into the jaw itself.

The key to a successful dental implant procedure is called osseointegration, or the meshing together of implant and bone. Good candidates for dental implants need jawbone ridges that are in good shape and healthy oral tissues. Then, when the implant device is inserted, a chemical and mechanical bond is formed. The jawbone actually grows into the dental implant.

The thing to remember is... if you lose a tooth, it's not the end of the world. Tooth implants are only one of your options. Regardless of the cause of your tooth loss, there's something you can do to recreate a healthy, natural-looking smile. Contact your dentist today to get more tooth implant information.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.