Tooth Implants: Why They Work
Tooth Implants have seen a meteoric rise in popularity recently due to the remarkable success rates and tooth-restoring function they offer. Like many of dentistry’s and medicine’s revolutionary advances, Tooth Implants have an extensive history; studies have proven their efficacy has only increased recently. This article will explain why dental implants are now so successful and what factors have contributed to it. Plus, discover how these implants are placed for an overview of the process with illustrations of key components. Signs of Tooth Implant Failure Early signs of success with dental implants can include low success rates.
A 1970 dig into the remains of a young Mayan woman revealed the first evidence of Tooth Implants. Though these were originally believed to be decorations on her grave, radiography later confirmed they had actually been placed by the Mayan woman before she passed away. Furthermore, two out of three implants had regenerated bone around them – testament to their successful innovation. Although famed for its achievements and innovations, little is known about why these particular Tooth Implants worked (and why others failed).
Experimentation Must Continue and Successes Must Not Be Celebrated
In the 19th century, tooth implants underwent much experimentation. Platinum and gold were the primary materials used for implants and they often went in immediately after an extraction. Unfortunately, early attempts to put in human teeth had already demonstrated that our bodies would reject them; even those that proved successful at that time didn’t last very long.
An Accidental Breakthrough from the 20th Century Provides Important Hints
Dr. P.I. Branemark, a Swedish orthopedist, pioneered Tooth Implants during his research into bone regeneration and healing during the 1950s. He used optical chambers made of titanium that were implanted into bone to observe the process. After watching for several months, he concluded that using these optical chambers would be too expensive due to hardening around the screws in the bone. Branemark left his “standard” field to explore the fascinating possibilities of implant dentistry, since its results could more easily be observed in a clinic setting. Nowadays titanium implants remain essential components in successful joint replacements and prosthetics.
Branemark and his team coined the term osseointegration to describe the functional and structural connection between living bone tissue and an artificial load-bearing device. After placing his first titanium Tooth Implant in 1965, he continued researching this topic for several years. Finally, Branemark’s scientific data was presented at the Toronto Conference on Osseointegration in Clinical Dentistry in 1982 – a milestone which revolutionized how titanium Tooth Implant were accepted and acknowledged.
What Have We Discovered About Success So Far?
Today, we understand that there are multiple elements which influence the success of Tooth Implants and osseointegration generally. The most crucial ones include:
- Titanium is a superior implant material not just because people like it, but because it doesn’t oppose it. Stainless steel tends to corrode more quickly. Biocompatibility should be taken into account both short- and long-term; that is why research continues into biocompatible materials.
- The implant’s design or shape. In 1937, Dr. Alvin Strock of Harvard University proposed using screw-shaped implants which have become the most common type currently. Further design research is ongoing today to further perfect this popular type of implant.
- The implant’s surface This region continues to be extensively researched in order to find the proper coatings and degree of porosity necessary for successful osseointegration.
- Tooth Implants can only be successful if the owner takes ownership of them. Bone grafts or dental restorations may need to be performed prior to implant placement if the tissue that houses the implant is in poor health.
- When considering surgery for implant placement, how and when the bone and surrounding tissue are prepared surgically is key. Failure rates often result from damage or disruption of this critical tissue. Current research is looking into how many steps of preparation are necessary in order to achieve maximum success rates, with many one-step implant procedures becoming increasingly popular.
- The Force Exerted on the Implant – Research is ongoing to understand how load (force) affects implant performance. The direction of that force is important as it will vary depending on where in the mouth; detrimental load often causes bone loss and decreases stability for Tooth Implants. To guarantee optimal outcomes, various aspects such as when to apply immediate or delayed pressure are being examined in more depth.
- Tooth Implants boast a high success rate (about 95%) according to the American Association for Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, but success can vary depending on where the implant is placed. Unfortunately, these statistics don’t take into account other variables that could impact the outcome.
- Patients with uncontrolled diabetes or smoking tend to have lower success rates with Tooth Implants. Your dental professional will assess your individual situation, and emphasize the importance of practicing good oral hygiene both before and after the procedure.
