Tooth Implant FAQs – Common Questions | Answered
Tooth Implants offer a long-term solution for people who have damaged, decayed or missing teeth. While this treatment can produce an attractive smile, there are numerous steps that must be taken in order to get there. As such, it is highly recommended that patients educate themselves on all aspects of Tooth Implant Frequently before beginning their journey towards having a perfect smile.
Review some of the most frequently asked Tooth Implant questions.
What exactly are Tooth Implants?
Implants are made of titanium alloy and designed to be implanted within the jawbone, acting as a permanent support for crowns, fixed bridges or dentures. Titanium is an especially strong yet lightweight material used in implants due to its capacity of joining bone tissue for long-lasting stability.
What are the advantages of dental implants over other forms of replacement teeth?
Traditional dental prosthetics like bridges, crowns and dentures provide patients with sufficient tooth replacement options; however, implants offer long-lasting stability that allows patients to eat and speak confidently without worrying about the stability of nearby teeth. Patients often report an improvement in their oral health when implants are placed as opposed to traditional solutions which rely on surrounding teeth for support.
Are All Candidates for Teeth Implants?
Patients do not automatically qualify for Tooth Implants just because they lack teeth. To be considered eligible, patients must meet certain criteria.
Your overall oral health. In order for Tooth Implants to be successful, a patient’s overall oral health–particularly their remaining gums and teeth–must be in excellent condition. Any gum disease, broken teeth or decay must be addressed prior to beginning implant treatments.
Dental Health Maintenance. Maintaining dental health after treatment is another critical consideration for success. Your dentist will provide an appropriate cleaning schedule and explain how best to care for your implants.
Success with implant placement relies on the quality and quantity of bone present. If there is insufficient bone surrounding the implant, implant placement may be challenging. Patients who lack sufficient bone can utilize various methods to improve their bone quality for successful implant placement.
Are There Any Age Limitations on Tooth Implants?
No age limit exists for Tooth Implants as everyone’s bone growth is different. Because implants are placed into the jawbone during surgery, age should not be a factor when considering who should receive treatment. Therefore, some adolescents and children may not be suitable candidates due to their still developing bones that could potentially compromise the implant area; as such your dentist will advise against placing implants until after all growth has been completed.
Are implants 100% guaranteed and what is their success rate?
Although no guarantee can be given with implants, research has shown that patients have reported an average success rate of 90% over 5-10 years. Plus, implants have been known to last well beyond 30 years! While maintenance may be needed from time to time, if patients follow post-implant instructions they will experience long-term satisfaction.
Do I face Any Risks?
Like any medical or aesthetic procedure, Tooth Implant treatments carry some risk. But these risks are extremely rare and easily treatable. Patients sometimes experience implant failure or damage to their surrounding teeth; however, this risk can be greatly minimized by planning ahead for your pre-treatment.
Implants that fail rapidly usually do so due to infection at the implant site or an unfavorable bone structure. With proper healing time (usually several months), however, patients can usually reinstall their implant successfully. Patients might also experience failure within a few years after initial success if there is excessive stress on the implant or not enough implants present – which often happens when cost-conscious individuals attempt to cut corners. With proper management however, this risk can be reduced dramatically.
Perimplantitis, a condition which may arise after Tooth Implantation, is also possible. Similar to periodontitis (gum disease), this condition involves inflammation of the gums and bone loss at the implant site. This condition can be prevented through daily brushing, regular cleaning of the implant site and regular dental appointments.
