Dental Implants: what they are all about

Dental implants are artificial roots placed in the jaw to support and anchor new teeth. People use dental implants for different reasons but the most common are tooth loss, when the present teeth have become too loose to persist by periodontal disease, damaged extensively due to trauma or for any other reason imaginable. Considering the options available for people with tooth problems, dental implants represent a more natural way to deal with them as compared to dental bridges, which rarely look completely natural.

Concisely, the three most common functions of dental implants are replacing missing teeth without them having to affect the neighboring ones, supporting dental bridges or crowns, and providing support for dentures.

Types of Dental Implants

In terms of functionality and diversity, there are two main types of dental implants offered by most dentists today.

1. Endosteal dental implants are those which are placed inside the jaw bones. In simple terms, these implants are shaped like screws and are surgically placed and embedded within the jawbone. Ideally, these implants are able to hold onto one or more teeth, based on the single implanted root. This technique is one of the most critical ones and uses the most advanced surgical tools such as the implant screw, pins and posts. This implant means is a special alternative for patients with dental bridges or those with removable dentures.
2. Subperiosteal dental implants are especially for those patients who cannot wear dental bridges or removable dentures, which require more bone for support. For this group, the implant is not in the form of a screw but is in plate form which is placed directly on top of the jawbone and has retention posts that can be seen protruding from the gums. It is ideal for patients with a small jawbone height.

As a means of securing better teeth for the patient, dental implants have often been considered as the better option for patients with tooth problems. The reasons for this are listed below.

1. First, dental implants have a more authentic feel and one can feel like it is their own natural teeth. This is simply because implants are made of Titanium, which has the unique property of attracting bone cells to accumulate and grow around it, firmly embedding the implant within the bone and thus fitting into the natural dental formula.
2. Dental implants are also known not to interfere with the neighboring teeth like bridges and dentures are known to do.  Since no adjacent teeth are touched, dental implants are in the best position to care for your overall dental care and health.
3. Dental implants feel natural and its results are obvious. Your confidence levels will shoot up since you are able to do normal things such as smile or eat confidently without having to worry about your denture.
4. The last advantage is that dental implants tend to be truly reliable and hence preferred. According to many dentists, the success rates for teeth implants are immense and that is why it is the best option.

As to whether one is a suitable candidate for a dental implant or not, is a question of fact. The best one can do is to pay their dentist a visit for examination, before going down that road.

More Readings:

Dental Implant Surgery from Mayo Clinic

Dental Implant Guide by WebmD

How much do dental implants cost?

It must be emphasized that dental implants is only an effective and quick means of tooth replacement for those who can afford. This is because the cost of a single implant is much more than what a common man can afford. It is also a fact that most health insurance companies do not cover the complete cost of getting a dental implant because they also fall under the category of cosmetic dentistry.  The cost of a single dental implant varies greatly all over the world, from dentist to dentist and area to area. The procedures that are involved in the placement of a dental implant include bone grafts, implanting a titanium post into the jaw, placing the implant onto the post, and finally the placement of the crown or the false tooth. The average cost of a single dental implant in USA for instance ranges between $4000 to $5000 with the cost of the titanium post and the crown being the most expensive of all the procedures that are performed in the surgery. It is for this reason that only few people can afford to replace their missing teeth with implants.

Why does the cost of dental implants vary?

It has been noted that the cost of dental implants varies greatly depending upon the area and the dental surgeon. A major observation is that dental surgeons with private practices charge more for the placement of implants that those that work as part of a public hospital or dental clinic. Hence, in order to save a significant amount of money on the implant procedure, it is a good option to consult dentists at public hospitals and clinics, instead of those that run private practices. Prices of getting dental implants also vary on the basis of area where the clinic is located. For this purpose, one must review the list of all dentists offering expertise in dental implants in one’s region or area to gain an insight on the average rate in the country.

Which dentist is ideal for the placement of dental implants?

Many dentists and hospitals readily advertise and publicize their expertise in the area of dental implants but these must be ignored. In order to determine which dentist is the best in your locality for the placement of implants, one must read reviews posted by other patients regarding their experience with a particular dentist.