Dental implants overview
Dental Implants are the biggest advance in dental science since the fluoridation of drinking water to prevent tooth decay and the invention of Novocain in 1905.
From the days of the ancient Egyptians until about 30 years ago, scientists have experimented with dental implants and never succeeded. Things started to change rapidly once a Swedish professor (Per-Ingvar Branemark) discovered by chance how titanium could be integrated into living bone. Dental implants are the lower or root part of artificial teeth. The upper and visible part is a crown, much like you get it after a root canal treatment. Since titanium has never been a living tissue there is no likelihood of causing an antigen-antibody response which could cause rejection similar to that which sometimes occurs after heart and kidney transplants.
Dental implants use a high-tech surgical procedure to fuse one or more titanium cylinders to the jawbone. They are ideal for people who are in good oral health. Candidates for the treatment must have healthy gums and enough bone to support the implants. Dental implants can last a lifetime, and because the tooth is placed permanently into the bone, they feel much like natural teeth.
Implants vs. dentures
Why would you want to have implants, considering they are so expensive? After teeth have been extracted, the bone of the jaw will start to wear away, much like muscles which are never used. This will gradually cause the face to change. The area between the nose and lips will become shorter while the chin will appear closer to the tip of the nose, giving the face a collapsed appearance. This process also can make dentures loose and difficult to wear.
In other words, dentures are a short-term fix which will become the cause of more trouble in the future, so you want to avoid them if possible. The average denture usually requires a laboratory reline or remake at least once every four years, due to functional wear or continued bone loss. This bone loss will continue throughout your life and will make subsequent denture construction more difficult, less satisfying, and less and less comfortable. Implants have become the treatment of choice to eliminate the need for dentures.
Successfully placed dental implants on the other side allow the bone to grow around the artificial tooth root and to hold it firmly in place. Implants also help patients regain everyday functions, such as normal eating and speaking abilities.
A person with dentures is said to be able to chew with 20 kg (40 pounds) of force, compared to 200 kg (400 pounds) of force for someone with dental implants. A full upper denture covers the palate of the mouth and reduces the ability to taste foods. With dental implants, you can have the palate removed from your upper denture so you can taste and enjoy your Thai food again.
