Dental Implants - What Is It?

Surprisingly, the first evidence of dental implants date back to the Mayan civilization, long before their earliest uses in modern societies.

Yet it wasn't until 1952 that an orthopedic surgeon in Sweden began studying bone healing and regeneration and discovered that bone will effectively adhere to titanium, leading to the first use of dental implants later that same year. Today, dental implants are used to support a variety of dental prostheses from crowns and bridges to dentures.

Typically, modern dental implants are composed of a titanium screw that closely resembles a tooth root and provide a permanent solution for severely damaged teeth or tooth loss. Generally speaking, dental implants are the go-to solution for individuals who have good general health but have lost teeth due to injury, accident, or periodontal disease. Most importantly, dental implants provide a more natural-looking solution to tooth loss, and many patients who receive dental implants can carry on with normal activities without worrying about the effects on their teeth. In fact, in many cases, you may not even remember you have lost a tooth, making dental implants an excellent treatment to restore confidence in your smile.

There are several uses for dental implants. First, dental implants can replace one or more teeth without affecting the surrounding teeth. Bridges, on the other hand, are anchored to other teeth and tend to be less stable over the long term than implants. In addition, dental implants can support a bridge so that the patient does not require a removable partial denture. Finally, in some cases, dental implants actually provide a more secure and comfortable support for a denture. Whether you are replacing teeth or supporting other dental structures, dental implants are an effective solution for your teeth.

In general, there are two types of dental implants being used today. Endosteal and subperiosteal dental implants differ in how they are attached to the bone. Endosteal dental implants are the most common type of implant and they are secured in the bone. Screws, cylinders, or blades are surgically implanted directly into the jaw bone and can support one or more prosthetic teeth. Endosteal implants are usually used with patients who require bridges or removable dentures. Subperiosteal dental implants are more commonly used in cases of advanced jawbone resorption. With not enough bone to support an implant in the jaw, these dental implants are placed on top of the bone but under the gums.

There are many advantages to dental implants. First and foremost, dental implants look and feel like your own teeth. As far as esthetics and comfort is concerned, few dental procedures can compare with dental implants. In addition, dental implants are a tooth-saving alternative that don't affect the quality of surrounding teeth. Finally, dental implants provide a reliable solution to tooth loss with a very high rate of success and therefore make an excellent choice for tooth replacement.

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