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What are Dental Implants, Why Are They Made?
The adventure of breaking down the nutrients and sending them to the stomach begins in the teeth. The fact that the teeth are diseased, unhealthy, decayed and, most importantly, missing, can lead to digestive problems. Therefore, oral and dental problems should be treated and especially care should be taken to complete the missing teeth. At this point, dental implants applied to replace missing teeth come into play. In this article, we bring you information about what are dental implants, why they are made and what are the operation stages.
What Are Dental Implants and in Which Cases Are They Made?
Dental implants, which are performed without any operation on other healthy teeth in the mouth, are applied in individuals whose tooth roots are damaged or have missing teeth. These artificial teeth are similar to natural teeth and at the same time apply the same level of force in terms of chewing function. Therefore, it is preferred by many people compared to other bridges or prostheses because it provides better chewing skills. However, one of the biggest advantages is that it supports new teeth.
Lack of teeth leads to many problems in many people, both aesthetically and functionally. Because if the tooth is missing, it is not possible to chew effectively. At the same time, the closure of the gum in the area where the tooth loss is located can lead to problems in the jaw joint due to the change in the position of the teeth. In addition, due to speech disorders and aesthetic problems that may occur, it creates a lack of self-confidence in the person.
However, the treatment of dental implants varies depending on the structure and condition of the person’s jawbone and the type of application.
- Losing teeth due to trauma, caries or periodontal disease, etc.,
- Having one or more missing teeth,
- Failure to complete the development of the jawbone,
- If the jaw bone is sufficient orif the jaw is suitable for bone graft,
- If the mouth tissue is healthy,
- If there is no disease that adversely affects bone healing,
- For those who do not want to use removable prosthesis,
- When a fixed prosthesis cannot be applied in the absence of teeth at the very end of the mouth,
- In patients who do not have any teeth, it is applied to prevent the prosthesis from moving.
Places where teeth are missing lead to melting of the jawbone over time. Therefore, the implantprocess should be done within a short time after the tooth extraction occurs. Thus, this process prevents the melting of the jaw bone. In addition, it is very protective compared to other bridges since it is made without damaging the neighboring teeth and without a support.
Which Methods Are Applied in Dental Implant Treatment?
Dental implants made with a special technique are an artificial tooth applied to the jawbone in terms of retaining bridges or prostheses. However, this process varies depending on the specific condition of the patient and the type of implant chosen. Therefore, a periodontitis creates a treatment plan specifically for the general health status and needs of the person. But usually endosteal and subperiosteal types are applied. These:
- Endosteal (In Bone): The most commonly used endosteal is placed in the jawbone with a surgical operation. This type of process is available in different forms such as knives, cylinders and screws. It is generally preferred by people who use removable prostheses or bridges. In addition, each implant can hold one or more prosthetic teeth.
- Subperiosteal (On Bone): This type of implant is an application placed above the chin. Itis made on top of the chin to ensure that the implant remains stable in place. The metal frame placed in this section is applied by protruding from the gum of the poles. Subperiosteal is often a preferred technique in those who cannot use prostheses. It is also an ideal choice for patients who do not have enough bone mass to secure the endosteal implant retention.
In addition, if your jawbone is too soft or not thick enough, a bone graft may need to be performed before the dental implant. More than one bone graft material is available for the reconstruction of a jawbone. One of them is a natural bone graft that is taken from another part of the body. The other is a synthetic bone graft that supports the structure of new bones to enable them to develop.
Procedure Stages in the Treatment of Dental Implants
Dental implant treatmentrequiresone or more surgical operations. For this reason, some evaluations are made to prepare the patient for treatment. First, information about the patient’s medical history is obtained. It is determined whether the person is using any prescription or over-the-counter medication or supplement. Also, if an orthopedic implant is used or if you have chronic heart disease, an antibiotic should be used to prevent possible infection.
After all these detailed evaluations, 3D images and dental x-rays of the patient are taken. According to these shots, jaw and tooth models are designed. Then, in the treatment plan applied to the person; factors such as the structure of the jawbone, the condition of the other teeth and how many missing teeth there are need to be determined. Thus, an implant treatment can be applied in a way that will not cause problems for many years.
In additionto these plans, the anesthesia method is selected according to the general health status of the person in order to prevent possible pain and suffering during the application. These options include sedation, general and local anesthesia. According to the type of anesthesia, the specialist doctor gives some recommendations before the operation. This dental treatment, which is usually performed on an outpatient basis, is carried out in stages. The steps taken in the process of placing a dental implant are generally as follows:
- It is usually performed with local anesthesia, which is a method in which only the area where the procedure is to be performed is anesthetized with medication.
- If there is a damaged tooth, it is removed.
- If deemed necessary, a bone graft is applied for the jawbone.
- Inside the jawbone is inserted a screw made of the element titanium, which mimics the tooth root.
- Then, a dental prosthesis is applied on the screw.
It may take several months for all of the above-mentioned processes to be completed. A large part of this period is usually the process of waiting for the growth of the bone after the procedure applied to the jawbone. However, according to the patient’s condition, the materials used and the special procedures performed, some steps can be combined and made. When looked at, implant placement looks like a surgical operation. However, according to many people, implant placement is more comfortable and faster than a tooth extraction.
Possible Side Effects in the Treatment of Dental Implants
As in other surgical operations, some undesirable mild side effectsmay occur in the procedures performed for dental implants. However, these side effects can usually be tolerated in a short time. Mild side effects, which are usually easy to treat, are as follows:
- Damage or injury to blood vessels or other teeth
- Infection in the implanted area
- Nerve damage that causes tingling or numbness in the gums, natural teeth, jaw or lips
- Possible sinus problems in dental implants located in the upper jaw
- Bruising on the skin or gums
- Swelling on the face or gums
- Pain at the implant site
After dental implant operation, antibiotics or pain medications may need to be used. If a problem worsens after surgery, such as any discomfort or swelling, you should contact the doctor who performed the procedure without wasting time. After all the operation stages, great care should be taken not to damage the area where the procedure is performed. Therefore, in the healing process; you should pay attention to your nutrition and consume soft and room-temperature foods.
The treatment process of dental implants, which do not have a difference between them and the natural tooth in terms of appearance and function, varies from person to person. However, the results obtained are both permanent, successful and natural.
