The technique of Implantation is utilized by the dental industry to replace tooth roots with metal posts. These posts are screw-like and serves the purpose of replacing damaged or missing teeth. The replacement though takes place with artificial teeth, looks and functions completely like the real ones.

You generally decide upon getting dental implants when you:

• Have one or more missing teeth.
• Have adequate bone to secure the implants or are able to have a bone graft
• Have really healthy oral tissues
• Don't have any other health condition that could affect bone healing
• Are not comfortable with wearing dentures
• Are facing speech problems with your set of dentures

Your concerns...

Now, to some, just the thought of having an implant post surgically placed in their jaw can be very intimidating and scary. Nevertheless, it doesn't have to be.

There might be a few questions in your mind like - Is it painful? How long does the procedure take? What are complications that I might face post my Implant surgery is done?

To start answering these questions, the real scenario needs to be revealed.

Firstly, your implant surgery, will involve some amount of discomfort just like any other surgical intervention. Numbing drugs like a local anesthesia or an IV or the oral sedation is used to eliminate the discomfort during the procedure.  So, you do not have much of a cause to worry!

Secondly, How long does the procedure take?

A few factors actually determine the length of time needed for your  procedure:

• Your overall dental health.
• The number of teeth for which implants are to be placed.
• Which teeth are replaced.
• If there will be a tooth extracted prior to implant placement.

These factors also determine the number of visits to the dentist that would be required to arrive at the desired results. For example, a single tooth implant surgery can merely take only one to two hours from start to finish. This includes both time for anesthesia and dressing the patient for a sterile condition during and post surgery.

Finally, the possible complications post an Implant surgery:

This discussion is definitely not to scare you off! Know the cons, be prepared, they might occur to you and they might not as well! So you can simply stay relaxed instead of worrying about what might happen.

Possible discomfort post-surgery:

Small amounts of swelling in the gums and the surrounding soft tissues is normal. Pain will also be associated with this and that could be treated with ibuprofen, hydrocodone, or codeine. Normally, with all of these, the candidate should be able to go to work the very next day.

Apart from normal, certain situations might bear other complications.

Post-surgery complications:

1. Infection in the surrounding bone and gums.
2. Your body's non-acceptance of the dental implant.
3. Bone loss around the dental implant post the surgery.
4. Failure to adhere to the bone of your jaw.

Reportedly, most patients were much more comfortable following the procedure than they had actually anticipated. General post surgery medications are normally prescribed by your dentist to ease any discomfort that may occur.

Study on Local complications in dental implant surgery

A study on Local complications in dental implant surgery states “Accidents are events that occur during surgery and complications are all the pathological conditions that appear postoperatively. In addition to that Early-stage complications appear in the immediate postoperative period and interfere with healing, and late-stage complications arise during the process of osseointegration.

The prevention of complications is a priority objective for the surgeon. Careful clinical and radiographic examination of each case, accurate planning of procedures, the use of proper surgical techniques and appropriate instruments all concur in preventing such events.

Overall, whether a dental implant surgery will be performed at all or how it will be done depends upon, first, the condition of your jawbone and second, the type of implant you are getting. The major benefit of implants is a solid support for your new teeth — as this process requires the bone to heal tightly around the implant. However, since the bone healing requires time, the process usually takes many months.

Dental Implants vs. Other restorative procedures:

Dental implant surgery is indeed a welcome alternative to dentures or bridgework because of reasons like:

• Dentures or bridgework doesn't fit well  
• A lack of natural teeth roots might not allow building a denture or bridgework as replacements of your missing tooth.

Why are they good alternatives for dentures?

Dental implants have become a popular alternative to dentures over the past few years, despite costing much more than the latter. The potential reasons for this are:

• They last longer and hence save you money over time. Since they last long, dental implants lead to fewer visits to the dentist.
• They are easier to maintain compared to dentures. The latter needs to be opened carefully every night and cleaned with caution - if it falls in the sink while being cleaned with the solution, it might break instantly!
• You do not to worry about them falling out while speaking or laughing in social situations. Dentures run the risk of falling off
• Dentures depend on adhesives that can loose its effectiveness. Implants are kind of permanent as they are embedded in the jawbone.
• Also, they feel more comfortable and look more natural than dentures. You can feel like you had never lost a tooth at all, if you opt for Implants.

What makes them score over a bridgework?

When it comes to this question, a dental implant would obviously score over a dental bridge because, in case of the latter, the natural teeth have to perform the function of support. The implant on the other hand is not putting any strain on other teeth.

Secondly,

Implants can be used to replace more than one missing natural tooth. In the case of a bridge, a dentist will need healthy adjacent teeth for support. Therefore for more than one teeth or for a plural number of missing teeth that are not adjacent to each other, bridge is not an easy option. Contrarily, various combinations are possible in the case of implants. The dentist can replace a single missing tooth or an whole denture.

There are still other restorations that usually do not stand a chance. Yet a dental procedure can be decided upon only after several considerations as well as pathological examinations. Consulting your dentist in the first place, would thus be the best for you in this regard.

Now, it is clear that, why should you go for dental implants. Although, if you are confused feel free to contact our dentist in Chandler, AZ.