Dental Implants

Implants, as we understand them today, were developed in 1952 by Per-Ingvar Brånemark an orthopedic surgeon in Sweden. These days, dental implants are thought to be the standard of care for prosthetic missing teeth replacement in dentistry. An implant is a surgical fixture placed inside the jawbone and permitted to fuse with the bone over a time period of a couple of months. An implant acts as a substitution for the root of a missing tooth. As a result, the "artificial tooth root" will serve to hold a replacement bridge or tooth.

Having an implant fused to your jawbone is the closest thing to replicating a natural tooth because it’ll stand by itself without having to impact the teeth nearby and has more stability. The fusion process between the jawbone and the dental implant is referred to as "osseointegration." The majority of implants are designed of titanium, which enables them to integrate with bone without having to be recognized as a foreign object in the body. Over a period of time, science and technology progressed to vastly improve the results of implant placement. Nowadays, the success rate for implants is near 98 percent.

Why would someone need an implant?

Implants may be used to replace one tooth, multiple teeth, or all the teeth. The aim of teeth replacement includes restoring function, in addition to esthetics.

In terms of tooth replacement, usually, there are 3 options:

Dentures are the cheapest solution for replacement teeth yet are the least desirable due to the inconvenience of a removable appliance in your mouth. What’s more, dentures may impact one's sensory experience with food.

Bridgework was the more common option of restoration before the fairly recent shift to implant treatment. The primary downside to bridgework is the dependence upon existing teeth for support. Dental implants are only supported by bone and don’t impact surrounding teeth. Determining which option to select depends upon several factors. Especially for implants, those factors involve:

  • patient preference
  • cost
  • patient’s health
  • quality and quantity of the jawbone in which the implant will be placed
  • location of missing teeth or tooth

The dental surgeon assesses the space to be considered for the implant and makes a medical evaluation of whether a patient is an appropriate candidate for the implant.

There are benefits to selecting an implant for tooth replacement over other solutions. Implants are conservative in that missing teeth may be replaced without having to affect or alter the nearby teeth. What’s more, because implants integrate into the structure of the bone, they’re extremely stable and may have the feel and look of a patient's own natural teeth.

Why Should You See a Specialist for Implants?

Making the choice whether or not to get implants to replace missing, decayed, or damaged teeth is a major decision. Implants will improve both the function and look of your smile, but they require surgery for placement, in addition to a recovery span longer than other methods of restoration. But the tradeoff is that they’ll last up to two decades and seldom need replacement.

When many folks debate if they should get implants or not, they usually consider the recovery time and treatment plan. Both those things definitely should be considered, but there’s another vital factor to consider. Specifically, you ought to consider WHO is placing the dental implants.

Today, almost all dentists advertise that they’re able to place implants. While the majority of dentists are, indeed, able to place dental implants, there are additional dental professionals who just have more experience. Even though implant specialists aren’t presently on the American Dental Association’s dental specialty list, they mainly concentrate their practice on placing implants. Below is a list of five of the main reasons why you ought to consider an implant specialist like Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics for your dental implant placement treatment:

Experience

Implant specialists primarily focus on dental implants, so they’re extremely skilled in this area and have done more implant treatments than the majority of general dentists. Not just that, but dental implant specialists are usually members of professional organizations like the Global Dental Implant Academy and International Congress of Oral Implantologists, in addition to other dental implant-based organizations. Those organizations frequently provide fellowships with strict requirements that every dental professional has to satisfy.

Easier Recovery

Implant specialists like the ones at Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics usually have the ability to complete dental implant treatments with more precision since they’re used to doing these treatments on a number of people. The exact placement of implants means that there’s less trauma or disturbance exerted on the surrounding structures. Ultimately, this results in a faster period of recovery that causes less pain.

May Treat Complex Cases

If you’ve been told that you might not be a good candidate for implants, it might be well worth getting another opinion from a dental implant specialist. Within some instances, they might have the ability to provide a different approach that might work for you. But there still are some instances that aren’t suggested for implants. The only way you can know for certain is to arrange a consultation with an implant specialist.

Better Treatment Results

Most implants positioned by a dental implant specialist like the ones at Pacific Northwest Prosthodontics are successful. This is partly because of their precise method that minimizes the risk of complications like infection. But another major factor of dental implant success is whether or not dental patients adhere to the guidelines after their surgery. A dental implant specialist may improve your treatment results, but it’ll still also be partly dependent on you.

You’ll Get What You Pay For

Right now, you’re likely wondering about the expense of a dental implant specialist. Every dental implant specialist has their own price, and some might be pricier than having dental implants placed by a general dental professional. But it’s vital that you remember that you’ll get what you pay for once you see a dental implant dentist. Generally, dental implant specialists may provide you more experience, better treatment results, and a shorter recovery. Also, dental insurance might be used to offset the expense.