 |
|
|
 |
| FAQs - Implants | ||
| Questions | ||
For more information on implants
check out our more to come |
||
| Answers | ||
| 1. Why have dental implants become so popular? | ||
| As our lifespan increases, the need for some type of permanent dental replacement system becomes very important to our overall health. Dentures and removable bridges have obvious problems: They are loose and unstable. Implants can provide people with dental replacements that are both functional and esthetic. The demand was always there, we just needed the tools to fulfill that demand. | ||
| [Top] | ||
| 2.
Are there any dangers that I should be worried about, when having implants placed? |
||
|
Yes. The single greatest concern is for the mandible (the lower jaw). When implants are needed toward the back of the jaw - in the premolar and molar areas - there is a risk of injury to the mandibular nerve. This nerve runs through the length of the mandible starting from behind the last tooth and exiting just behind the canine (or eye tooth), in the premolar area. X-rays, often including a dental CAT scan, help visualize the course of the mandibular nerve. While the risk of injury to the nerve exits, it is very small and seldom occurs |
This is how a 180 degree x-ray looks. Equipped with technologies like this, we minimize the risks involved in placing an implant. |
|
| [Top] | ||
| 3. How long after a dental implant is placed can it be used to anchor my new teeth? | ||
| The protocol that was originally developed clearly states that we must wait three months in the lower jaw and six months in the upper jaw before we can begin to construct the new dental prosthesis that will be supported by the implants. In recent years, however, there has been a movement within the profession to sort of speed up this process. Today we believe that it is possible in selected patients to accelerate the healing time. We are even loading implants in very specific situations right away. However, the general protocol that I favor is 3 months in the lower jaw and 4 months in the upper jaw. | ||
| [Top] | ||
| 4. Does it hurt to have dental implants placed? | ||
| The actual procedure to surgically place a dental implant is done under local anesthesia and is generally not at all painful. When the anesthesia wears off about three or four hours later, you might expect some discomfort. The level of discomfort is quite different from patient to patient, but most patients do not have significant problems. Some patients do have varying degrees of pain or discomfort which may last for several days. Swelling, Bruising & bleeding may also develop. | ||
| [Top] | ||
| 5. What happens if I have dental implants and they are rejected? | ||
| Occasionally dental implants do fail or, as some people say, they are rejected. In many instances, they can be replaced with another implant, usually of a slightly larger size. Failure rates should be about 1-2%. | ||
| [Top] | ||
| 6. Is there a second surgical stage when getting implants? | ||
| Yes. The first stage is when the
implants are placed in the jaw and the bone "attaches" or
integrates to the implants. In a manner of speaking, the implant becomes
part of your body. Months later, the surgeon performs a second procedure
to expose the implant and place a "healing abutment" on
it. Soon after this is done, the dentist can begin making the desired
restoration.
For more information about the stages when getting implants, check out our flash section |
 |
|
| [Top] | ||
| 7. Do implants require special care? | ||
| Presume that dental implants are natural teeth and treat them that way. Return for regular checkups. Brush and floss. Realize also, that caring for the gums is the best way to care for one's teeth. More teeth are lost as a result of gum disease than any other single cause. | ||
| [Top] | ||
| 8. I've heard that dental implants are experimental - is that true? | ||
| Absolutely not! Dental implants have a long history of use and success. Implants are the most thoroughly researched procedure in the history of dentistry and, while no procedure is 100% successful, the current technology has resulted in very high success rates in the hands of well-trained and experienced clinicians. | ||
| [Top] | ||
