The Third Dentition

What is Implant?

The implant is amscrew-like placed inside your gums instead of the lost tooth. It mimics the natural tooth.

Importance of Implant

Tooth loss creates space in between adjacent teeth. As teeth have tendency of movement, the adjacent teeth of lost tooth shift into this space creating further gaps in other teeth, thereby leading to food lodgement.

Tooth loss also affects ability of chewing all types of food. Long term loss of multiple teeth changes the facial look as there will be bone loss in that area which causes loss of support for facial muscles which gives appearance of old age.Therefore, Implants prevent bone loss and help to maintain the facial structure.

What is the Implant Made Of?

The implant is made of titanium which is biocompatible and causes no reaction when placed in the bone. So, there won’t be any harmful effects of implant.

What are the Parts of an Implant?

The implant has three parts. The first part is the screw (made of titanium) placed instead of a tooth root. The screw fuses to the jaw bone in few weeks. It is placed inside the gums so it is not visible after the surgery.

The second part is the crown. It is also called a tooth cap. This is the one which helps you to grind the food. The colour of a crown looks like a natural tooth.

The third part is the abutment. It is nothing but a connector. It connects both the implant and the crown.

Does the Crown Match the Natural Tooth Colour?

Your cap is selected by matching your natural tooth with the shade guide. Before fixing the cap inside your mouth, the dentist gives you the option to choose the shade.

When are Implants Necessary?

The implant can be replaced for loss of single tooth or a group of teeth, or entire teeth in the upper and lower jaw. When a group of teeth are missing, the cap in the centre is supported on either side by implants. Implants can also function as a support for dentures. The denture is fixed to your jaw permanently. It stays in a fixed position which requires multiple implants for support. This is called implant-supported dentures.

How is Implant Surgery Done?

First, the dentist makes a proper diagnosis of your oral cavity. Implant can be placed in place of already missing tooth or If any tooth is mobile, it requires extraction. The extracted socket is left for some time to heal or implant can be placed immediately depending on bone. Your bone thickness should be good enough to withhold the implant. It is measured using Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). If all these requirements are fulfilled, then the screw is placed inside the gums. After the surgery, a suture is placed and removed in a week. Meanwhile, the bone fuses to the screw. In two to three months, or in cases of immediate implants the bone attaches to the external surface of the screw. Once the implant fixes in the alveolar bone, the abutment is placed above the screw. So that the abutment supports the cap or crown.

What is Bone Grafting? How is it Done?

Bone grafting is a procedure in which artificial bone is placed inside the gums to stimulate the natural bone during implant placement. This artificial bone regenerates the lost bone in cases where is bone loss.

Is the Surgery Painful?

The implant surgery is performed under local anaesthesia. After the surgery, once the power of anaesthesia wears off, there may be mild discomfort.

How long does the Implant Exist? Is Implant Surgery Temporary or Permanent?

The surgery is more advanced. The implant has a long life, not life long.

Because the success rate depends on how you maintain the implant after surgery. Keeping the implant clean, doing scaling, and a proper follow up with the dentist can extend the life of an implant.

Can the Implant be Removed After Placing?

In case there is any failure like severe bone loss, loosening of implant or an infection, the implant can be removed. But removal can be done by specialists only under local anaesthesia. If the bone is intact, bone grafting is not necessary after the implant removal. But if there is any bone loss, bone grafting is necessary for proper healing.

How to Maintain oral Hygiene when you have an Implant?

• Brush twice daily
• An interdental brush must be used to clean the underlying surfaces of an implant.
• Concentrate more on the interdental areas while brushing.
• Always use a toothbrush which has soft bristles.
• Prefer toothpaste which has low abrasive substances. High abrasives cause scratches in the crown.
• There is specific floss available for implants. Floss your teeth daily to prevent the accumulation of debris.
• Use an irrigator to wash the debris on the non-reachable surfaces.

If you maintain proper oral hygiene, the success rate of the implant increases.

What are the Causes of an Implant Failure?

• Poor brushing leads to plaque accumulation in the crown area and causes tissue inflammation. It eventually ends up in implant failure.
• Bone loss due to excess cement placed while cementing the crown causes implant failure.
• Uncontrolled Diabetes causes bone loss, which ends up in the failure of an implant.
• Smoking.