Dental Implant Surgery
Home / What is Dental Implant Surgery?

What is Dental Implant Surgery?

Introduction Of Dental Implant

For how long are you going to hide those baked bean teeth in a class, club, and cafeteria? Not even for a fraction of a second right?  

When one tooth is missing it feels like one player of the cricket team is missing because each tooth plays a prominent role. While chewing, brushing, and speaking, it becomes very embarrassing and difficult to live with those unfixed teeth, that’s why dental implant came into existence. Originally it is said that Mayan women started using a dental implant in 600 AD by drilling artificial teeth in gums. However, dental implant received acknowledgement 30 years ago.

When a prosthetic or artificial tooth is surgically placed into a jawbone, by using titanium alloy in a place of damaged, uneven, and the missing tooth to fill the gaps of a smile, dental implants are used. It strongly attaches to the jaw bone and keeps the artificial tooth intact for a longer time. It is also known as fake teeth. 

How Dental Implant Helps?

As implants stay firm with your jawbones, they work as a backbone for artificial teeth. Placed dentures and bridges won’t slide and shift to the other side and stays in the same position while eating, speaking, biting, and chewing. It becomes very easy for crowns, bridges, and dentures to function properly and undoubtedly bring one’s confidence back. 

What Type Of Materials Are Used In Dental Implant?

Titanium implant, zirconia, plastic, porcelain, and acrylic are mostly used and comes with a long term guarantee if treatment is done properly then. 

Who Is A Good Candidate For Dental Implants?

A person who comes in the below-mentioned criteria is a good candidate.

  • Healthy and strong gums
  • Capable bone to support dental implants also healthy bone can help in bone grafting work.
  • One who doesn’t have periodontal diseases.
  • Fully grown jawbone

Who Is Not A Good Candidate For Dental Implants?

  • Alcoholic
  • Intense smokers
  • Drug addicts .i.e. who takes cocaine, marijuana, etc.
  • A person with severe heart conditions.
  • People with BP, diabetes, and cholesterol can undergo dental implant procedure but overall health checkup and to monitor body functioning is a must

Types Of Dental Implant

There are three safe and primary procedures on which you can rely on dental implants.

  • ENDOSTEAL IMPLANT

Endosteal implants are mostly used because it is favourable for many patients but still has some criteria such as whether a person should have a healthy jaw bone or good oral hygiene. This resembles small screws, very similar in shape. Also, it is placed in the jaw bone and expands through the gum to stick with it. Gums take time to heal and once it’s all set and done, an artificial tooth/false tooth is added to align with another positioned/fixed tooth. 

If the endosteal and jawbone activity is not right for you, other alternatives are available too, stick with this blog, to know about them.

  • SUBPERIOSTEAL IMPLANT 

This is dentists’ best alternative if a patient’s jawbone isn’t capable enough to bear the endosteal method, the subperiosteal implant is a saviour. This one is placed in such a way that it directly doesn’t come in contact with the jawbone but hooks under the gum and over the bone. The use of metal pieces is done under the gum and then the gum heals. Subperiosteal is not a very intense procedure, so it works best in sensitive people.

  • ZYGOMATIC IMPLANT

The rarely used and least recommended type is zygomatic. The method is time-consuming, risky, and has many complications such as sinusitis, also the procedure is linked with the cheekbone. So if this is the method you are planning to go with, then dentists should be very experienced.

Other techniques – Other techniques include bone augmentation, sinus shift, and ridge expansion. All these methods aren’t available in all the dental clinics but some do have the options, you have to put in some extra effort to find those. In the meantime, you can see plenty of videos on youtube about all three techniques. 

What Happens Before Dental Implant?

A doctor’s preliminary appointment to discuss various things before the dental implant is essential. Your dentist will first cross-check your teeth’s strength, also will give you vivid options of treatment, often x-ray examination is done to evaluate your teeth’s health, also involves deep observation of the jawbone’s potential, thickness level, and density.

As soon as the doctor confirms your health, the date for the implant is discussed and then once you approve it, often doctor’s gives the following guidelines, take a closer look at that :

  1. The use of sedation 4 becomes very necessary sometimes so the doctor might ask you to bring a companion with you, who can drop you and pick you up.
  2. Your food intake before the surgery depends on a tranquilizer, if local anesthesia is used then you can eat soft foods such as bread or oats but if sedation 4 is selected then definitely one cannot eat 6-8 hours before the surgery.
  3. Also, doctors suggest avoiding alcohol as it can have a reverse effect on anesthesia.
  4. Take some antibiotics after the meal and 1-2 hours before the surgery for local anesthesia and 6-8 hours before sedation 4.

What Happens During The Dental Implant Surgery?

As the dental implant is not a small process, it needs ample appointments and plenty of months to put a plan into action. To prevent inconvenience, pain, and anxiety, the doctor will first give you sedation 4 or anesthesia so that your treatment area becomes numb. 

  1. For single tooth replacement – Just one tooth is replaced by artificial teeth.
  2. For more teeth replacement – An implant-focused plate is used to replace some teeth and to make them align with remaining ones.
  3. For entire set replacement – Whole dentures and entire implant -oriented plates are used.
  4. The procedure involves the incision in the gums of missing teeth/tooth to make a tooth implant set into the jaw bone.
  5. Certain drill equipment is used to make a free area for implant in  the jawbone
  6. By using the drill tool they screw the implant.
  7. After the screwing process, the next mixture is added during the procedure which stays in when the gum heals.
  8. Lastly, oral surgeons will close the gum area with a couple of stitches.
  9. For many years, implants will get attached to the jawbone.

What To Do After The Dental Implant Surgery?

There are certain things about which one should take care of after the surgery :

  • Do not drive for 1-2 days after the surgery.
  • Bleeding will remain for some days, no need to worry it is very natural.
  • Use gauze for a day. Bleeding can remain for 4-6 hours min and a maximum of 6-10 hours. If you stay more than 6-10 hours continuously use green and black tea or coffee bags.
  • Don’t let your tongue touch the surgery area.
  • To stop the swelling, use ice cubes or packs in that area for 5-10 mins in half an hour and repeat for a few hours.
  • Use salt and water for gargling after surgery for 2-3 weeks and do it after each meal at least 3-4 times in a day.
  • If you want you can use a toothbrush just avoid it in the implanted section.

Which Medicines Should Be Used After Dental Implant?

Some medicines should be taken after meals and meals should be filling, soft, and should be in a liquid form so why not start with a shake, smoothie, or porridge after meal take Tylenol. Also, decongestants such as Afrin or Sudafed are recommended.

Recovery After The Dental Implant

The recovery period varies and also depends on:

  1. Type of surgery
  2. Bone grafting is done or not
  3. Total addition of artificial teeth

Some recovery takes 6 months while some take 3-4 months.

What Is The Success Rate Of Dental Implant?

Various factors can answer this such as the surgeon’s skills, the material used, the patient’s aftercare, etc. But approximately it is successful in 95-98% cases. Even if quality material is used some circumstances such as accidents and injuries can shorten the life of implants. 

What Diet One Should Follow After Dental Implant?

Soft, fluffy, and liquid foods yet it should be rich in nutrition as so much blood loss during dental implants can make a person feel dizzy, tired, and weak so eat more fibre, protein, and vitamins, if the need arises, take supplements, under doctor’s guidance.

Each food such as poached eggs, mashed potatoes, cottage cheese, yoghurt, etc. Avoid eating chips, nuts, apples, etc.

The Cost Of Dental Implant 

Cost vastly differs from city to city, state to state, and country to country.

If we talk about India, then India’s cost of dental implant is somewhere around between 25,000 to 60,000 rupees i.e. $400- $900 (US dollar). Some people from London or America go abroad for dental implants, to pay less money but they should be aware of the hospital/clinic, doctor’s certification and experience, the material used in the hospital, hygiene, etc. before visiting another country.

 

The information provided in this blog is for educational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice. It is not intended to replace professional medical consultation, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any decisions regarding your health. Read more