Dental Implants, These You Need to Know

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root shaped like a bolt that is implanted in a patient's jaw to replace the lost tooth root. Dental implants are implanted in the jaw through a dental implant surgical procedure. The dental implant will then be fitted with a false crown to replace missing teeth. Dental implants are generally made of special metal, mostly from titanium. Titanium implants will blend into the jawbone through a healing process for several months. After integrating with the jawbone, the implant will act as the root of a new tooth. An artificial tooth crown will be installed next with the abutment which acts as a link between the dental implant and the dental crown. By joining the jawbone with the dental implant, the dental implant will not change its position during use by the patient. The advantages of dental implants over dentures are:

• Dental implants make it easier for patients to chew food, while dentures can shift when eating.
• Dental implants provide more comfort than dentures, because they are firmly attached.
• Dental implants will not change the patient's appearance because it feels like natural teeth.
• Dental implants will not make patients as difficult to talk as dentures, because it will not shift during talking.
• Dental implants are installed without having to shift or change the position of the remaining teeth. This can improve oral health and teeth compared to using dentures.
• Dental implants are usually more durable than dentures.
• Installing and treating dental implants is not as complicated as dentures, because they do not have to take off and use adhesives like dentures.

Dental Implant Indications

A person can put a dental implant in place of a tooth root if:

• Having one or more missing teeth.
• Do not have certain conditions that can affect bone growth.
• Don't want to use dentures.
• Want to correct interference in the pronunciation of words, due to tooth loss.

The process of installing dental implants will take quite a long time and not just in one visit. Therefore, patients who want to install dental implants must be committed to undergoing the installation process to completion.

Dental Implant Warning

Before deciding to attach a dental implant, the patient will be given the choice to install a denture or dental implant, with several factors to be considered, including:

• Location of missing teeth.
• The quality of the jawbone to which the dental implant will be paired.
• The patient's general health condition.
• Cost.
• Patient's wishes.

Dental implants cannot be worked on just anyone. A patient must have at least the following conditions to allow dental implants to be installed:

• Having a perfectly developed jawbone.
• Having healthy mouth and gum tissue.
• Do not have conditions that interfere with bone growth and health.
• Having a jawbone that can hold the dental implant and bone graft to be installed.
• Have a strong commitment to help the healing of teeth and bones for several months after the installation of dental implants.

Whereas people with the following conditions are not allowed to undergo dental implants:

• Suffering from diabetes or heart disease.
• Are undergoing radiotherapy in the neck or head area.
• Is a heavy smoker.
• Lack of gums and jaw bones that are healthy enough to have dental implants installed.

Dental Implant Preparation

Dental implant placement is done through several surgical operations. Therefore, patients who will undergo dental implant placement must undergo the preparation phase properly. The stages of preparing dental implants consist of two processes, namely a thorough dental examination, and planning for implant placement operations and planning for postoperative care. Dental examination is done by modeling the patient's mouth and teeth, as well as dental X-ray examination and jaw bone. After the dental examination is complete, the doctor will arrange an implant placement plan and implant treatment. This plan includes how many teeth will be replaced with dental implants, as well as a review of the condition of the jawbone before surgery. The dentist will also plan anesthesia or anesthesia to be used, whether local or total anesthesia. If general anesthesia is given, the patient must be accompanied by a family member. For patients who are undergoing certain medications, it is recommended to inform the doctor about the drugs being consumed. Patients who suffer from heart disease or are using orthopedic implants will be advised to take antibiotics by a doctor to prevent infection. If needed, the patient will be asked to arrange for food and drink consumption, several days before implant placement.

Dental Implant Procedure

Dental implant surgery is generally done with the patient given local anesthesia, although the patient can ask to be given general anesthesia. In general, the groove for dental implants is as follows:

• The implanted tooth is removed from the gum. Tooth extraction procedure is done as usual by pulling up to the tooth root.
• Jaw bone is prepared for the process of installing dental implants. Jawbone preparation can involve bone grafts. A bone graft is done if the jawbone is not thick enough or too soft to have an implant inserted. With a bone graft, dental implants will be placed in stronger bone tissue and are usually taken from the hip bone or can use artificial bone. If the patient undergoes a jaw bone graft, the process of fusing the bone graft with the jawbone can take several months.
• Dental implant placement in the jawbone. If the jawbone is ready for implant placement, the patient's gums will be removed surgically. After the gums open, the doctor will make a hole in the jaw using a special drill. This hole is then implanted with titanium metal which will act as the root of the tooth. After this process is completed, the patient will wait for the jawbone to grow and merge with the dental implant through the osseointegration process. This process will take several months for the roots of the artificial teeth to be firmly attached to the jawbone. During the osseointegration process the gums where the dental implants are placed will close again. The gum at that location will be reopened at the time of installation of the abutment.
• Installation of abutments. The abutment is the link between the dental implant and the crown that will be placed next. Abutments will be installed after the osseointegration process. Installation of abutments is done through minor gum operations. The gums will be reopened, then the abutment is applied to the implant surface. After that, the gums will be closed again by leaving the surface of the abutment visible on the gum surface. Some people will choose to use an abutment that is attached at the same time with the implant, so that it does not require special surgery to install the abutment.
• Dental crowns. The crown will be placed on the implant after the gums heal again after the abutment, which is about 1-2 weeks. Recovered gum will give an idea of ​​how the artificial crown is shaped to look like the original. Artificial dental crowns can be installed permanently or temporarily. Temporary crowns can be installed and removed for cleaning, while permanent crowns are fixed with special cement on the abutment. Usually on one implant will be installed one tooth crown, but several dental crowns can be installed only on one implant if the implant is firmly attached and is assisted by a bridge between the dental crowns.

After completing the step-by-step surgery for dental implant placement, the doctor will sew the gum that is opened at each stage of the operation. The doctor can use sewing thread that is fused with the gum or not fused. If the doctor uses sewing threads that are not fused with the gums, the doctor will open the stitches after the gums close properly.

After Dental Implant

Patients who undergo dental implant surgery, at each stage can feel discomfort in the mouth area, such as:

• Light bleeding.
• Bruises and bruises on the skin and gum area near the implant placement location.
• Swelling of the gums and cheeks.
• Pain at the implant site.

To relieve pain and swelling, patients can compress the tooth area using ice. Patients can also be given pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, as well as antibiotics and antiseptic mouthwashes to prevent infection in the implant area. Dental implants have different levels of success, depending on the location of the dental implant placement in the jawbone. However, the success rate of dental implants is quite high, around 98%. If properly maintained, dental implants installed can last for a lifetime. To maintain the health of installed dental implants, patients can take the following steps:

• Maintain cleanliness of teeth and mouth. Patients can use a special toothbrush to clean dental implants.
• Avoiding habits that can damage teeth, such as biting hard objects, smoking, or drinking coffee.
• Perform routine maintenance to the dentist, especially if the dental implant is eroded.

Risk of Dental Implants

Like other surgical procedures, dental implants also have risks, including:

• The occurrence of infection at the location of the installation of dental implants.
• Sinus disorders occur if the dental implant in the upper jaw penetrates the sinus cavity.
• Tissue damage around the dental implant.
• Damage to nerve tissue that can cause the appearance of pain, numbness, or a feeling like being punctured around the natural teeth, gums, lips and cheeks.