Your Jawbone Needs Dental Implants to Remain Strong

Dental implants are the safest and most permanent way for you to replace teeth that you have lost. Implants have between a 92% and 98% success ratio, and that is just the first in a long list of reasons why they are preferable to other methods of tooth replacement. For example, if you have lost a tooth and are using dentures you are familiar with the adhesives and chemical glues that you need to use to keep them in place. These can be messy and are never quite comfortable. With an implant, you can wave goodbye to this mess since the implant is a permanent fixture which is surgically installed into your mouth. Since the implant is a permanent fixture, you never have to worry about forgetting to put it as you are leaving or, worse, losing the denture during dinner. Maintaining a dental implant is as easy as maintaining your natural teeth and exactly the same process.
Dental implants save their most impressive feature for under the surface. While there is nothing quite like the feeling of having a replacement tooth that doesn't look or feel like it is a fake tooth, dental implants have taken syncing with the body to an entirely new level. The implants you are going to have installed are all made of titanium. This is because a few decades ago, scientists and dentists discovered that titanium has an amazing quality. Through a process known as osseointegration, titanium can achieve a complete melding with the organic bone matter in your jaw. This convinces the body, through the jawbone itself, that the tiny metal implants are actually part of the body and, therefore, need to be given the support of a normal tooth. This bodes very well for your implant, hence the high success rate, but it also does wonders for the actual jawbone itself.
Your jawbone is an amazing device that is designed for two purposes. First, and foremost from a survival standpoint, the jaw is designed to support the teeth. By giving the teeth a secure anchor, the jaw provides security, strength, and stability to the teeth. Since the teeth are the first step in the digestive process, the body supports the jawbone as long as it continues to fulfill this part of its mission. The teeth have a symbiotic relationship with the jaw, providing it with stimulation for growth and sustainability in exchange for the stability. Tooth loss, however, leads to the jaw no longer needing to provide this stability and no longer receiving the stimulation. When this happens, the body gets a signal that the jawbone is no longer required for survival and starts to dissolve it as a way to resorb the vital minerals, like calcium, in the bone. This, unfortunately, creates a conflict with the second function that the jawbone performs. Maintaining the structural integrity and bite alignment of the face and mouth.
As the jawbone starts to dissolve, you will start to experience a change in your face. The chin will start to shrivel, often giving people the appearance of “witches chin” while thick wrinkles can also appear making a person look years older than they are. The good news is that with dental implants, the body is convinced to continue supporting the jawbone and more often than not will restore the lost bone density.

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The Science Involved in Dental Implants and Replacing Teeth

Dental implants are certainly not a new method of replacing teeth. In fact, the technology has been developing for years, and for the first time in history we can provide tooth replacements that look, feel, and act like the natural tooth. It all starts with bio-integration. Bio-integration is the process by which the body, far from rejecting a foreign object, actually accepts the implant as a natural object and works together with it in symbiosis. We start with a titanium implant for a number of reasons. First, titanium is the only metal that we know of that is capable of osseointegration, which is essential for bio-integration. Additionally this is a metal that is incredibly strong, while also being incredibly light which is perfect for making an implant. Finally, titanium has the ability to create a thin film around itself, which prevents the metal from being influenced by corrosive elements.

Since dental implants are dependent on integration, we have developed a number of techniques that help with the process. For example, we now use a customized surface with most of our implants. Implant customizations can include implants that have been sprayed in plasma, have been blasted by grit, etched with acid, or coated with hydroxyapatite. All bones contain hydroxyapatite, which is a naturally occurring substance. When we insert your implant into the bone, having coated it with hydroxyapatite, the body is tricked into believing that the dental implant is actually part of the bone. This greatly speeds up the process of bio-integration, as well as healing. In addition to using innovative technological advancements, we also have to place the right kind of dental implant for the situation. We make these decisions based, typically, on the amount of bone density and the ability of the jawbone to support the implant.

The most commonly installed dental implants are called a gum form implant. These implants, which are also known as endosteal implants, are installed directly underneath the gum in the site where we plan on installing a crown or some other false tooth device. The false tooth is then hooked to the implant using a small post that is left exposed. In order for use to perform this kind of an implant, the bone has to be in pretty good shape since the security and stability of the implant depends directly on the bone itself. Gum form implants are traditionally cone-shaped, most commonly a small nail or screw is inserted into the bone.

If however, we find that the bone cannot withstand a traditional implant we will use a device known as a Ramus Frame implant. These implants are designed for people whose jaw does not have the required density or, worse, may fracture so they are designed for stability and to help strengthen the jaw itself. These installed are done a distance away from the site, usually in the back corners of the mouth by the wisdom teeth and in the center of the mouth near the chin. A thin metal strip is left exposed so that we can attach the bridge or denture to the dental implant. We will discuss all of the options with you during an exam.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

If you have lost a tooth, dental implants are an ideal way for replacing it.  This is a permanent solution that can make it easy to enjoy your favorite foods, speak clearly, and behave like you have a full set of natural teeth.  Unlike temporary solutions like dentures, once the implant is installed there are no additional maintenance requirements so you can enjoy an active lifestyle free from worrying about your teeth. 

This is a relatively new procedure in dentistry and has only been widely performed for the past couple decades. Previously, if someone lost a tooth the standard solution was to provide them with a partial set of dentures or to use a dental bridge to replace it.  Both of these solutions are effective but come with their own set of challenges.  For example, dentures do not feel like natural teeth and have to be taken out at night to clean and soak. They can also become loose when speaking or eating.  A dental bridge will feel like a natural tooth but in order to have it installed the teeth surrounding your missing tooth need to be strong enough to support the procedure.  

Dr. Steele provides dental implants to patients who want to have a permanent and carefree solution for their missing tooth or teeth.  Implants can also be used to replace crooked teeth and to give someone a smile makeover.  They are incredibly durable and should last a lifetime.  Here is how the process works:

Step One: Dr. Steele will conduct an examination to determine if your gums and jawbone are healthy and strong enough to support a dental implant.  If not, there are additional procedures that can be done to get them in better shape.

Step Two: A mold will be taken of your mouth and existing teeth so that the dental lab can create a new synthetic tooth.  The tooth will be made to match your existing teeth in size, shape, and color.  They will look completely natural once finished.  Since they are made of ceramic, it is stain resistant but also resistant to bleaching.  If you want to whiten your teeth you should do so before having the implant created.  

Step Three: Dr. Steele will implant a metal rod underneath the gums and secure it to the jawbone.  This serves as a synthetic root system that is as durable as a natural one.  The metal rod will eventually fuse with the jawbone and allow the tooth to stand on its own without depending on the surrounding teeth for strength.  This process can take several months but is the key to the long-term durability of the tooth. 

Step Four: The new tooth (or teeth) will be attached to a second metal piece that fits between the metal rod and the tooth to secure it in place.  Dr. Steele will position the tooth perfectly so that it is straight, beautiful, and natural looking.  The result is a stunning smile. 

Dental implants are an ideal way to restore both the appearance and functionality of your smile.  To learn more, schedule an appointment with Steele Dentistry of Stapleton today.