If you lose your teeth, dental implants are the way to go

Even with improved dental care, many people lose their teeth to gum disease, tooth decay, or injury.

Should this happen to you, dental implants can replace the missing tooth and restore your smile. Dr Johnson Wambugu, a dentist, describes a dental implant as a prosthetic root that substitutes a natural root. It has an advantage over other forms of tooth replacements because it is only placed on the space where there is a missing tooth, and does not therefore interfere with the neighbouring teeth.

It commonly comes in the form of a cylinder or a screw. Most dental implants are made of titanium or titanium alloys because these are well tolerated by the human body. Length of treatment varies between six weeks and six months.

HOW AN IMPLANT IS PLACED

Placing a dental implant is usually done in phases;

First, an implant is precisely screwed into the position of the missing tooth and then covered with gum.

To support the replacement tooth, the implant has an internal screw thread that allows fitting of various components which offer long-term support of dentures, crowns, and bridges. 

 In about three months, the jaw bone grows over the screw, a process known as osteointegration, making the implant stronger and holding it in position.

While some patients can have implants and tooth replacement in one visit (immediate implants), others may need to wait until the implant is totally incorporated, before a replacement tooth can be attached. That said, waiting is necessary to ensure the  implant is stable.

 After osteointegration, the artificial tooth is placed on the implant. Note that the exact number of implants usually depends on the quality and volume of the bone.

If you are in good health, you are eligible for a dental implant, though it might take smokers and heavy drinkers a longer time to heal.

Dental implants are not suitable for those below 17, as well as those with gum disease, heart disease, bone cancer, HIV/AIDS, infections in the adjacent teeth, certain diseases of the mucus membrane of the mouth, mental conditions, and those undergoing organ transplant or treatment for osteoporosis.

Additionally, people with weak bones at replacement site, severe clenching or grinding of teeth, imbalanced relationship of lower and upper teeth, as well as those with poor oral hygiene do not qualify for dental implants.

Care should be taken when placing dental implants in people who have chronic ailments such as diabetes, autoimmune disorders and pregnant women.

All these factors can interfere with the healing process after surgery.

The length of time an implant lasts is determined by the level of oral hygiene. It is therefore important to brush and floss around the teeth supported by bridges.

In some areas, special floss and interdental brushes for reaching in between the teeth may be needed. It is also necessary to have regular dental checkups if you have implants.

Dental implants have a success rate of 95 per cent. In case it fails, one may require bone grafting, retry implants or opt for another method of replacing the tooth.

Implants can cause a few complications, but not in all cases. For instance, there is the risk of reacting to local anesthesia, getting an infection and suffering nerve damage.

However, infections can be treated with antibiotics. CT scans are also done before the procedure is carried out to identify where nerves are. It is rare for an implant to be rejected by the body.