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Before the development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing missing or chipped teeth. Dental implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are designed to look and feel like natural teeth. As with any restoration of your teeth, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time. Tooth loss can occur for various reasons including neglecting your teeth and gums with a poor diet and poor oral hygiene. Athletes are more prone to lose teeth, as well, because they experience trauma and more contact. The loss of teeth can have a significant impact on a person's self-esteem due to aesthetic implications, but it can also cause bite problems and difficulties eating if not treated correctly and immediately. When Dental Implants May be Needed In many cases where too many teeth are missing, and there are no supporting teeth for bridges, loose dentures or more solid dental implants are the only choice to replace the teeth that are missing. Some causes for tooth loss include:
• Gum disease
• Dental caries disease
• Injury
Gum disease is a serious condition and affects millions of men, women, and children throughout the world. Gingivitis is a milder form of gum disease that can be easily treated by adopting a proper brushing and flossing routine, while periodontitis is a more severe build-up of bacteria on the teeth and along the gum line that may eventually lead to bone loss. You may develop various forms of gum disease by:
• Smoking and tobacco use
• Genetics
• Pregnancy
• Medications such as oral contraceptives and anti-depressants
• Grinding your teeth
• Diabetes
• Poor nutrition
It is important to constantly monitor your teeth if you fall into any of these categories. Protecting your teeth and maintaining proper dental health is vital to your overall health.
The Procedure Before dental implants are placed, your bone density needs to be assessed to ensure that you have sufficient quality and quantity of bone tissue available where the implant will be placed. If there is insufficient bone or significant bone loss has occurred due to periodontal disease, then you may need bone grafting before the implant can be placed. In some cases, mini implants can be used if the bone density is too low for larger implants. Once you have been assessed and the treatment is planned and explained, the appropriate implant system and size of the implant will be selected and surgically placed. The implants function as the root of your tooth, requiring a hole to be drilled into your jaw bone to accommodate it. Local anesthesia is often used when placing an implant, but if you are anxious, you may choose to be sedated during your treatment instead. It is up to your dentist to decide what the best solution is. A small hole is carefully drilled into your jawbone avoiding damage to nerves and other important facial structures. Once the hole has been drilled, the implant screw is either gently tapped or screwed into place ensuring a tight fit. With the implant securely in place, a protective screw cover or cap is placed over the implant and the gum tissue sutured over the top. Implants are not for everyone, but with proper consultation with your Arlington Heights dentists, you can be assessed for the best solution to restoring your smile. Rest assured that tooth loss doesn't have to be permanent and your smile can be restored with the help of your dentist.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Meena Barsoum of Impressive Smiles, an experienced family and cosmetic dentist in Arlington Heights. Specializing in most phases of dentistry, including teeth whitening, veneers and implants in Arlington Heights, Dr. Barsoum is highly qualified to handle the dental needs for patients of every age
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