Dental Implants; a permanent false alternative to removable dentures
A dental implant is the ultimate device for anyone with a false tooth or teeth. They came about through research in the 1950s and 60s to find a material that would fuse with bone, to enable broken bones to knit together better. That idea is well known in medical circles, and the material that is most widely used is Titanium. This is a non-ferrous metal that is very hard wearing and infection resistant. The best known and most popular type of implant is the Endosteal Implant; this can hold a single or several teeth in situ. They also come with two types of fixture, they can be screwed in using self tapping titanium screws, or they can have a stud, known as a cylinder, which can be slid into holes drilled in the jaw bone and glued in. To do this a dental surgeon will first make a small incision, under a local anaesthetic, into the gum line, and then they will slip the plate implant into position and fix it down. The incision is given micro stitches and left for nature to take over. This is when the Osseointergration takes place and the bone fuses with the titanium implant. This can be a bit drawn out and can take from three to six months to completely fuse together. That done the patient goes back for more work to be done, this will again involve a small incision in the gum line to insert the abutments, these are titanium poles that the actual tooth or teeth will sit on. Then the final stage is the fitting of the man made tooth. This is a ceramic material that is hard wearing and looks like a natural tooth. It should outlive the natural teeth, and it can easily be replaced when it finally wears out or is damaged by accident. The teeth need no special looking after and a normal brush and dental floss will keep them in pristine condition, when you visit your dentist every six months they will clear away any tartar build up. The patient will need to re-adjust their chewing routine and get used to the new tooth, this will generally take a few weeks. This method of having false teeth fitted is becoming ever popular these days and although it is expensive in the short term, the long term benefits will make it economically worthwhile for the patient and their smile.