Can anyone tell me about dental implants?

How much do they cost, how are they permanently affixed, do they hurt when they are inserted, any other details I should know about? I might get one of them.

Can anyone tell me about dental implants?
Dental implants vary tremendously in cost depending upon how many you will need. Some of the answers here are wrong - very wrong. A dental implant is better for your jaw bone and your own dental health because once the implant is properly seated in the bone it will stimulate your bone to grow just as your normal teeth stimulate the bone to grow.





I would guess you have seen little old men and or ladies who have almost now lower jaw and no teeth. The jaw actual stopped growing new bone tissue because of the lack of stimulation for having teeth anchored to the jaw bone.





Here is how they should work. You should have a CAT scan done of your upper and lower jaw. Depending upon where the implant is to be placed. The dentist may want to make a surgical guide that will allow him to drill at the exact angle that is needed to the base of the implant is screwed into the correct type of bone. This is critical because there are different types of bone density in your jaw and you want your implant seated in the bone with the greatest density. Once the implant is placed in your jaw bone he may or may not depending upon the opinion of the dentist attache the final prosthetic onto the implant. The prosthetic is what looks like a normal tooth. Bingo - you are done.





Summary Cost is variable, they do not hurt when inserted. Dental implants are the best way to go for long lasting dental health
Reply:Not impartial, an original answerer, but wondering how this was thorough. He only answered the part he knew about. Didn't address your concerns over permanently affixed, does it hurt, more details you should know. Made it sound like one easy appt. Bingo-you're done, he says. Ha Report It

Reply:Greetings!





They drill into the jaw and epoxy in a titanium post. Then they take an enamized tooth which has mechanisim which lets it snap onto the post.


This is so it can be easily replaced if broken. The post is somewhat permanent, but can be removed.


You will be sore for a few hours.


Depending on the Dentist it goes for 650 to1500 per tooth.





Good Luck
Reply:I'm not sure if there is an option to epoxy the post in as your previous answer said. That sounds wrong to me. I will focus on the personal pain and healing aspects you asked about because I can't answer scientifically. But I had an implant several years ago and for me it was a surgery to place the post into the jaw bone, followed by a few months of recovery to allow the jaw bone to grow around the implant, thus making it a permanent part of your jaw. During that time I wore a fake tooth in the open space. (There were also stitches of my gum that needed to heal) After the healing period, several office visits were involved. First, impressions were taken of the area. This is a little uncomfortable because they have to make sure to get down into the gum as well as the exposed area. Then a crown was created and cemented onto a screw, called an abutment, which attaches to the implant in the jaw. I have had to have both my abutment and crown replaced since the original surgery. The implant (post in the jawbone) is permanent though and looks weird on x-ray! Just remember, that no one who hasn't had one inserted can tell you ablut the personal experience and what hurts. They only tell you procedure. Surgery hurts, probing into the area for impressions and abutment attachment is uncomfortable and does cause bleeding. Cementing the crown into place doesn't hurt. Also. I have had some gum loss/pocketing form around the implant. Apparently that is a common problem with them and can result in bone loss and failure of the implant if its not taken care of. So proper cleaning and examination is necessary for a lifetime. (It always was though, right?)
Reply:Implants are devices that replace the roots of missing teeth, and are used to support crowns, bridges or dentures. Implants are placed in your jawbone surgically. Most of the time, implants feel more natural and secure than other methods of replacing missing teeth, such as dentures.





There are many reasons why it's important to replace missing teeth:


-Having all of your teeth can make you more self-confident. You don't worry that people notice that you have teeth missing.


-When teeth are lost, the area of the jawbone that held those teeth starts to erode. Over time, you can lose so much bone that your jaw will need a bone graft to build up the bone in your jaw before your dentist can place implants or make a denture that fits properly.


-Tooth loss affects how well you chew and what foods you are able to eat. Many people who have missing teeth have poor nutrition, which can affect overall health.


-The loss of teeth can change your bite, that is the way your teeth come together. Changes in your bite can lead to problems with your jaw joint, called the temporomandibular joint.


-Losing teeth can lead to changes in your speech, which also can affect your self-confidence.





There are several types of implants, including root form, blade form, Ramus frame and subperiosteal implants.


Root-form implants are the most common type used today. A root-form implant looks like a small cylinder or screw and is made of titanium. After an implant is placed in the jawbone, a metal collar called an abutment eventually is attached to it. The abutment serves as a base for a crown, denture or bridge.


The key to the success of all implants is a process called osseointegration, in which the bone in the jaw bonds with the implant. Titanium is a special material that the jawbone accepts as part of the body.


The ability of titanium to fuse with bone was discovered accidentally. In 1952, a scientist named Per-Ingvar Brånemark was using titanium chambers screwed into bones as part of his research to discover how bone healed after an injury. When he tried to remove the titanium chambers, he found they had become bonded to the bone.


This discovery led Dr. Brånemark to do further research into how titanium implants might work. In 1965, the first root-form implants were placed in people. Other types of implants also have been used for the past 30 to 40 years. There are many implant systems available, made by various dental manufacturers.





Success


Available studies indicate that surgical placement of root-form implants is successful more than 90% of the time. When these implants fail, the problems usually occur within the first year after surgery. After that, only about 1% of all implants fail each year.


Implants have become increasingly popular since the American Dental Association (ADA) endorsed them in 1986. Between 1986 and 1999, the number of implant procedures tripled. An ADA survey found that the average number of implants placed by a dentist who does the procedure was 56 per year in 1999, compared with 18 in 1986. According to the survey, in 1999, 90% of oral surgeons, 68% of periodontists, 10% of prosthodontists and 8% of general dentists had performed implant procedures.


It is now estimated that between 300,000 and 400,000 implants are placed every year in the United States.





Implants Versus Alternatives


Depending on your particular problem, implants can be more expensive than the alternatives (denture or bridge). An implant plus a crown costs between $1,500 and $4,000. The fees will depend on many factors. Insurance companies generally do not cover this cost, although you should always check with your insurer.


While the upfront cost for implants can be more than for other types of restorations, the investment can pay off in the long run. You do not necessarily need an implant for every missing tooth. Your dentist can discuss how many implants you will need.





Other benefits of implants include:


Feel — Because implants are imbedded in your bone, they feel more like your natural teeth than bridges or dentures.


Convenience — You will not need to worry about denture adhesives or having your dentures slip, click or fall out when you speak.


Nutrition — You will be able to chew better with implants. Chewing can be difficult with regular dentures, especially ones that don't fit perfectly. A regular upper denture also covers your palate, which can reduce your sense of taste.


Self-esteem — Because implants are so much like your natural teeth, you will think about them less. Your self-esteem and confidence will be improved because you will not have to worry about denture problems or people noticing that you have missing teeth. Regular dentures also can affect your speech, which can make you less self-confident when talking with others.