Dental implants have a long, well-documented history of success. Most implant root fixtures are made of titanium. Your jawbone fuses to the biocompatible “root” during a process known as osseointegration.

Although titanium allergies are rare, if you have a metal allergy or sensitivity or prefer an alternative to titanium, metal-free zirconia implants are available.

Tooth loss is a prevalent issue. Because of this, dental implant use is also a common practice. There are various reasons why so many individuals are turning to implants to replace their missing teeth or those the dentist can’t save, including:

• To replace individual missing teeth: Many individuals find themselves with a broken or decayed tooth that restorative dental work, such as root canals, crowns and fillings, can’t save. They end up needing to have the tooth removed before infection begins spreading.
• To replace multiple teeth: Since dental implants are incredibly sturdy, they’re successfully used for stabilizing dental bridges.
• For their reliability: One dental implant that’s taken care of properly can last the patient’s lifetime. Dental implants typically last a lot longer than other dental restorations.
• For their appearance: Implants are made to look like natural teeth, making them very aesthetically pleasing.

The advantages of dental implants are many:

Mimic natural teeth – Implants have the same structure as natural teeth. People will not notice your dental implants–just your smile.

Improve the quality of life – No other form of tooth replacement feels or functions better. You can eat and speak with ease and smile with confidence.

Prevent jawbone shrinkage – Implants stimulate the jawbone and help prevent bone shrinkage, which occurs when your teeth are missing.

Prevent premature facial sagging – Jawbone preservation supports your facial muscles and prevents them from sagging and making you look older prematurely.

Your treatment plan defines what you can expect in the months and weeks before implant surgery.

Although the timeline differs with each patient case, here is an example:

Months before – If you have low bone volume and need grafting, your oral surgeon will complete grafting before implant surgery. The type, amount, and extent of bone grafting you need will determine healing time, usually two to four months. Your oral surgeon will allow enough time for healing before placing implants.

Weeks before – If you smoke, the best outcome requires that you stop smoking at least two weeks before surgery. Your oral surgeon will recommend when to stop smoking for your case.

Days before – You will take antibiotics as prescribed by your oral surgeon. You will limit your diet after implant surgery, so prepare by shopping for appropriate food items.

Hours before – Your oral surgeon will instruct you not to eat or drink anything, including water, eight hours before dental implant surgery.

While discomfort can vary between people, most individuals report getting their dental implant was much less uncomfortable than they anticipated it to be.

During the surgical dental implant procedure, your oral surgeon will give you an anesthetic, so you should feel minimal discomfort if any.

They’ll use gentle techniques, and since the environment they’re working in is clean, there’s little risk of infection. If you follow Your oral surgeon’s post-operative instructions and take the prescribed antibiotics, you should experience minimal discomfort.

Your oral surgeon will likely prescribe you pain medication as well, but many individuals don’t use them.

A few factors determine the dental implant procedure timeline. They are:

• Your dental health
• Which teeth are replaced
• The number of teeth involved
• If you’ll require a tooth extraction before the implant placement

Your oral surgeon restores your mouth with an implant in two phases and the entire process can take around three to nine months. It could take even longer if you have an extraction that has to heal, or if you needed bone grafts before your oral surgeon implanted the posts.

Dental implants, a dental bridge, a partial denture, and a full denture all replace missing teeth. But how do they compare?

Dental implants – An oral surgeon embeds an artificial tooth root in your jawbone. Unlike a partial denture or a dental bridge, your adjacent teeth will not be affected.

Dental bridge – A series of dental crowns—fused at the sides—replace one tooth or two or more missing teeth in a row. Replacement teeth are in the center of the bridge, and the crown on each end covers a natural tooth to anchor the bridge. But your dentist must shave down the healthy structure of anchor teeth. Otherwise, the crowns will not fit over them.

Partial denture – A replacement tooth is embedded in a gum-colored base. Metal or plastic clasps on the ends of a partial denture hook onto the teeth adjacent to the missing one.

Full denture – A full (complete) denture replaces an arch of upper or lower teeth. Suction holds an upper denture in place, and the lower denture rests on your gums.

Although a fixed bridge or a partial denture is less expensive than a dental implant, studies show that teeth located next to the prosthesis have a failure rate of up to 30% within five to seven years.

Most people, except children whose jawbone is still growing and developing, are candidates for dental implants. But your oral surgeon will complete an evaluation to see if you qualify.

Advanced dental implant technology, diligent post-operative care, and regular follow-up appointments help most patients receive implants, even if they have existing health conditions.

Chronic medical conditions – If you have controlled diabetes, high blood pressure, or another chronic medical condition, your implant surgeon will take precautions to promote a progressive recovery.

Periodontal (gum) disease – Gum disease and bone loss are treatable. Most patients with gum disease receive dental implants with success.

Currently wear dentures or have bone loss – If you have worn dentures for years, you might think you cannot get dental implants. But even if you are experiencing jawbone shrinkage, grafting can build up the bone and support implants.

Smoking – Nicotine and its by-products restrict blood supply and inhibit healing. But proper healing is a vital phase of the dental implant process.

The Academy of Osseointegration recommends that you discontinue smoking at least two weeks before and two weeks after implant surgery and set a goal to stop smoking.

Your oral surgeon will evaluate your case and explain when you should stop smoking for a successful outcome with implants.

During an evaluation, your oral surgeon will review your medical, dental, and prescription histories. They will also examine the health of your teeth, gums, and areas where you need dental implants. The evaluation includes taking a three-dimensional (3-D), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of your oral anatomy.

A CBCT scan is essential for several reasons:

• Identifies any oral health issues
• eveals your bone structure and any areas of low bone density
• Determines the optimal location for dental implants
• Assists in developing a treatment plan

During an evaluation, your oral surgeon will review your medical, dental, and prescription histories. They will also examine the health of your teeth, gums, and areas where you need dental implants. The evaluation includes taking a three-dimensional (3-D), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan of your oral anatomy.

A CBCT scan is essential for several reasons:

Identifies any oral health issues
Reveals your bone structure and any areas of low bone density
Determines the optimal location for dental implants
Assists in developing a treatment plan

The amount of time it takes to receive dental implants varies with each patient. No two cases have the same requirements for the number of appointments, procedures, and healing time. Your oral surgeon will develop a personalized treatment plan for you.

Some typical procedures in the dental implant process include:

Tooth extraction – At times, a surgeon can immediately place implants after tooth extraction. But if you have an infection, your surgeon will treat it first.
Bone grafting – If you need bone grafting, sometimes an oral surgeon will complete it at the time of implant placement. Otherwise, expect three to four months of graft healing time before you can receive dental implants.

Implant surgery – After implant surgery, healing time is usually two to four months before receiving your final crown or denture.

Final restoration – Your dentist will attach your crowns or dentures to implants.

A CBCT scan will help your oral surgeon determine which procedures will promote long-term success for your implants. Other treatment recommendations may involve your sinus cavities or gum tissue or include orthodontic treatment.

For 48 hours following your surgery, drink liquids and consume soft foods only, for example:

Eggnog
Milkshakes
Cooked cereals
Yogurt
Smooth soups
Cottage cheese
Ice cream
Mashed potatoes
Protein shakes
Fruit smoothies
Refried beans
Pudding

On day three following your surgery, eat soft foods that don’t require much chewing like:

Cooked noodles
Macaroni and cheese
Soft sandwiches
Poached, soft-boiled or scrambled eggs
Avoid crunchy or tough foods like rice, pizza, hamburgers and popcorn. Avoid acidic and spicy foods. Most individuals resume their regular diet seven days after their surgery.

Your oral surgeon will place your dental implants in your jaw by making precise holes in your bone so that they fit snuggly. They do this where your teeth are missing but where you have adequate bone to hold the dental implants.

In some cases, it’s possible for them to place dental implants on the same day your dentist extracts your teeth. Typically, however, it takes around three to six months of healing before you can have your implant placed.

After implant surgery, the healing process begins. Over the next few months, your jawbone and implant will fuse in a process called osseointegration.

Your oral surgeon will give you detailed post-operative instructions, but your role in promoting progressive healing includes:

Diet – After implant surgery, you will drink liquids and eat soft lukewarm, or cold foods. Avoid sucking through a straw because it can dislodge the blood clot. During the rest of the healing process, you can return to a regular diet when you are comfortable. But avoid sticky, hard, or crunchy foods.

Oral hygiene – Follow the guidelines to keep your mouth clean without disturbing the area around your dental implants.

No smoking – Avoid smoking because it restricts blood flow and interferes with the healing process.

Antibiotics – You will take antibiotics to prevent infection around your dental implants and bone grafting if you receive it.

Activity – Avoid strenuous activity and exercise for three days after implant surgery.

Follow-up visits – Your oral surgeon will schedule follow-up visits to examine the implant site and ensure it is healthy and healing correctly.

Very rarely does an individual’s body reject an implant. The jawbone usually readily accepts the dental implant. The very few rejections are due to rare allergies to the titanium alloy that make up the implant. Another reason why an implant could fail is if you don’t take proper care of it after your surgery.

Without excellent oral hygiene, natural teeth fail and fall out eventually. Dental implants are no different. When you take good care of your teeth and your implants, it will help prevent gum decay and structure failure later on.

The average implant process occurs in multiple steps. You may require more than one healing stage. So, there’s a varied healing period, depending on your health, how many teeth you need replacing and other factors. However, the healing process generally takes anywhere from six to 12 weeks.

Your general dentist will restore your implants by attaching temporary crowns or dentures to them. After the healing period, your dentist will replace the temporary crowns or dentures with the final restorations.

Dental implants can last 20 years or longer. They outlast other forms of tooth replacement, including a partial denture or a dental bridge. According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, many dental implants placed by oral surgeons still function at peak performance after 35 years.

Despite a success rate of 95%, some dental implants fail. Some contributing factors to dental implant failure include poor oral hygiene habits, uncontrolled diabetes, smoking, low bone density, and chronic gum inflammation.

No, dental implants are metal screws your oral surgeon places into your jawbone to help support and anchor your artificial teeth (dentures). It might be possible for your oral surgeon to place the implants beneath existing dentures to help stabilize and support them.

However, your oral surgeon can only do this if your existing dentures are in excellent condition. Your oral surgeon will examine your existing dentures to determine their condition.

Individuals who wear partial or full dentures are the most frequent users of dental implants. Dental implants can help provide support and retention for a removable implant overdenture that the dentist snaps on your implants.

Implants help ensure that the full or partial denture doesn’t move and decreases the need for denture glue or adhesives. You can also use implants with a fixed denture. The dentist may bolt your dentures to the dental implants using titanium components.

If your dental implant requires removal, your oral surgeon will evaluate the cause of dental implant failure and recommend treatment.

Depending on the cause of dental implant failure, treatment options may include:

Restoring the bone with a graft, waiting until the area heals, and placing another implant

Prescribing antibiotics to treat infection and restoring the bone surgically

Additional treatment for severe gum and bone infections

This is a complicated question since the answer will depend on your specific situation. For a specific answer, you’ll learn more about your specific needs. Your oral surgeon can give you a more accurate assessment of the costs of your procedure.

The cost of dental implant treatment depends on various individual factors, including:

• The amount, quality and location of boneThe number of dental implants you’ll need to support the teethThe number of teeth that need replacing

  The type of artificial teeth the dentist will use

  The types of dental implants used

These are factors you can discuss with your oral surgeon during your initial consultation.

Some insurance companies cover a portion of the cost of a dental implant procedure. Contact your insurance provider and ask if they provide any benefits.

Also, speak with the billing coordinator at your oral surgeon’s office for information on payment plans and financing. Keep in mind that dental implants are a long-term solution for replacing missing teeth.

Consider how long dental implants last compared with other forms of tooth replacement:

Dental implants: 20 to 30 years
Full denture: 5 to 10 years
Partial denture: 10 to 15 years
Dental bridge: 10 years

Take care of dental implants as you would your natural teeth.

Individual implants – Brush your teeth twice daily and floss between them. Healthy implants need healthy gum tissue, so maintain good oral hygiene to preserve your implants.

Fixed bridge – Gently floss between the bridge and your gums using floss designed for a dental bridge. A water flosser can help flush out debris beneath the bridge. Gently but thoroughly brush your teeth.
Implant-supported dentures – Gently brush your implant denture with a non-abrasive toothpaste and a soft-bristle toothbrush. Use a water flosser to remove debris around the implant fixtures and between your gums and the denture base.

Regular exams and hygiene appointments are vital to the success of your dental implants. A dental hygienist uses instruments designed to clean around dental implants and remove debris and plaque without harming the implants.

A hygienist and dentist will examine your gum tissue around your implants to ensure they are free of inflammation and disease that lead to dental implant failure.