A dental implant replaces the root of a missing tooth with a titanium post placed in the jawbone. Once the bone has fused to it, a crown is attached on top. At Dentistry For You in Broken Arrow, implants are used to replace a single tooth, several teeth, or to anchor a denture that will not stay put.
What Makes an Implant Different
Every other way of replacing a tooth sits on top of the gum and leans on something else. A bridge leans on the teeth either side. A denture rests on the ridge. An implant is anchored in the bone, so it stands on its own.
That has two consequences worth understanding. The neighbouring teeth are left completely alone, which matters if they are healthy and have never been drilled. And because the post transmits chewing forces into the bone the way a natural root does, the bone in that area is stimulated and does not shrink away the way it does under a bridge or a denture.
The Stages
Treatment runs in stages with healing time built in, and the total is usually three to six months.
It starts with an assessment: X-rays or a scan to measure the bone, a look at the gums, and a review of your general health and medications, because some conditions and some drugs affect healing.
If there is not enough bone, a graft is placed first and left to heal, which adds several months. This is common where a tooth has been missing for years, because the bone in that spot has been shrinking the whole time.
The implant is then placed in the jaw under local anaesthetic and the gum is closed over or around it. Over the following months the bone grows onto the surface of the post and locks it in place. This is the stage that cannot be hurried.
Once it has fused, an abutment is attached and impressions are taken for the crown, which is then fitted and adjusted to the bite.
Thinking About an Implant?
Call the front desk and we will find you a time that works.
Replacing Several Teeth
You do not need one implant per missing tooth. Two implants can support a bridge spanning three or four teeth, which keeps the cost and the surgery down.
For a full arch, a small number of implants can carry a fixed bridge or hold a denture securely in place. An implant-retained denture clips onto the posts and does not move while you eat or talk, which is usually the complaint people have about a conventional lower denture. The dentures page covers that option.
Who Is a Good Candidate
Most adults are. The requirements are enough bone or the willingness to have a graft, healthy gums, and general health good enough to heal well.
Uncontrolled diabetes and smoking are the two factors that most affect success, because both interfere with healing and with the gum seal around the implant. Neither rules treatment out automatically, but both need discussing honestly first. Active gum disease is treated before any implant is placed.
Looking After an Implant
An implant cannot decay. It can, however, lose the bone around it through gum disease, and that is the main reason implants fail. The condition behaves much like gum disease around a natural tooth and is largely painless until it is advanced.
So it is brushed and cleaned between like any other tooth, and the regular checkups are not optional. Call (918) 355-1391 or use the contact form.
Questions About Implants
How long does the whole process take?
Usually three to six months from placing the implant to fitting the final crown, because the bone needs time to fuse to the post. If a graft is needed first, add several months to that. You are not without a tooth in the meantime; a temporary is provided where the gap shows.
Does getting an implant hurt?
The placement is done with the area numbed and most patients report less discomfort afterwards than they expected, often comparable to an extraction. Soreness and some swelling for a few days is normal and usually managed with over-the-counter pain relief.
Am I too old for an implant?
Age itself is not a barrier. What matters is bone volume, gum health and general health, particularly anything that affects healing, such as uncontrolled diabetes or smoking. Those are assessed at the consultation.
How long do implants last?
The post itself often lasts decades. The crown on top is the part that wears and may need replacing at some stage, in the same way any crown does. The most common cause of implant failure is gum disease around the implant, which is preventable with cleaning and regular checks.
Book an Implant Consultation
We will look at the bone, the bite and the timeline before anything is decided.