by Chris J Phillips
Ancient peoples used shells to replace lost teeth. Today oral health practitioners use metallic or ceramic devices that resemble actual tooth roots for holding crowns or for stabilizing dentures. The modern use of dental implants dates from the early 1950s.
Like an original root, an implant is fixed solidly to the jawbone. At first a blade was inserted in the bone to hold a crown or to stabilize dentures, and then screws were used to attach a root-like structure to bone. Now titanium devices are placed in tooth sockets or drilled cavities and actually fuse with the bone by ossification. The same sort of metal/bone adhesion happens with hip and knee replacement surgery.
An implant is used as a base for a crown, which will be placed once fusion has solidly set the implant. It can also be a stabilizer for dentures or bridges which replace teeth lost to decay or periodontal disease. Many denture-stabilizing devices are less than 3mm in diameter and are called mini-implants. Orthodontists also use these to regulate the movement of a tooth or teeth which are moved slightly in order to prevent crowding or to correct the bite of the patient.
The usual material used for implanted devices is titanium in acceptable grades of purity. On-going research is bringing forth new titanium alloys and various forms of ceramics as alternative materials.
Implanting is outpatient surgery, done by specially trained practitioners under local or general anesthesia. Training is often provided by manufacturer-sponsored clinics for American dentists and oral surgeons, but is a required postgraduate course in the UK, where the procedure is more strictly regulated.
Any form of oral surgery can involve nerves and sinus cavities, so the procedure must be carefully planned and executed. Modern computer scanning and plotting are used in up-to-date practices. Careful assessment of the angles of jaw bones is also needed to place the devices correctly.
People with significant bone loss due to periodontal disease have difficulty getting a secure fit in dentures. For them, having their plates anchored by an implant can bring pleasure back to eating and give them new confidence when speaking and smiling. Millions of conventional and mini-implants are in place today, improving life for people all over the world.
The use of dental implants has revolutionized dentistry. As the technology is perfected, more and more people will find replacement teeth almost as good as the real thing.
http://www.queenssmile.com/gentle-dental-bone-grafting-bayside-queens-nyc.htm
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