Dental implants have stood as one of the most suitable options in restorative dentistry. There are a lot of factors that are involved in this type of dental intervention. Anyone who intends to undertake it should find a reliable dental clinic that can offer excellent dental implant services. Northridge Dental Implant Center guarantees the best dental implant services to its clients living in Northridge, CA.

Understanding Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial types of teeth that offer a permanent base that fixes and replaces teeth. They are different from dentures, bridges, and crowns since they provide a long-term solution for people with missing teeth, chronic dental problems, or failing teeth. Since they fit and function similarly to natural teeth, they are quickly becoming a novel way of tooth replacement.

A dental implant has three parts which include:

  • The Implant — This is a screw that works as the root for your new tooth. It signifies what is attached to your jaw.
  • The Abutment — A permanent, but a removable device that connects, supports and holds the fake tooth or set of your teeth. Only a dentist can remove the abutment.
  • The Crown — The part of the tooth that you can see, made out of porcelain, titanium, or zirconium

When You Should Seek Dental Implant Services

Ideally, you should consider seeking dental services when you have missing teeth, and you would like to restore your smile. In such a case, your appearance might be distorted, and your confidence as well. Also, you probably would have started to experience a change in your bite or your jaw. Here is a detailed view of why you should seek a dental implant.

When You Looking For a Safe Option for Your Dental Problem

Unlike other tooth replacement types that weaken the nearby teeth, dental implants do not pose any impact on the neighboring teeth. For instance, bridges rely on the surrounding teeth for their support, which can weaken the nearby teeth. However, dental implants are stand-alone and replacement and would need to rely on any support of the adjacent teeth.

When You are Seeking a Convenient Way to Restore Your Smile

Dentures can be inconvenient in restoring your smile. They can pose difficulty in eating your favorite food, and there is a possibility of slipping as well. However, with dental implants, you can easily bite your favorite food without the worry of slipping off your teeth. Also, you do not have to worry about the clicking noise that one might experience with the removable dentures.

When You Want to Reduce Bone Loss

Bone loss is an inevitable consequence of tooth loss. For one to remain healthy, there is a need for constant stimulation of the jaw, which results from the teeth. However, when a set of teeth is lost, there are chances of degeneration of the jawbone. However, with a dental implant, your jawbone can be stabilized when fused to the jaw bone. This sort of advantage cannot be achieved in any other method used to replace the teeth.

When You Want a Natural Dental Appearance

It is hard to spot a dental implant, unlike dentures, which can be easily located. After placing an implant in the mouth, it will take the original shape of the tooth. Therefore, it would be hard to spot the difference between the replacement and your natural teeth. This gives you the confidence to smile.

When You Need a Long-Lasting Dental Replacement

Dental implants become permanent to your jaw bone, which marks a permanent solution for your tooth loss. Other methods used in tooth replacement, such as dentures and bridgework, might require refitting or be replaced over time. With proper care, the dental implant will last for life. This will be the best long-term value when picking a tooth replacement option.

When You Want a Tooth Replacement Option that You Can Care For

There is no significant difference between caring for your dental implant and your natural teeth. You will only have to employ usual oral care, such as brushing and flossing, at least twice per day. You should also adopt proper dental procedures such as visiting the dental office regularly to avoid compromising yourself from periodontal disease.

Candidacy for Dental Implant

Not every person is a suitable option for a dental implant. Several factors define the best candidates for this kind of dental procedure. The candidates for dental implants are as follows:

Patients in Good Health

For one to be the right candidate for dental implants, he or she should have healthy teeth and gums. Diseases such as periodontal disease can lower the success of your implants. The patient should commit to maintaining good oral health and have no disease such as uncontrolled diabetes and autoimmune disorders. If one is suffering from any medical condition, this might interfere with the healing procedure.

Patients With Good Bone Density

When you visit an oral surgeon, you will expect an examination. The dentist will also evaluate your dental history to check whether there are factors that might affect your healing. Examinations such as X-rays and CT scans reveal whether you have adequate bone density that might support the implants. If you lack enough bone density, you might be expected to undergo bone grafting.

Patients Missing One or More Teeth

The essential aspect of a dental implant candidacy is missing a tooth or teeth. It is much easier to undertake a dental implant procedure if you have a few missing teeth rather than a single tooth. This provides enough room that the dentist will work on during the dental implant.

Conditions that Inhibits Candidacy in Dental Implant

In most cases, there are specific types of patients who do not qualify for a dental implant. These patients usually present certain conditions that might require interventions to ensure that one is safe for the dental procedure. These conditions are as follows:

Smoking

Smokers are at high risk of dental failure compared to those who do not smoke. Therefore, if one intends to seek this kind of dental intervention, he or she should quit smoking to avoid the possibility of dental failure.

Gum Disease

If you leave your gum untreated or unmanaged for a long time, there are chances of developing issues with your teeth, gingiva, and jaw bone. In that case, people suffering from gum disease must treat such conditions before undertaking the procedure.

Poor General Health

A dental implant placement goes through procedures such as sutures and incision, which requires one to remain healthy before undergoing surgery.

Uncontrolled Diabetes

Patients who are suffering from uncontrolled diabetes must seek appropriate treatment with their primary care doctor before they pursue dental implant surgery.

Radiation Therapy

Patients who are currently undergoing or formerly underwent radiation therapy to the face and neck area are not ideal candidates for dental implants.

Medical Dependency

Particular medications can increase the level of risk during dental implant surgery. Such medicines include blood thinners and steroids.

Pregnancy

Pregnant women should wait until they have given birth until they undergo dental implant surgery. Pregnant women experience dramatic hormonal changes during the expectation period as the estrogen levels spike inside the body, which makes the mouth prone to infections. A dental implant might be a suitable option to save a pregnant woman, but it should be considered during specific periods. Therefore, the dentist might resolve into removing the teeth rather than going the whole process until delivery.

Youth

A dental implant is not suitable for someone who has a growing jaw. Most children are at this point and would require some time until they gain enough bone density and strength.

People With Low Bone Density

Ideally, a patient with a low bone density is not a suitable candidate for a dental implant. However, such people can go through atrophy to ensure that they have enough bone density to withstand the placement of a dental implant.

Ways to Restore Implant Candidacy

If you are told you are not considered as an immediate candidate for dental implants, you may have to improve your candidacy using various dental procedures. The common types of treatment that you might choose to enhance your candidacy are as follows:

Bone Grafting

Bone grafting is a restoration procedure that enables the patient to restore their jawbone by strengthening it. Bone grafting is a minor surgery that can be done in a dental office. The dentist usually makes an incision in the gum to access the bone. He or she will then add the grafting material which comes from your bone minerals around your body.

The grafting material comes from your body, but often, it comes from animals and human donors. It comes in a variety of forms such as putty, granules, or powder that the dentist injects through a syringe. The graft that is generally covered by the collagen membrane acts as a scaffold in which your body will build a new bone.

When undergoing the bone grafting process, the dentist will administer local anesthesia to ensure that you are relaxed. Since the dentist will make a small incision on your gum, you might experience some soreness after the grafting surgery. You can manage such an experience with over-the-counter pain relievers or anti-inflammatory medication. The discomfort will only last for a day or two, and later on, you will start experiencing change with your bone density.

Sinus Lift

A sinus lift is a surgical procedure that grafts bone to the upper jaw near the molar and premolar teeth. Oral surgeons can use different means to undertake this procedure. However, it begins with the incision of the gum to reveal the underlying bone. The oral surgeon usually cuts a small space into the jaw bone and pushes it up to reveal the sinus cavity. The membrane’s cavity is then lifted, and the area underneath is filled with bone grafting material and granules. The surgeon will proceed to stitch the gum tissue together, and the grafting is allowed to grow to the recommended size.

The primary risk that might result from this type of operation is the rupturing of the membrane. However, it rarely happens and can be restitched and repaired.

Ridge Expansion

A ridge expansion is a type of implant preparation method performed when your jaw does not have enough width to support it. The oral surgeon divides the ridge into an inner and outer segment where they are wedged apart. This will create a space between the split section where bone grafting can be filled. The oral surgeon uses a particular instrument to perform a ridge expansion.

The dentist usually uses a tool known as osteotomes to expand the ridge. It is a flat, cylindrical stainless steel that varies in size. They can also be used to compact the bone laterally and extend the bridge as well.

Treatment of Gum Disease

A dentist can adopt different means to treat gum disease. The procedure varies according to the extent of the problem. It ranges from non-surgical therapy, such as antibiotic treatment, to a restorative surgery.

In a non-surgical procedure, the dentist starts with the cleaning of your teeth by removing plaque and tartar. If your teeth have signs of gum disease, the dentist might recommend professional cleaning at least twice a year. Once the dentist conducts a deep-cleaning, a non-surgical procedure is considered under local anesthesia. The dentist will continue into scrapping and roughing up the spots of your tooth in a method known as planning.

Smoothing the rough spots of your teeth removes any bacteria and guarantees a clean surface where the gum can reattach to the teeth. The dentist will decide on the scaling and planning process if you have plaque and calculus found under the gum.

In the surgical procedure, the dentist starts by lifting the gum and removing the tartar. In some cases, the dentist might decide to smooth the limited area that might hide the disease-causing bacteria. This might reduce the size and space between the gum and your teeth, decreasing the area where the harmful bacteria might grow.

After reducing the pocket, the dentist will proceed to bone grafting. This procedure involves the use of synthetic bone, your bone, or donated bone. The graft is a suitable platform that will increase bone regrowth.

Types of Dental Implant

A patient can undertake three types of dental implant procedures. This includes endosteal, sub-periosteal, and transosteal.

Endosteal Implant

An endosteal procedure relies on a cast surgical-grade titanium frame that has a custom-fit to your jawbone. After placing the implant, a synthetic bone is placed over it. A fixed partial bridgework or removable denture is then placed on the anchor posts that are found above the gums.

The endosteal implant process undertakes two procedures in the first step, an accurate replica of your jawbone is created. Firstly, the dentist will take a bone impression to make a cast of your jawbone. After the initial surgery, your denture will be refitted with a soft linear that is wearable once the implant has been fitted. The dentist will then design the implant on the cast and proceed to manufacture.

In the other alternative, the dentist usually creates a replica of your jaw bone without undergoing the initial surgery. The bone impression measurement is taken using a computerized tomography commonly known as (CAT SCAN). The data collected from the CAT SCAN creates a multidimensional digital image of your jaw bone. The computer information is then transferred to a 3D printer or milling machine to create a replica of your jaw bone. The custom endosteal implant is then designed for the fitting.

The second step of this procedure is placing the implant. The advantage of having a CAT SCAN is the elimination of the initial bone impression surgery. The oral surgeon will only undertake one operation to place the implant.

Subperiosteal Implant

If you have extensive bone loss and it is hard to regenerate the jawbone, you might be a suitable candidate for a subperiosteal implant. In this procedure, the dentist places the implants on top of the jawbone under a thin tissue layer. The delicate tissue layer is found between the bone and the gum. Since there is an advancement in implant design, imaging, and bone grafting, this procedure is rarely considered.

The procedure involves two surgical procedures to insert the implant. The subperiosteal should be custom-made to ensure that it fits the contours of your bone.

In the initial process, the dentist will open the gum tissues to expose the bone underneath. The oral surgeon will then take an impression of your bone to capture the extent of your contours, where the implant framework will sit on the position that holds the bridges. After the impression, your gum will be closed until the next surgery.

In the second step, the dentist reopens the gum tissues to place the implant onto the bone. Some screws might be used to hold them in place. Your gum tissues will be sutured back on the implant frame, which leaves an anchor piece referred to as the permucosal extension. A temporary bridge will then be placed on the extension while the oral tissues are left to heal over it. The dentist might place a bridge that mimics natural teeth after your gum heals.

Transosteal Implant

This is an unpopular type of implant inserted into the lower jaw using a u-shaped metal frame or pins placed through the bone of the alveolar socket. The procedure is then followed by the positioning of the teeth on the top.

If you prefer using the pins, metal plates are used to stabilize the metal plate located at the jaw base, which creates the U shape needed for stability. The name transosteal means through the bone, which makes it different from the other procedures.

Transosteal is quite unpopular, and dentists do not recommend it any longer. It has been discovered that they are not successful over time. Their unpopularity is based on the following:

  • Implants do not move more than a millimeter.
  • Patients usually lose less than 30% of their bone height.

Patients have also complained of some complications from this type of dental implant. These complications include the loss of celestial bone, gingival hyperplasia, and implant site infection.

With the growth of the state-of-the-art and precise dental implant planning software and 3D imaging, the dental implant has significantly grown over time. Dentists can use relevant tools and anatomy to handle the surgery within a shorter time frame. Some of the alternative dental implant techniques that have been adopted are:

Mini Dental Implants

This type of dental implant is also referred to as a narrow diameter implant or small implants. They are small to the size of a toothpick and are narrower compared with traditional dental implants. Their placement is less-invasive and is common in stabilizing lower dentures.

Immediate Load Dental Implants

This type of dental implant is also referred to as a same-day implant. It allows the quick loading of dental implants to allow the placement of a temporary tooth during the same-day appointment of your dental implant placement. It is a suitable option for people with enough bone density, which can withstand the immediate installation of temporary teeth.

All-on-4

This is a trademarked alternative of placing the top or bottom set of replacement teeth. It is also referred to as a full arch. Patients refer to it if there is available bone hence no need for bone grafting. A special abutment is used to place the implant on the same day. Patients have to follow a modified diet to ensure that the gum heals well and allows bonding of the implant to your natural bone. In about six months, your permanent replacement teeth will be placed and will enable you to resume your regular diet.

Find a Northridge Dental Implant Center Near Me

There are several considerations made during a dental implant. The patient has to go through an evaluation process, preparation, and possibly two surgeries. Therefore, you have to rely on a dental clinic with the experience and reputation of offering excellent services. Northridge Dental Implant Center has established a reputation for providing exceptional services to clients living in Northridge, CA. Contact us at 818-925-9181 and schedule a consultation with us.