If you have decided to replace your dentures with dental implants, this article was written with you in mind, and many semi-retired people have already undergone this amazing treatment. Dental implants provide a permanent solution for missing teeth, and whether a single tooth, or a full set of upper and lower teeth, this is the ideal solution.
The Initial Examination
The first step of the process is to determine whether the jawbone is structurally sufficient to take the titanium pins, which provide the anchor for the prosthetic teeth. For a full set of upper dental implants, there would have to be 3 or 4 titanium pins inserted into the jawbone at precise points; the same for the lower set. It very much depends on how many teeth are being replaced as to how many pins are required.
If you are looking for a dentist that specialises in dental implants Chatswood and North Shore can offer, these places are both covered by an established clinic where top dentists can determine the best solution. You may pay them a visit if you live nearby. They will be happy to answer your queries.
Jaw X-Rays
After a comprehensive set of X-Rays, the dentist would tell you whether or not you can have the titanium pins inserted, and if not, the alternative is subperiosteal implants, which are anchored by a thin wire frame that sits on top of the gums. The other option is to graft some bone, which is usually taken from the hip, and after a couple of months, the jawbone is ready for the pin insertion.
Inserting The Titanium Pins
The next appointment involves inserting the titanium pins, which requires great precision, and the reason titanium is used is because this metal fuses very well with human bones and tissue. The pins are screwed into the jawbone after the dentist makes a tiny incision of the gum tissue, and the dentist decides where the pins will be located. Typically, 3 or 4 pins would provide the anchor points for a full set of upper or lower implants, and the prosthetic teeth are fabricated into a single piece. Once the pins have been inserted, the dentist then puts special caps on them to protect the tips until such time as the fusion is complete.
Attaching The Prosthetic Teeth
After 2 or 3 months, the pins will have fused sufficiently and the prosthetic teeth can be fitted, and this is the final stage of the process. A very special adhesive is used and when the prosthetic teeth are in place, the patient now has a set of new teeth that can be brushed and flossed much like regular teeth.
Dental implants have enabled many people to finally say goodbye to their dentures, and this permanent solution to missing teeth is the perfect alternative to removeable dentures. As mentioned above, the process involves several stages, and there are two types of dental implant; endosteal (titanium pins are inserted into the jawbone) and subperiosteal (the anchor is provided by a thin metal frame that sits on top of the gums). If you would like to explore the potential that dental implant treatment offers, an online search will help you locate an experienced dental clinic, and the specialist will examine you to determine suitability.
