Dental implants refer to the root device that periodontists use to replace missing teeth. It is usually made of titanium and is placed into the jaw to hold a replacement bridge or tooth in place. High-tech dental implants offer a better method of saving the teeth than the traditional bridges because they do not rely upon other teeth for support. Dental implants in Baton Rouge is ideal for people who have good oral health but have lost a tooth or even teeth because of an injury, periodontal disease, or any other reason.
Dental Implants
The dental implants that are being currently used are root-form endosseous implants, meaning these are similar to the actual root of a tooth. They are fixed to the jaw bone, which accepts and is integrated with the titanium implant. Though these may fuse with the jaw bone, the feeling will be different when chewing as they do not have the periodontal ligament that natural teeth have.
A variety of dental prostheses are supported using implants. These include crowns, bridges, and dentures and are helpful for orthodontic tooth movement, providing anchorage. This is because dental implants permit unidirectional movement of teeth without any reciprocal action.
Typically, a dental implant consists of a titanium screw that resembles a tooth’s root with a smooth or roughened surface. They are mostly made using commercially pure titanium available in four grades based on the amount of iron and carbon present in them. The fifth grade of titanium that is gaining in popularity is titanium 6AL-4V. It consists of 6% aluminum and 4% vanadium.
The implants made with this alloy offer better fracture resistance and tensile strength, and osseointegration levels similar to that of commercially pure titanium. Plasma spraying, etching, anodizing, sandblasting, etc., are some of the processes used to modify an implant’s surfaces to provide more surface area and improve its osseointegration potential.
The two types of implants that are commonly used are the endosteal and subperiosteal implants. Endosteal or in-the-bone implants include screws, blades, or cylinders placed into the jaw bone through surgery. Each implant may hold one or more prosthetic teeth. Generally, this type of implant is used to replace bridges and removable dentures. Subperiosteal or on-the-bone implants are placed on the jaw bone with posts of metal framework projecting through the gum and supporting the prosthesis. Subperiosteal implants are helpful to patients who have lesser bone height and cannot wear the traditional dentures.
The process of placing implants involves the periodontist and the dentist consulting with the patient and determining how and where the implants should be placed. Based on the type of implant selected and the patient’s specific condition, the periodontist will chart out a plan to place the implants.
Summarizing, a patient with adequate oral and general health and gum tissues free from periodontal disease is the ideal candidate for dental implants. The patient must also have adequate bone in the jaw to support the implant.