Dental Implant Surgery

By Lane Knight, DDS

Southern Maryland Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

. https://www.smdoms.com/

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Dental Implant Surgery

Despite continued U.S. public health efforts to minimize dental decay and maintain basic oral hygiene, tooth loss secondary to bacterial infiltrates and traumatic injury remains a very common finding.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), it is estimated that the U.S. population aged 65 and over will exceed 48 million individuals.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons released statistics indicating 69% of U.S. adults aged 35-44 experienced tooth loss; in addition, a little over 25% of the population was found to have no remaining teeth by age 74.

Did you know that dental implants are often times the ideal choice for replacing missing teeth?

Instead of needing to shave down adjacent teeth for anchors for a fixed bridge or needing to rest the removable acrylic dentures along the gums, implants more closely mimic natural tooth form and function. The closest thing we have to restoring a missing tooth today is in fact, the dental implant. A typical restoration will consist of three components the dental implant, which is a titanium alloy (same material found in hip/knee replacements), the abutment and the crown.

To replace a tooth, your surgeon must first review your clinical and radiographic findings to determine if you are an appropriate candidate for the procedure.

Assuming the patient is healthy enough to be sedated, the surgeon may offer intravenous sedation for greater comfort during the procedure. A local anesthetic is then administered followed by dental implant placement into the jawbone.

Once embedded into the jawbone, the surgeon will confirm position of the implant and review the post-operative instructions. The implant typically remains undisturbed for a period of 3-6 months this process allows the alveolar bone to “fuse” to the implant. This creates a sturdy foundation to build a crown on.

In addition to the single tooth restoration, dental implants have become more versatile in their function to support multiple tooth restorations spanning two teeth, up to a complete arch.

How Long Will the Implants Last?

Most studies report a greater than 90% success rate for tooth replacement via dental implant therapy. A large study, to note from the Journal of American Dental Association (JADA) in July 2014, attributed higher success rates among surgical specialists. Once an implant has osseointegrated various risk factors may determine its longevity, however, regular oral hygiene and maintenance can easily make these restorations last a lifetime.