
- by Dr. Ravneet Dhillon
- July 19, 2022
Overview
Dental implants these days have become a go-to procedure by dentists for replacing missing teeth because of their many benefits like helping to restore tooth function and aesthetics.
The screw that is placed inside the jawbone is made of titanium, a biocompatible material, meaning that it is compatible with the human body.
A crown is placed on top of it to replace the missing teeth after the screw gets integrated with the jaw bone. This helps to restore the normal functioning of the mouth.
Tooth restoration in the past was mostly limited to dentures and dental bridges, which remain greatly popular even today.
However, dentures and bridges have been there for many decades now, their safety is not questioned.
With Dental Implants having fast become a popular tooth replacement option these days, questions like whether dental implants are safe for everyone or are there any circumstances where dental implants should not be used, are imperative to cross everyone’s mind.
We will try to address all your queries and uncertainties concerning the safety of dental implants in this article.
What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
One of the most reliable dental procedures, Dental Implants have a success rate as high as 95% along with offering advantages that other missing teeth solutions do not provide like:
- Appearance: Implants appear and feel like natural teeth.
- Speech: Slipping dentures or loose bridges can cause slurred speech but with dental implants, one does not need to worry about that.
- Comfort: A permanent and stable solution, Implants do not cause chaffing or discomfort like is the case with dentures.
- Oral health: The modification of surrounding teeth like in the case of a bridge is not required for implants to be inserted. Moreover, implants not only stop bone deterioration but also stimulate healthy bone tissue growth.
Our team at Morgan Hill Dentistry is committed to providing you with the best results possible when it comes to your dental treatment.
That is the reason that we usually recommend dental implants over a bridge or simple dentures.
However, we are often asked by patients about their eligibility as ideal candidates for the procedure. So we will try to explain that in our next section.
Who can Use Dental Implants?
Dental Implants are considered a fairly safe and successful option for tooth replacement as they have now been used for over 50 years with patients in good oral and overall health.
However, few conditions can prevent the immediate use of implants in some patients. These include:
- Presence of active periodontal disease
- Insufficient healthy bone tissue is required to hold the implant
- Pre-existing disorders like chronic diabetes or heart disease
However, one’s qualifications for being an ideal candidate for dental implants need not be ruled out by these conditions.
For those suffering from gum disease, Periodontal treatment by your dentist can help restore the health of the gum tissue. The dental implant procedure can then be performed after this treatment.
Inadequate bone tissue can in most cases be built up with a bone tissue graft to enable the successful placement of an implant.
For patients with pre-existing disorders, a decision about whether the implants can be placed or not is taken by the dentist after ascertaining the personal health condition of the person. However, most of these circumstances are manageable except in a few rare cases.
How Safe are Dental Implants?
Dental implants for over 50 years have demonstrated not only their safety but have also proved to be the best method of permanent tooth restoration performed by dental professionals.
Modern technology over the years has also helped to improve the method of installing the implants.
It can be easily said that the implant procedure is fairly safe. This said we can not deny that there are always some risks involved in any surgical procedure.
However, there is a rare possibility of infection or rejection after having implant surgery.
Consisting of two parts, Dental implants include the screw and the cap. The screw used in dental implants is made up of titanium, a biocompatible element also used in joint replacement surgeries as it is compatible with the human body.
Upon healing, the implant integrates with the bone and the jaw bone grows around it, giving the screw the strength and stability to support the crown & function like a real tooth.
With its remarkable biocompatibility, Titanium is highly resistant to corrosion, completely non-toxic and harmless to living tissues.
Made up of biocompatible ceramic, the crowns of the implants are the same as the ones that are put as regular crowns and bridges.
But if someone has a sensitivity to copper, zinc, lead, or nickel which is usually very rare, then the dentist may suggest some other method of tooth restoration.
Last but not the least, it is important to keep in mind that the Dental Implant Procedure is an oral surgery and one of the most important prerequisites to ensure its success is that it should strictly be performed by a skilled and competent dentist only.
Outlook
It can be easily said that are safe and long-lasting tooth substitutes, Dental implants are the best option available for the replacement of missing teeth these days.
The procedure should however be performed by a competent and qualified dentist only.
Our expert team at Morgan Hill Dentistry takes every measure to assure full safety and success of the treatment, at the same time going the extra mile to ensure the comfort of the patients during the procedure.
We put into consideration all of the special needs and situations of our patients before we make any treatment recommendations.
To know more about Dental Implants, Book an appointment today.