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The dentist will then drill a hole in the jawbone and insert a titanium rod, stitch up the incision, and allow the patient a three to six month healing period during which the jawbone will fill in around the rod and fuse it securely into place.

When the jawbone and rod have successfully fused, the patient will return to have an abutment (extension) attached to the top of the rod below the gumline, and a cast made of his or her mouth so that a natural looking ceramic prosthetic tooth can be made, to be bonded to the titanium rod and serve as a permanent tooth.

Depending on whether or not the patient has a healthy jawbone into which the dental implants can be affixed, the entire dental implant process can take from nine to eighteen months. If the jawbone is not sufficiently strong, the patient will have to undergo a bone graft, which requires and additional pre-implant surgery and recovery period.

The addition of the titanium rods directly into the tissue of the jawbone actually strengthens the jawbone, and because titanium is an inert metal, it does not trigger the body’s rejection response. The stress of biting and chewing with the dental implants increases the density of the jawbone, which simply does not happen with bridges and dentures.

There are more than fifty different dental implants available, and the one selected for a patient will depend of many different things, including the training and surgical equipment of the dental surgeon, and the width and density of the patient’s jawbone.

The Cost Of Dental Implants

Dental implants range between a thousand and twenty-five hundred dollars per tooth, depending on whether or not the patient needs bone grafts. Getting dental implants should be considered a major investment, but when the cost of the procedure is weighed against the continuing costs of caring for deteriorating teeth or having to use dentures, with their adhesives, cleaning solutions, and regular refitting, dental implants don’t seem to be unreasonably priced.

The Failure Rate Of Dental Implants

The dental implant failure is between five and ten percent, and is higher for the molars used in chewing. The most common reason for failure in dental implants is that the patient had undetected bacteria at the surgical site, which were released into the bone and gum tissue when the dental implant rod was inserted.

Other causes for dental implant failure are defective titanium rods or prosthetic teeth, or that the titanium rods became contaminated at the factory or in the dental surgeon’s office prior to the procedure. But the chances of factory contamination are low, because all dental implants come from manufacturers required to observe FDA-mandated sanitary and quality control procedures.

Implants have been around for years, but until recently, insurance companies have considered them cosmetic in nature and did not have dental insurance for implants coverage. Many people had to find alternative means for teeth replacement or pay for the expense out of their own pocket.

Dental implants are now considered an alternative to replacing all the teeth in the mouth with a bridge or false teeth. If you have dental insurance for implant coverage, then you might find this procedure a better way to replace a few teeth rather than the traditional ways. Although the insurance coverage you have today, might caver implants, you will still some out of pocket expenses due to some things required are not covered.

o What Is a Dental Implant- a dental implant is where a stainless steel screw is implanted in the gum and the tooth is then attached. It can be done for one or more teeth that need replacing.

Dental Insurance For Implants Is Better Than Dentures Or Bridges

Because the implants stay in your mouth as a regular tooth would, more people are looking at this procedure as an option, rather than dentures, which need to be taken out and cleaned. Dentures can also affect your taste and in some cases, what you eat. Most insurance that cover implants do not cover the fixture, but it does cover the tooth.

Many dental insurance for implants plans work with the dentist who provides this service to lower the cost of implants and help people who need teeth, therefore, more people can afford this option instead of the traditional options. In coming years, insurance companies should see the greater need for implants and start to pay more towards the cost. This will allow more people to utilize this type of dental work and eliminate a full mouth of dentures or even bridges.

Once dental insurance for implants pays more for the teeth implants, people as well as dentists will see a growing number of dental care patients selecting this method rather than the other options. The premium for this type of insurance coverage may be higher than the regular dental insurance, but worth the cost if you prefer the dental implants to traditional options. Always check to see what the insurance covers and does not cover before starting any procedures. Dentists will give you an estimate for consideration.

If spaces in your teeth or missing teeth cause you to hide your smile or you have problems with chewing or loose bridges then you’ll want to read on. Dental implants can be a permanent solution to these and several other types of dental problems. A periodontist will implant in the jaw a dental implant to act as an artificial root.

These dental implants can add confidence to someone that has lost a tooth due to periodontal disease or an injury. If you have bridgework, a dental implant may eliminate the need for the type of denture that is removable and this procedure can be done without utilizing the neighboring teeth.

Looking and feeling like natural teeth, nobody will be able to tell that you have a dental implant. Proper care and installation from a professional implant dentist can have your teeth lasting an entire lifetime. The success rates for dental implants are on the rise according to recent studies.

The Advantages Of Dental Implants

Since your dental implant is part of your jawbone the elimination of gum recession that can become a problem with conventional bridgework is greatly reduced. But the greatest advantage of dental implants is the fact that they look and feel like natural teeth. Your friends and family wont’ have any idea that you natural smile is partially made of dental implants.

There Are Several Types Of Dental Implants

Your implant dentist will consult with you and your regular dentist to decide which type of dental implant is best for you. There are two different types of dental implants, Endosteal (in the bone) and Subperiosteal (on the bone).

Endosteal implants are the most common. A screw or cylinder is placed in the jawbone to act as an anchor for the tooth or bridgework that will be attached. Patients that have removable bridges or dentures are usually the prime candidates for this type of implant.

For patients that are unable to wear conventional dentures or those that have minimal jawbone height will most likely have a subperiosteal implant. This type of implant uses a framework made of metal that protrudes through the gum.

Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants?

Whether it’s your dentist in Fullerton, CA or anywhere in the country, your implant dentist will be part of a professional team that has studied for years. You can have confidence that he will select the proper type of implant specifically suited to you and your circumstances. Part of this decision is determined not only by the jawbone density and quality of gum tissue but what the desired effect is to be.

Often, it is difficult to place implants in the upper back part of the jaw where the jawbone has close proximity to the sinus. If the bone density needs to be increased and the sinus floor is to be raised, sinus augmentation may need to be performed. To be an ideal dental implant candidate you should also be in good general health and healthy gum tissue.

I’ve Had The Dental Implant – Now What?

Brushing and flossing just as you do with your natural teeth will be required as they act and feel just like your other natural teeth. You’ll want to continue with regular checkups and professional cleaning as well. Your implant dentist will continue to work with you and your regular dentist to insure your dental implants are working to their full extent and to your expectations.

The concept of mini dental implants is a revolutionary method for supporting replacement teeth that used very small titanium alloy implant screws that would function free standing or in combination with natural tooth supports. The concept was pioneered over 20 years ago by a Dr. Victor I. Sendax, but not developed until 1997 after collaborating with a colleague, Dr. Ronald A. Bulard.

Mini dental implants were formally introduced to the dental industry at a conference in 1999 and today represent one of the fastest growing and most successful segments of the dental product industry.

In most cases, mini dental implants are used as a stabilization method for a lower denture. Over 50,000,000 people lacking teeth in the U.S. alone, and many of them experience frequent pain and discomfort as a result of loose-fitting dentures. With the aid of mini dental implants, the stability of the denture and subsequently the confidence of the wearer can be significantly improved.

For those seeking mini dental implant procedures, many dental offices in New York City and other large metropolitan areas boast decades of experience in dental implant research and surgery. Such offices make it possible to tighten and stabilize a loose-fitting denture in just one visit to the center.

The best offices cite shorter recovery times, lower cost and a lack of significant invasive surgery as the main benefits to those electing to seek mini dental implants as opposed to the standard variety. Implants can be set by of professional in just one hour and patients will leave with an increased confidence, ready to eat, smile and speak like they would with a full set of natural teeth. With virtually no discomfort on the part of the patient, mini dental implants are an attractive option for those individuals seeking cosmetic surgery.

Top-notch dental implant offices are located throughout the country, from Las Vegas and Los Angeles to New York City, including several mini dental implant centers in New Jersey, Boston, Chicago and Canada.

For years, root canals have been viewed as a way to salvage a tooth and allow a patient to keep it longer. Now there is another option- dental implants. Root canal therapy is likened to that of saving a dead tree.

The tree can remain in the ground and stay there, but it is not alive. It is brittle and dry. You could still hang lights on it, but you certainly wouldn’t hang a tree swing or anything that would cause it extreme duress.

Teeth are the same way. When a nerve gets infected, the pulp, blood vessels and nerves are taken out and the canal is filled. Root canals are very complex, with many small branches off the main canal.

Like the dead tree, that tooth ceases to be as strong as it once was. However, the tooth can remain and function. This usually is accomplished with a full coverage restoration around it to give it further strength in the event that it was badly compromised. This fix sometimes can last an additional 15 to 20 years if properly cared for.

Root canals often have to be performed on the molars because they are the “working teeth” with the deep grooves that as younger children, often were difficult to keep clean, Crane said. These teeth were subject to decay, followed by fillings. If silver fillings were involved, they sometimes leaked and broke down over time. For that reason, it’s not uncommon that eventually some of these teeth would be in need of root canal therapy.

It’s important to note that root canals are not a 100 percent guarantee that a patient’s tooth can be salvaged. Sometimes the root canal therapy doesn’t take. If the root canal fails, there are options to re-treat. The success rate for re-treatment of root canal teeth is less than 50 percent.

An apicoectomy may be needed when an infection develops or persists after root canal treatment or re-treatment. Because root canals have many small branches off the main canal, sometimes infected debris can remain in these branches and possibly prevent healing or cause re-infection later. In an apicoectomy, the root tip, or apex, is removed along with the infected tissue. A filling is then placed to seal the end of the root. This procedure sometimes is referred to as endodontic microsurgery because the procedure is done under an operating microscope.

Implants As An Alternative
Implants were considered “cutting edge technology” as early as 10 years ago, so re-treatments remained very good options instead of losing a tooth and then involving bridges and other prosthodontic measures. However, dental implants have earned a good reputation as a viable alternative to re-treatment, due to their successful track record.

In fact, root canal re-treatment often is referred to as “pre-implant” therapy. Patients who are facing possible re-treatment should consult with a restorative dentist to have the broken, old or failing root canal teeth evaluated.

The restorative dentist who understands full mouth rehabilitation and occlusion will look at the forces that area of the bite receives and let you know if surgery and crown lengthening procedures are your best avenue, or if the probability of saving that tooth is not worth the cost and extra procedures for a sometimes 50 percent success rate. They also can determine if you are a candidate for an implant and whether it is cost-effective to place an implant that will last you the rest of your life.

All of these procedures mentioned earlier are available to people who want to restore and keep their teeth, but in cases where “duck tape” no longer is a good option and replacing a tooth makes more sense for the long-term, it’s a good idea to consider dental implants.

Titanium used for knee and hip replacements is a good indication of how people today replace things that are worn out and have outlived their current usefulness. This technology enables patients to continue to experience active, successful lifestyles. The same can be said of dental implants. You can replace what once was and have very successful results.

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For “dental cripples” who are bothered by missing teeth, dentures or bridges may sound like a favorable option. However, these devices don’t look or feel like natural teeth and they can irritate the gums.

Healthy adjacent teeth also have to be destroyed to accommodate these restorative devices. What’s more, loose or ill-fitting dentures may fall while you’re talking or laughing, leading to embarrassing situations. They also have to be adjusted periodically since dentures won’t prevent the jawbone from shrinking which normally happens when you lose teeth.

“Patients with dentures lose a great deal of chewing efficiency and a considerable amount of taste sensation. Full dentures need to be repaired and periodically checked for wear and tear. The plastic denture doesn’t change, but as time goes by the tissues under the denture do change, and this leads to loosening of the dentures, sore spots, and potentially dangerous chronic irritations that may be a factor in oral cancer. The gums and jawbones, even without teeth, can develop cysts, tumors, and infections,” said Drs. Marvin J. Schissel and John E. Dodes in “The Whole Tooth.”

“Perhaps the most common cause of denture problems is unrealistic patient expectations. Patients should be taught exactly what to expect from a completed denture. They should be cautioned that the denture is not bolted into place but merely rests on the tissues; certain movements of the mouth will dislodge it,” they added.

Fortunately, there’s a better way to restore missing teeth: dental implants. Since they were developed over 50 years ago by Swedish scientist and orthopedic surgeon Professor Per-Ingvar Branemark, dental implants have helped close to million toothless people worldwide.

Unlike dentures that can last for only a few months or years, dental implants are made of titanium and last a lifetime. They are surgically implanted into the jawbone and left there for about six months for osseointegration to take place. This is the process wherein the implants fuse or attach to the bone. An abutment or small metal post is later attached to each implant serving as the foundation for new replacement teeth.

While the technology is new, dental implants were used thousands of years ago by the ancient Egyptians. Now they are extensively used in the United States, Europe, Japan, Korea, and other countries. In the western world, over 2 million dental implants were performed in 2003. The worldwide market for dental implants is expected to reach $3.5 billion in 2010, making it the fastest growing segment of the global dental market.

“With oral health improving and people living longer, the number of teeth to be maintained is increasing at a rate faster than the population is growing. Increasing retention of teeth has created new needs and greater demand (for implants). As adults retain more teeth, they experience a greater severity of periodontal involvement which is the leading cause of tooth loss,” revealed Anne Anscomb, author of the study “Implant-Based Dental Reconstruction: The Worldwide Implant and Bone Graft Market.”

Learn more advantages of dental implants in the third part of this series. Do you know that missing or bad teeth can affect your appearance and make you look old and ugly? Having fine lines and wrinkles can make matters worse. If you don’t want to take chances with Botox because of its possible side effects, switch to the Rejuvinol AM/PM Botox Alternative Age-Defying System. For more information, go to http://www.rejuvinol.com.