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About
Implants
  What is an Implant
Your Natural Teeth
Partial Dentures
Your Chewing Efficiency
Your Medical Examination
Your Home Care
Is Age a Deterrent
Rejection by the Body
Implants Questionnaire - Should you
be considering implants?
Dental Implant Consultation
What is an Implant
An implant is a man-made
replacement for the natural tooth root which allows a person to return to
non-removable teeth or a more secure dental restoration. It is not a transplant
which would be taken from another individual. There are several types of
dental implants of which the doctor will select the most suited for your
needs and general dental condition.
Your Natural Teeth
Your own natural teeth in a healthy, well-maintained
condition are the best natural implant(s) which you can possibly have. There
is nothing else which compares with them. It is, therefore, in the best
interest of your health and well-being to do anything you can to keep
your teeth in the best condition for the longest possible period of time.
With good care on your part, and with good frequent dental checkups, you
will be able to accomplish this goal.
Partial Dentures
Does a removable partial denture replace the missing
teeth equally as well? Partial dentures are either tooth supported or
tooth and gum supported. An entirely tooth-supported partial denture will
fill the space, but the supporting teeth are no stronger than they were
before. In other words, the stress has been increased on the remaining
teeth. With many partial dentures which are both tooth and gum supported,
the number of teeth has not increased, and once again, there is the same
lack of root support as there was before. The areas where teeth are missing
have been filled in with gum-supported denture teeth. This means that the
gum tissue and bone structure beneath these dentures will shrink
gradually, and the partial denture will have to be replaced or relined
periodically. If these areas are not relined, then space develops under
the denture. It is not bearing its fair share of the chewing load, and
the remaining natural teeth are carrying all of the
chewing load. The teeth are overloaded. Under these conditions, the
remaining teeth will undergo accelerated bone loss. Also, this partial
denture is removable. It is not permanently fastened in the mouth as a
non-removable bridge would be.
Your Chewing
Efficiency
For purposes of comparison, let us assume that the
patient with all of their own natural teeth in a healthy,
well-maintained, functionally accurate condition can chew at 100 percent
efficiency. However, with every tooth lost efficiency decreases. How much
decrease there will be is dependent upon whether or not the teeth are
replaced and in what manner. Ultimately, if a person reaches the point
where they have no teeth, and are using properly fitted dentures on an
adequate bony ridge, a chewing efficiency of perhaps 15 to 18 percent may
be achieved. If the ridges are not adequate, the percentage decreases.
With implants and non-removable bridgework, or well supported tooth
replacement methods, a person may get back to as high as 85 percent
compared with what they had with their natural teeth, depending on the
number of natural teeth present and their condition.
Your Medical Examination
This is an important part of treatment. If you have
uncontrolled medical diseases, they often affect the healing of implants
and also relate to how long they will last. Please make sure to inform us
of any diseases, medications and allergies.
Your Home Care
The dental care you provide yourself at home must be
first-rate. You must keep your teeth and implants cleaner than you have
ever done previously in your life. You must be able to use a toothbrush,
dental floss, or other devices we recommend to keep plaque off both your
natural teeth and the implants. If this is not done, there is a very good
possibility that the implants will not succeed, and will have to be
removed. Furthermore, smoking and/or excessive alcohol consumption are a detriment to excellent dental health.
Is Age a Deterrent
No! Health is the determining factor. Many people
seventy and eighty years of age are a better surgical risk than someone
years younger who has physical complications. Older individuals are more likely
to need implants because they have lost more teeth, and have lost more
supporting ridges. As long as you live and breath
and are important to someone, including yourself, you owe it to them to
take the best care of yourself that you can possibly can. Incidentally,
what is a good age for a hip replacement implant or a coronary bypass? If
you needed either operation to stay alive or improve your quality of
life, would you refuse because of age?
Rejection by the Body
Implants are made of biologically compatible
materials which have undergone extensive testing over a period of several
years. Since these materials are largely metals, such as titanium, and
surgical vitallium alloy, and have never been
living tissue, there is no likelihood of causing an antigen-antibody
response which could cause a rejection similar to that which sometimes
occurs with heart and kidney transplants. On occasion, bone processed
from cadavers is used for bone augmentation or regeneration. These
products have been used for more than 30 years in medicine, without one
incidence of disease transmission. However, on rare occasion it may be
rejected and fail to work.
Implants Questionnaire
How you feel about yourself and if you are able to
function with confidence affects your relationships, your business success,
and your overall well being. If you have dentures, or know someone who
does, consider these concerns that can be constant problem for many
denture wearers.
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YES
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NO
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Are
you satisfied with the removable dentures or partials?
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YES
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NO
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Do
you find that your require the use of poor
tasting adhesives to improve retention and stability?
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YES
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NO
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Are
you embarrassed because of loose-fitting dentures?
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YES
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NO
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Do
you ever fear that an embarrassing situation will occur because of your
dentures?
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YES
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NO
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Have
your dentures ever come loose or do you avoid eating in public?
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YES
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NO
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Do
you feel that wearing dentures prevents you from being active?
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YES
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NO
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Are
you aware that your dentures click when you talk?
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YES
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NO
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Do
you feel uncomfortable removing your dentures in front of your loved
one?
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YES
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NO
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Does your dentures cause you to gag?
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YES
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NO
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Are
you satisfied with your ability to eat and chew with your dentures?
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YES
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NO
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Do
your dentures cause pain while eating?
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YES
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NO
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Are
there particular foods avoid eating, cause pain, or accumulate under
your dentures?
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YES
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NO
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Do
you overcook food to soften an improve ability to chew?
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YES
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NO
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Do
you ever experience numbness of you lower lip while chewing?
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YES
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NO
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Given
the opportunity, what would you improve about your speech, appearance,
retention, stability, chewing, discomfort or taste?
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Dental Implant Consultation
Dental implants are an exciting option that has
changed the lives of many people. But implants are not for everyone. If
you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, then dental
implants may be a good choice for you. Call our office today for a
consultation, (313) 541-3004
©Copyright 2002
Dental, Inc
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