Dental implants are tiny metal posts placed in your jawbone to support replacement teeth. If the quality of your life is affected due to a lost tooth, you might want to consider getting a single implant. This article will briefly discuss how many missing teeth a single implant can support, as well as the benefits of dental implants, to have an idea if this is the ideal treatment for you.
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- What Are Dental Implants?
- How Many Missing Teeth Can One Implant Support?
- How Does The Dental Implant Procedure Work?
- What Are The Types Of Dental Implants?
- Who Are Good Candidates For Dental Implants?
- What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants?
- What Risks Do Dental Implants Pose?
- What Does A Dental Implant Cost?
- Final Thoughts
What Are Dental Implants?
These are tiny screw-like metal posts made of titanium or zirconia that your dentist or oral surgeon surgically places in the jawbone. They act as your artificial tooth roots to provide support and retention for your artificial teeth. Your tooth replacement options include crowns, dentures, or bridges.
How Many Missing Teeth Can One Implant Support?
Typically, one implant can support one artificial tooth. But in some cases, it can support two adjacent teeth. For instance, if you are missing two teeth side-by-side, your dentist or oral surgeon may place one implant between the two spaces and attach a dental bridge to it. This is called an implant-supported bridge.
How Does The Dental Implant Procedure Work?
The typical steps in this procedure include:
- The entire dental implant process starts with your dentist assessing your candidacy for the procedure. This includes doing a thorough examination of your mouth, teeth, and gums. They will also take X-rays and 3D scans to check the condition of your jawbone. In addition, photographs and impressions (moulds) of your mouth will be taken to gain more information about your oral condition.
- After your dentist or oral surgeon has determined that you are a good candidate for this surgical procedure, the next step is to place the implants. Sometimes they need to perform other treatments based on your condition, such as tooth extractions or a bone graft. This is a procedure where the bone is taken from another part of your body and transplanted to the jawbone to provide support for the implant. If there are also active oral health issues, such as tooth decay or gum disease, they will likely manage these first before proceeding with your implant treatment.
- The surgery is usually done under local anaesthesia, which numbs the treatment area. However, if you are anxious about the procedure, your dentist or oral surgeon may give you sedation to help you relax.
- When the anaesthesia takes effect, your dentist or oral surgeon will make small incisions in your gums and drill a hole into the jawbone to provide space for the implant. After the implants have been inserted, they will close the incisions with stitches.
- After surgery, you must wait for the implants to fuse with your jawbone. This process is called osseointegration and can take anywhere from 3-6 months.
- Once the implants have fused with your jawbone and the incision site has healed, you will return to the dental clinic to have the artificial teeth placed on top of the implants. In some cases, a second surgery is done to place an abutment on top of the implant. In other procedures, the abutment is placed along with the implant in one procedure. Abutments are small metal connectors placed on top of the implant to help support the artificial tooth. The type of artificial tooth that you will get will depend on which teeth are missing and your personal preference. The most common options are crowns, bridges, and dentures.
- After the artificial teeth are placed, you may experience discomfort and swelling for a few days, so your dentist will prescribe pain medication to help you manage the discomfort. It is also normal to experience numbness in your lips and gums for a few weeks after the procedure. You can expect that your dentist will advise you to eat soft food for the first few days and to avoid chewing on the side of your mouth where the surgery was done. You will also need to take care of your teeth and gums to ensure that your implants last a long time. This includes brushing and flossing regularly as you would with your real teeth and visiting your dentist or oral surgeon for regular dental checkups.
What Are The Types Of Dental Implants?
There are three major types of dental implants, as follows:
- Endosteal Dental Implant
This is the safest and most common type of dental implant. It is suitable for most people but requires a good, healthy jaw bone to support it. The procedure involves placing the implant into the jawbone. Once the implant has fused with the bone, an abutment is placed on top of it, and then the artificial tooth is attached to it. - Subperiosteal Dental Implant
This dental implant type is ideal for individuals with insufficient jawbones to support an endosteal dental implant. It is also suitable for people who are not candidates for a bone graft. The subperiosteal dental implant is placed under the gum but on top of the jawbone. Once the gum has healed, a metal frame is placed on top of it, and the artificial teeth are attached to it. - Zygomatic Dental Implant
This dental implant type is used for people who have lost all their teeth in the upper jaw. Your dentist may also recommend this if you are not a good candidate for a bone graft. The zygomatic dental implant is placed in the cheekbone. Once the implant has fused with the bone, a small metal post is placed on top of it, and then the artificial tooth is attached to the post.
Who Are Good Candidates For Dental Implants?
- You should be in good general health.
This means you do not have any chronic illnesses such as diabetes or heart disease. This is because these conditions can affect the healing process and increase the risk of implant failure. - You should have healthy gums.
Gum disease, such as periodontitis, can also decrease the success of dental implants. This is because this condition can cause bone loss, which affects the ability of the bone to support the implant. - You should have enough bone structure to support the implant.
For the implants to be stable, it is essential to have sufficient bone surrounding the implant site. To make you a suitable candidate for implants, you may need a bone graft procedure if you do not have enough bone in your jaw. - You should be committed to oral hygiene.
You should be responsible enough to follow instructions from your dentist, including regular dental care. You must be willing to brush and floss diligently to maintain the health of your implant and natural teeth. These are essential in maintaining the longevity and success of your dental implants.
What Are The Benefits Of Dental Implants?
There are a number of advantages to dental implants, such as:
- They are durable and long-lasting, up to 25 years or more, with proper care.
- They are stable, secured in place, and do not move around like removable dentures.
- They are comfortable and do not irritate the gums.
- They look, feel, and function like your natural teeth.
- They help prevent bone loss by stimulating bone growth.
- They don’t require cutting and reshaping of nearby healthy teeth.
What Risks Do Dental Implants Pose?
Like any invasive procedure, dental implant treatment also has some risks. These include:
- Infection
- Nerve damage
- Sinus problems
- Allergic reactions to metals
- Implant rejection or failure
While rare, these complications can be managed by your dentist or oral surgeon through a treatment plan. You play a vital role in the success of the dental implant by following instructions from your dentist on how to take care of your teeth and gums.
What Does A Dental Implant Cost?
This differs depending on a few factors, such as the type and number of implants you need, additional procedures, the location of the dental clinic, and the expertise and skill of the dentist.
You can expect to pay $3,000 to $5,500 per tooth for a straightforward implant procedure. According to a 2020 national dental fee survey, the treatment can cost up to \$5,514 for a single implant. If your condition requires other treatments, such as bone grafting or sinus lift, you can pay as much as $11,500 per tooth.
Ask your dentist for a quote so you can budget for the procedure ahead of time.
Final Thoughts
A dental implant procedure is a good treatment option to replace missing teeth and regain your confidence. It is long-lasting, stable and comfortable. Although it is a more expensive treatment option, it is worth the investment as it can last for more than two decades with proper care. Normally, a single implant can support one missing tooth but can also be used to support two adjacent teeth.
If you have missing teeth and are considering dental implants but have many questions, we can help.
Call Comfort Care Dental at 08 9349-0800 to book a consultation. Our team has dentists who will assess your oral health and let you know if you are a good candidate, including how many implants you need. The dentist will also sit down with you to discuss what you can expect from the procedure and give you an accurate quote based on your condition.
The dentists at our clinic have years of experience performing dental implants and designing customised treatment plans for every patient. Using our advanced technologies, they take every precaution to minimise complications.