Just like the title says, I am curious about dental implants, I know they are pricey, but I am hoping to end up with some after the sale of a book and I am worried about the pain involved and the healing time, etc. Anyone have some experiences you can share to help me along the path to getting my bite restored?

Hi Pamster,
I personally have never had a dental implant placed in my own mouth. However, as a surgical dental assistant, I have assisted on the placement of many.

There are several different types and brands of dental implants. Some dentists prefer one over another, but they are all very similar. In the US, the implants most frequently used are made of titanium. The size and shape of the implant depends on the patients anatomy and what tooth is being replaced. Some implants are screwed into the jawbone and others are tapped in with a dental mallot. There is absolutely no pain associated with the surgical placement of the implant if the area is adequately numb.

Post operative pain varies from slight to moderately uncomfortable depending on the extent of the surgery performed. Depending on the individual situation, the discomfort/pain can last a few hours to several days.

Generally, if the bone that the implant is being placed in is healthy and the surgery is performed well, there is minimal discomfort post operatively. With that being said, if the implant is replacing a tooth that was abcessed or previously root canaled, then the health of the bone will depend on how well the area was cleaned out when the tooth was removed.

If an implant in placed in bone that harbors any residual infectious bacteria from the previously infected tooth, there will most likely be post operative pain after the implant is placed and very frequently the implant becomes loose from that infection. Dental implants should never be placed in unhealthy bone as this could cause or contribute to a very serious infection of the blood called Septicemia.

People with certain health or dental conditions or who take certain medications may not be good candidates for dental implants. A thorough health history evaluation is imperative during a dental implant consult.

Typically, a dental implant is placed and allowed to integrate with the bone for 4-6 months. Could be as long as 9 months in some cases. Monthly radiographs are taken during this healing phase to evaluate the progress of the integration and to see if any infection is developing. When the integration looks solid on the radiograph, a simple surgical procedure is done to expose the end of the implant so it pokes through at the gumline. Some impressions are taken for the final restoration and a tiny healing cap is placed on the exposed part of the implant. Sometimes a temporary crown is placed at this time as well. Then about a month later the various parts of the implant restoration are tried in and sometimes more impressions are taken. About 2 weeks to a month later, the permanent restoration (the implant crown) is cemented onto the exposed part of the implant.

It is a long process from start to finish, typically 9 months to one year. Although it is invasive, it is relatively painless when done properly and if the healing is uneventful.

I hope this information was helpful to you.

Bryanna

Wow it's a lot more involved then I first though, thank you Bryanna, that was definitely helpful, thank you again for posting it.

So there is no tooth on the implant for like 4-9 months? Wow that's a long time but I bet it's worth it. Do you see a lot of people getting them? I am 38 and have healthy bone from what I saw i nthe xray, I asked the dentist about it when he did the last extraction on the side I am considering getting these for and he said it looked good to him with minimal loss from a prior extraction, since I am looking to replace two teeth, neither had had abcesses or root canals and I don't think it was infected.

Thanks again for sharing that great information with me, I really appreciate it.

Oh you are very welcome! I'm glad to be of help ~'.'~

You are correct, there is usually no temporary tooth placed on the implant during the initial healing phase. If you don't want to have a space during the healing phase, then you may be able to be fitted with an acrylic removable partial denture. These actually work quite well for many people.

In the last 5-7 years, dental implants have become increasingly popular. I personally think many people are becoming more educated about their treatment options and are seeking more permanent solutions to their dental problems. I know more and more medical practitioners are acknowledging in their literature the numerous health risks associated with chronic oral infections and these same doctors are now frequently questioning their patients about their dental health. I also find patients are choosing to remove severely decayed or infected teeth, rather than root canal them as it not only saves them money, but a successful dental implant can last a lifetime.

As I mentioned prior, not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. Many factors need to be considered before venturing into it.

Please let us know what you decide to do ~'.'~

Bryanna

I am thinking that I will get implants if I can swing the cost, I have to get s book or two sold first anf then I will have the cash to use on this to restore my bite. I am glad you posted about them lasting a lifetime (if sucessful) because that is what I am looking for. I've never had a root canal and don't want to. *shivers* I heard how bad they can be from my hubby who had one.

Thanks again for posting what you did Bryanna, I feel a lot better after hearing it from you how it's done.

Pamster,
Again, you are very welcome!

I wish you all the best in selling your books! May I ask....... what type of books are you writing?

Bryanna

i currently have a 10mm overbite, and i have been refereed to the orthodontist. i have been quoted at 1700 for a years treatment. The orthodontist said my case was complicated. i have thought about the idea of a having a bridge done. but i have to take out my two front teeth. i also have a nickel allergy. i am in two minds i do not know if i should get a bridge done or wear braces. could anybody who is a dentist help me with my decision please.


Thankyou

I am not a dentist. I am a dental assistant with 30 years of dental experience. It is always wise to seek a second and often a third orthodontic opinion prior to consenting to any treatment. There are many ways to correct your problem and every orthodontist specializes in what they are most comfortable doing. It is not realy possible for you to make an educated decision unless you are acquire some other options.

Sorry I cannot be of more help.

Bryanna

Maybe you can give me some advice. I had 6 dental implants put in my upper jaw last June 2008 and 2 on my lower jaw. I had all teeth removed and the implants placed by a maxillifacial dentist. All is well with my implants - no complications. I thought it would be good to go with a removable denture since the fixed denture is so expensive. To this day, the removable denture is not completely in place. Had three sets made - not one is comfortable or looks nice - very gummy. I am considering a fixed denture now since I am so upset that I am embaress to talk to anyone. I would like to know if this is normal for a removalbe denture to have so much gum (my gums never showed before) and if I spend the money on a fixed denture - does any gum show at all. My maxillfacial dentist tells me it does? Any advice would be helpful. Thank you!

Diane

Hi Diane,

If I'm understanding you correctly, you have a removable denture on the top only? The lower implants have crowns or a bridge on them?

Dentures can be esthetically customized but there are some limitations. The esthetics pertaining to the length and size of the teeth... amount of gum on the denture..... the size and shape of the denture itself....all depends on the anatomical bone structure of the person. The balance between the size of the teeth and the size of the gum material needs to be in proportion not just for appearance but for practical functioning (chewing, spreaking) purposes as well.

If you have moderate bone loss then you would need more gum material on the denture to take up the space that use to be bone. This could cause you to have a more gummy smile than you did when you had your own teeth. In this scenerio prior to extractions your natural gum line showed less because it had receeded which makes the teeth appear longer. Frequently, the recession occurs over a long period of time and the patient is not even aware of the extent of it. Could that be possible in your case?

The fact that the denture is not "in place" is definitely not right. Irrelevant of the look of the denture, it should be seating properly on the implants and should be very functional.

Have you consulted with a Prosthodontist? These dentists specialize in the replacement of teeth. They are very focused on esthetics, sometimes moreso than a general dentist. They frequently get cases where the GD cannot please the patient with the fit and/or esthetics of the denture.

Let us know how things are going.....

Bryanna