| What Are Implants?
Implants are devices that replace the roots of missing teeth. They are used to support crowns, bridges or dentures. Implants are placed in your jawbone by surgery. Most of the time, implants feel more natural and secure than other methods of replacing missing teeth, such as dentures.
There are many reasons it's important to replace missing teeth:
- Having all of your teeth can make you more self-confident. You don't worry that people notice that you have teeth missing.
- When teeth are lost, the area of the jawbone that held those teeth starts to erode. Over time, you can lose so much bone that you will need a bone graft to build up your jawbone before your dentist can place implants or make a denture that fits properly.
- Tooth loss affects how well you chew and what foods you are able to eat. Many people who have missing teeth have poor nutrition, which can affect overall health.
- The loss of teeth can change your bite, the way your teeth come together. Changes in your bite can lead to problems with your jaw joint, called the temporomandibular joint.
- Losing teeth can lead to changes in your speech, which also can affect your self-confidence.
There are several types of implants, including:
- Root form
- Transosseous
- Ramus frame
- Blade form
Root-form implants are the most common type used today. A root-form implant is made of titanium. It looks like a small cylinder or screw. After an implant is placed in the jawbone, a metal collar called an abutment eventually is attached to it. The abutment serves as a base for a crown, denture or bridge.
The key to the success of all implants is a process called osseointegration. This is the process in which the bone in the jaw bonds with the implant. Titanium is a special material that the jawbone accepts as part of the body.
The ability of titanium to fuse with bone was discovered accidentally. In 1952, a scientist named Per-Ingvar Brånemark was using titanium chambers screwed into bones as part of his research to discover how bone healed after an injury. When he tried to remove the titanium chambers, he found they had become bonded to the bone.
Dr. Brånemark then did further research into how titanium implants might work. In 1965, the first root-form implants were placed in people. Other types of implants also have been used for the last 30 to 40 years. Many implant systems are available from various dental manufacturers.
Studies indicate that surgical placement of root-form implants is successful more than 90% of the time. When these implants fail, the problems usually occur within the first year after surgery. After that, only about 1% of all implants fail each year.
Implants have become increasingly popular since the American Dental Association (ADA) endorsed them in 1986. Between 1986 and 1999, the number of implant procedures tripled. An ADA survey found that the average number of implants placed by a dentist who does the procedure was 56 per year in 1999, compared with 18 in 1986.
It is now estimated that between 300,000 and 400,000 implants are placed every year in the United States.
Depending on your particular problem, implants can be more expensive than the alternatives (denture or bridge). A basic implant plus a crown can cost between $1,500 and $4,000. The fees will depend on many factors and vary considerably. Insurance companies generally do not cover this cost, although you should always check with your insurer.
While the upfront cost for implants can be more than for other types of restorations, the investment can pay off in the long run. You may not need an implant for every missing tooth. Your dentist can discuss how many implants you will need.
Other benefits of implants include:
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Feel — Because implants are imbedded in your bone, they feel more like your natural teeth than bridges or dentures.
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Convenience — You will not need to worry about denture adhesives or having your dentures slip, click or fall out when you speak.
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Nutrition — You will be able to chew better with implants. Chewing can be difficult with regular dentures, especially ones that don't fit perfectly. A regular upper denture also covers your palate, which can reduce your sense of taste.
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Self-esteem — Because implants are so much like your natural teeth, you will think about them less. Your self-esteem and confidence will be improved because you will not have to worry about denture problems or people noticing that you have missing teeth. Regular dentures also can affect your speech, which can make you less self-confident when talking with others.
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