Dental implants Fort Collins - Get Your Smile Back

Dentures at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants Center are designed to look as natural as possible, so there should be only a slight difference in appearance between them and your natural teeth. As a matter of fact, dentures have been shown to improve smiles and fill out facial appearance. The denture development process at Fort Collins Periodontics and Dental Implants Center takes a few days once your dentist determines what type of appliance is best for you. 

What are Dental Implants? 

Dental implants are prosthetic structures that a dentist places in a patient's jawbone. If a person has lost one or more teeth, they may require an implant. A dental implant is an artificial tooth that replaces one that has been lost. The surgeon implants a screw-like device into the jawbone, which functions as an anchor for a false tooth called a crown. The artificial tooth is connected to the dental implant by an abutment. The crown is designed to fit the patient's mouth and match their teeth's color. Crowns provide the same appearance, feel, and function as natural teeth. 

How Are Dental Implants Placed? 

A tiny incision in the gum is made to expose the bone, and then specific drills are used to construct the implant "bed" into which dental implants are placed. For a single implant, the surgery takes 30 to 60 minutes, but for numerous implants, the time required is just 2 to 3 hours. Patient to patient, the number of appointments and the amount of time necessary vary. The surgeon will pay close attention to the smallest elements of your procedure. 

Why Get Dental Implants? 

Dental implants are surgically inserted in your jawbone, where they act as the roots of missing teeth. Because of the fusion of titanium in the implants with the jawbone, they will not slip, generate noise, or cause bone deterioration as fixed bridgework or dentures may do. Furthermore, the materials are not susceptible to decay in the same way as your own teeth that support traditional bridgework are. 

The Surgical Procedure 

Dental implant surgery is commonly conducted as an outpatient treatment in phases, with recovery time in between. The placement of a dental implant entails several processes, including: 

• Removal of a damaged tooth 
• When necessary, jawbone preparation (grafting) is performed. 
• Placement of dental implants 
• Bone development and repair 
• Abutment placement 
• Placement of Artificial tooth 

From start to end, the complete procedure might take many months. The majority of that time is spent recovering and waiting for new bone to form in your jaw. Certain processes may be combined depending on your situation and also on the precise treatment performed, or the materials utilized. 

During the procedure to put the dental implant, your oral surgeon will create a slit in your gum to expose the bone. Holes are bored into the bone to accommodate the dental implant metal post. The post is placed deep into the bone since it will act as the tooth root. 

The type of implant used and the health of your jawbone determine how the procedure for dental implant surgery is carried out. Getting a dental implant may need a number of different procedures. The biggest advantage of implants is that they provide a stable foundation for your new teeth, which necessitates that the bone around the implant heals securely. Bone healing takes time, therefore it's possible that it may take months to complete. 

Each person's experience with dental implant surgery is likely to be unique. Several factors may have an effect on this, including the following: 

• The total number of teeth in need of replacement 
• The implant's position within the jaw 
• The implant site's bone quality and quantity 
• The underlying oral and systemic health of an individual 

Additional procedures may be necessary based on these criteria. These may include the following: 

Sinus augmentation: Because of the position of the sinuses, implant placement in the upper jawbone is typically challenging. The surgeon may need to do a sinus augmentation, which is a technique that lifts the sinus floor to allow more bone to grow so that the implantation can be effective. 

Modification of the ridge: Jawbone abnormalities might make it difficult for certain patients to have an implant because they lack sufficient bone mass. If this is the case, a surgeon may go for ridge modification. This procedure includes lifting the gums to reveal the bone that is malformed in this location. In order to restore and rebuild the damaged region, the surgeon will utilize bone or a bone replacement. Preparation for dental implant surgery is made easier by this procedure. 

What Types of Prosthetic Teeth are Available? 

There Are Several Different Types of Prostheses: 

• Fixed dental prostheses - If you have no teeth at all, you can use a fixed dental prosthesis as a permanent alternative. This is an excellent chewing solution that should be cared for and cleaned as if it were our real teeth. 
• Crowns - Crowns can be used to repair a single injured tooth or as part of a bridge, with crowns on either side of one or more fake teeth. 
• Prostheses supported by implants - The name tells it all. Dental implants are often inserted in the bone of the jaw, similar to the roots of teeth, and can replace one, several, or complete rows of teeth. 
• Removable dental prostheses - The overdenture model for complete dentures is a solution that offers you security and convenience. This is screwed into and installed on the dental implants, and it may be removed by the patient for cleaning. 
• Dentures - Dentures can be fractional which replaces a few false teeth, or it can be full replacing rows of false teeth. 
• Veneers - Veneers are thin shells that cover discolored or damaged teeth in order to improve their look. 
• Basic metal prosthesis - The most common type of dental prosthesis is the metallic prosthesis, which is composed of metal alloys and resin construction. 
• Hybrid dental prostheses - When the loss of teeth has caused the bone to shrink, a hybrid dental prosthesis is the best option. 

Why Would I Select Dental Implants Over More Traditional Types of Restorations? 

Implants are better than dentures, which are artificial teeth that can be taken out and replaced. 

Implants: 

• Are more comfortable and natural to use. 
• Will make it less likely that nearby teeth will get cavities. 
• Have a better chance of success. 
• Improve the ability to chew. 
• Need not be taken out and cleaned every night. 
• Lead to better bone maintenance at the site of the lost tooth.
• Cause decreased sensitivity to teeth next to them. 

At the same time, dental implants are also associated with disadvantages that is not suitable for everyone. Because the implanting devices must bind with the jawbone, a person's bones must be in good condition before undergoing implant surgery. Dentists have solutions for those people who need additional procedures to prepare their mouths for dental implants. 

What Types of Anesthesia are Used? 

Antibiotics, intravenous sedation, or nitrous oxide (laughing gas) may be used prior to surgery after discussion with patients for their comfort. In order to numb the region where the dental implant will be put, a local anesthetic will be provided. It is done while the patient is relaxed and the surgeon makes a small cut to expose the bone, uses special devices to create a room, and gently puts the titanium implant which is solid support for the new artificial teeth. 

Local Anesthesia - If you require only one dental implant, specialists will most likely utilize a local anesthetic such as Novocain or Lidocaine. This type of anesthetic renders patients a sense of no pain during the surgery, albeit they will still feel some pressure during the implantation process. Local anesthetic has the advantage of allowing patients to drive themselves home following their surgery and allowing them to recover more rapidly. 

Light Sedation with Local Anesthesia - Another sedation option available to the patients during dental implant installation is light sedation with local anesthesia. Patients with fairly complex dental implant needs may benefit from twilight sedation. This not only allows patients to benefit from local anesthetic, but it also puts them to sleep, allowing them to remain mostly ignorant of their surgery. 

General Anesthesia –Some patients need more sedation, either because their procedure is long or because they prefer it that way. General anesthesia allows patients to be completely unaware of the placement of dental implants while they are asleep. General anesthesia means that you don't have to deal with all the noise and pressure that comes with more complicated procedures. Instead, you can take a nice nap. 

Are You a Good Candidate for Implants? 

Dental implants may be a good option for you if you 

• Have missing teeth 
• Have sufficient bone to anchor the implants or are capable of receiving a bone transplant 
• Possess jawbone that has reached full growth 
• Have very healthy oral tissues 
• Are unable to wear dentures or are reluctant to wear dentures 
• Do not have any health problems that might impair bone healing 
• Would you like to enhance your speech 
• Avoid tobacco use 

Do Dental Implants Require Special Care? 

Once undergone dental implant surgery, patients must continue to clean and floss their teeth on a regular basis. Artificial teeth also require a good level of maintenance and care as natural teeth as they are in contact with gums and sometimes with other natural teeth. 

Even though dental implants are not natural teeth, they still need the patient to keep up with good oral hygiene habits. Brushing and flossing to limit plaque and tartar from building up is very important because oral bacteria that cause gum disease can put the long-term stability of a dental implant at risk. The dentist may suggest that you use a mouthwash to help get rid of bacteria. 

Follow-up visits will be scheduled by the surgeon or dentist to check the implants and to ensure that the teeth and gums remain healthy. Visits to the dentist for professional cleanings are recommended every six months.