The importance of replacing teeth : Dental Implants

The importance of replacing teeth Dental Implants

Tooth loss is typically associated with older people. However, it is a problem that affects younger people as well. It is an oral problem that affects functionality of the mouth as well as the individual’s smile. Tooth loss often leads to reduced self-esteem as the person is usually overly conscious of themselves in public settings.

According to research, millions of people in Australia are living with at least one missing tooth. Another 36 million people in the U.S have lost all their teeth. The problem primarily affects older adults, current smokers, and people with low incomes and limited education. These sections of the population are also more predisposed to complete tooth loss. However, the numbers of people who have lost teeth having been dropping since the 1960s, even though they are forecasted to start going up again in the next 15 years.

Contents

• What causes tooth loss?
• Effects of tooth loss
• The importance of replacing missing teeth
• Regain the ability to chew
• Decreased nutrition levels
• Replacing missing teeth is good for overall health
• Findings of the study
• Tooth loss increases risk of oral cancer
• To regain self confidence
• What are dental implants?
• Are implants painful?
• Implant placement procedure
• After the surgery
• Success rate for dental implants
• Caring for dental implants

What causes tooth loss?

There are a lot of risk factors for tooth loss. While the most common reason is age, there are other preventable and unforeseen causes that could still cause this. Some of the reasons include:

• Avoiding dental care
• Increased risk of tooth loss for people past the age of 35
• Higher risk for males
• Past or current smoking habit
• Having rheumatoid arthritis
• Having diabetes
• Having high blood pressure
• Trauma to the mouth
• Genetics
• Wear
• Inflamed gums

Effects of tooth loss

The most apparent effect of losing teeth is the loss of your smile. This in turn affects the individual psychologically and can have far-reaching consequences in social situations. Even so, this is not much of a worry compared to the unseen effects of endentulism. Missing teeth can cause health problems as well.

One of the biggest concerns when it comes to teeth loss has nothing to do with the person’s appearance with the repulsive gaps. The bone underneath is affected the most. The bone that supports the teeth needs to be stimulated to remain fully functional. The teeth provide the stimulation when they make contact. Throughout the day, teeth make small contacts with each other, thus helping the bone remain in good form. The fleeting contacts are transmitted to the bone trough the periodontal ligament. These are the ligaments that keep each tooth in its socket. When transmitted to the bone, the stress caused by teeth allows the bone to continue to rebuild and remodel constantly.

When there is no tooth to cause this stimulation, the alveolar bone decreases in external height and width. This gradual loss eventually results in loss of bone volume. The degradation is so severe that within the first year, an individual is estimated to have lost 25% of bone mass. In the next few years, the degradation reaches to about 4 millimeters shrinkage in height.

The underlying bone continues to loss height and width in alternation until gum tissue also decreases. This in turn impairs the ability to speak or chew properly. In this case, the loss of more teeth also reduces function which becomes very problematic for people who have lost all their teeth.

After the alveolar bone degrades significantly, the degeneration continues to the jaw bone proper, also known as the basal bone. This too begins to melt away. When degradation reaches the basal bone, facial structure also changes as the lower part of the face collapses partially. When such an extensive part of the underlying bone has wasted away, the effects are very visible as the cheeks become hollow due to lack of support from the teeth. The chin also deforms as it rotates upward and forward. In such a state, the person is more prone to jaw fractures and can easily injure their mouth from any forceful contact.

Bite collapse is likely to occur when the back teeth are missing. These are the teeth that support the vertical dimension of the face. When the there are no back teeth to support the face, the front teeth are compressed and are often pushed forward. The front teeth do not have the capability to support the face as they only serve the purpose of tearing, they cannot be used to chew. This combined with sagging lips causes people with missing teeth to have an unhappy facial expression which is basically because the whole structure of the lower part of the face is collapsing gradually. It is the main reason for wounded self confidence in toothless people.

Tooth loss can also increase chances of gum disease. Gaps between teeth are prime breeding grounds for plaque, which allows for rapid accumulation. It becomes harder to maintain oral hygiene because plaque buildup occurs in tough-to-reach areas where you are likely to miss as you brush and floss. Plaque attacks the adjacent teeth and compounds the problem of tooth loss where the person is likely to lose more teeth and in most cases theprocess is much faster.

The importance of replacing missing teeth

Living with lost teeth is not ideal. There are many drawbacks tied to missing teeth and the fact that gaps are left to remain in the mouth encourages more tooth loss. It is in their best interest for people with missing teeth to find ways to replace lost teeth. Here is how that helps.

Regain the ability to chew

One of the most frustrating things for people with gaps in their mouths is the inability to chew as normal. It can be very tough to get used to the fact that one cannot eat as they used to before losing teeth. With prosthetics as replacement, such an individual regains 20% to 50% of their tooth function.

Decreased nutrition levels

It is hard to enjoy the full range of diet requirements when you have problems chewing. Difficulty in chewing forces the person to take more soft foods and starchy varieties since they are easier to chew. In some scenarios, people with gaps in their dental formula cannot have fruits and raw vegetables aside from other solid foods. As a consequence, the person may suffer from malnutrition and is more exposed to health conditions pegged to a lack of nutrition. This is mostly seen in people with 10 or more missing teeth which significantly reduce the ability to chew properly.

Replacing missing teeth is good for overall health

Teeth do more than keep facial features intact or provide chewing ability. Having a full set of teeth protects your dental formula in that remaining teeth are not affected by plaque harboring gaps. It is also vital for bone and gum structure. Missing teeth affect medical and oral heath for the long-term.

A study conducted by scientists from the University of Greifswald in Germany studied 1,083 senior patients over the span of 10 years who had 20 or more missing teeth. The study, which was featured in the International Journal of Cardiology, was conducted to investigate the overall health implications of missing teeth.

Findings of the study

• Researchers observed that 40% of patients with 9 or more that were not replaced had an increased mortality rate and could die during the span of the study.
• Said patients also had a higher risk of dying from cardiac related issues.

During the time it took to carry out the study, 362 patients died. As evidenced by the study, people with missing teeth are more exposed to health problems which could ultimately lead to fatality.

Tooth loss increases risk of oral cancer

Periodontal disease and tooth loss are two oral problems that have been linked with the occurrence of oral cancer. There have been studies conducted on the prevalence of oral cancer in people with missing teeth which have found it to be a risk factor. In one such research, test subjects with clinical attachment loss of more than 1.5 mm had more incidences of precancerous oral lesions or tumors in the buccal cavity. The increased risk of oral tumors or precancerous lesions was equally as high in never smokers as in
smokers with endentulism. Tooth loss in particular increases cancer risk since the oral mucosa is exposed to continuing trauma and irritation. This is believed to have a part in carcinogenesis. In comparison to people who have not lost any teeth, people with missing teeth that remain un-replaced are more likely to develop oral cancer. The type of cancer is not spoken about as much as other types such as leukemia, lung or breast cancer. However, statistics show that it causes more deaths in America than any of the well-known cancers.

To regain self confidence

For a lot of professionals, unpleasant gaps in the mouth are damaging to their image. People in careers that involve a lot of public relations have to ensure they keep their façade intact. Tooth loss tends to speed up the process of aging since facial features are malformed. Loss of bite also spoils one’s appearance as it crushes the teeth. People with missing teeth also have problems with speech. Losing 6 or more teeth will typically cause speech problems since the teeth are heavily involved in the speech pattern being used to enunciate some words. People with this problem tend to remain silent in social gatherings because it can be very frustrating to converse with other people and embarrassing too.

Getting a restorative procedure that will restore one’s smile improves their perception of themselves and does away with the off putting smile with gaps.

There are many ways of replacing lost teeth including:

• Removable bridges
• Composite bridge work
• Traditional bridges
• Dental implants

This articles focuses on dental implants as an option for replacing lost teeth. The field of dentistry has evolved over the years and there are now ways to have a natural looking, permanent and fully functional prosthetic to replace lost teeth. Dental implants are a long lasting option for tooth replacement. The prosthetics can last for a lifetime when maintained properly.

The implant replaces the tooth root and a crown is attached on top. Implants are made of titanium, which is biocompatible thus can function in the environment of the buccal cavity without any complications arising. Titanium osseointegrates with the jaw bone such that the prosthetic functions as a natural tooth. Aside from this, implants are a good choice since they have interchangeable crowns. The crown can easily be detached from the implant if it is damaged in any way or needs replacing for any reason.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial roots which are inserted in the jaw for the placement of a permanent or removable crown. These metal frames fuse with the bone thus providing a stable support for replacement teeth.

Implants can be placed to replace a single tooth or a number of teeth. Bridges and dentures placed on implants are also stable and donot shift even when speaking or eating.

Types of implants

There are two types of implants patients can choose from. Whether a patient can have one or the other type of implant depends on their oral health. Implants can only be placed on areas of the mouth with sufficient bone mass. The patient’s medical history is also checked to ensure that they can have the procedure. People who have had a lot of dental work done on one tooth may find that dental implants are not a viable option for them.

Endosteal implants; these are the most common type of implants. Endosteal implants are positioned in the bone hence the name. This type of implant can be a blade, cylinder or screw. The implants are a viable choice for people who have had no prior dental work done on their tooth.

Subperiosteal implants; in this case the metal frame is placed on the jawbone. It does not go deep into the bone like the alternative. It is usually placed just underneath gum tissue. The frame is left for a healing period during which it attaches firmly to the jaw bone. They are typically recommended for people who have had significant bone wasting such that an endosteal implant would not be possible.

Parts of a dental implant

Implants are designed from medical grade titanium which encourages bone development. Crowns on the other hand are made of porcelain or ceramic that resembles the color of teeth. Porcelain is the more popular material because it has light reflecting properties that make it look like natural teeth strikingly.

A typical implant is made of 3 parts:

• Fixture; this part remains hidden under the gum. It is attached to the bone and is considered a replacement for the root in all purposes.
• Abutment; the abutment protrudes above the game and holds the prosthetic in place. It is also there to hold dentures and bridges in place.
• Dental prosthesis; the visible part of the implant. The prosthesis can either be screwed or cemented depending on the design. It works like a real tooth in every way.

Are implants painful?

A lot of people have a phobia of going to the dentist and the main reason is fear of the pain. However, dentists now have ways to ensure the patient is calm and relaxed all through the process. When placing dental implants, local anesthesia can be used to help the patient relax. Even so, this is just so people are reassured of a painless process even though typically a dental implant is less painful than a tooth extraction. Once the dental implant has been placed, there is some mild discomfort that is easily relieved by over-the-counter painkillers such as Motrin or Tylenol.

Considerations to think about

For a dental implant to be placed, the doctor has to confirm the patient’s health condition and the condition of the local mucous membrane. The condition of the jaw bone is also considered. Apart from these, there are health conditions that are likely to cause long term failure of the implants. Peri-implantitis is also a condition that affects diabetics, heavy smokers and people with poor oral hygiene who have had dental implants placed. Osteoporosis as well as long-term use of steroids can also cause the implants to fail.

Implant placement procedure

Placement of the implant

During surgery, the oral surgeon will make a cut to open your gum so that the bone is exposed. Holes are drilled into the bone where the metal frame will be placed. The holes are dug using precision drills whose speed is carefully regulated so that there is no pressure necrosis of the boneor burning.

The patient still has a gap at this point as is usually given a temporary denture to cover the gap. The denture can easily be removed when sleeping or cleaning the mouth.

The bone is give time to grow

After the titanium frame is put in place, the bone is given time to allow for osseointergration. It is a biologic process where the bone grows attaching firmly with the implant. It is a process that needs time and may take 6 months. There is no set time for osseointergration as every patient is unique. There are patients who heal properly in less than half the 6 month period while others may have to wait for the full half year to continue withthe procedure.

Placing the abutment

Once osseointergration is complete, it is time to place the abutment which requires more surgery. The abutment is placed in readiness for attachment of the crown. The surgery is minor and is typically done on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia.

Placement of the crown

After the abutment is put in place, the patient will need at least two weeks of healing. After this, the crown can now be placed. Ceramic and porcelain crowns are designed to match every aspect of your natural teeth from shape to size and sheen.

• Removable implant prosthesis; it is just like the typical denture. The artificial tooth is bordered by pink gum and is placed firmly in place on top of the abutment. This type of crown can easily be removed for cleaning and repair.
• Fixed implant prosthesis; the artificial tooth is screwed to permanently attach to the abutment. These types of dental implants are always preferable over the first alternative if money is not a problem. Each of the missing teeth is replaced with individual implants.

Scheduling implant placement after tooth extraction

People can choose to take a number of approaches for tooth replacement after natural teeth are extracted;

1. Immediate implant placement after extraction
2. Delayed post extraction placement, which occurs anything from 2 weeks to 3 months after the extraction.
3. Late implantation takes place 3 or more months after extraction.

Attachment of the prosthetic is also done in different ways which include:

1. Immediate loading
2. Early loading is done one to twelve weeks after implantation
3. Deferred loading takes over 3 months

After the surgery

There is some soreness that typically comes after dental implantation procedure. Whether you had your implantation in multiple stages or single stage, there is likelihood that you will experience the following:

• Bruising of gums and skin
• Aching in the area of the implant
• Gums and face swell
• Slight bleeding

The swelling and discomfort should subside with some over-the-counter medicines, however; if it does get worse, patients should contact their doctor for pain medication and antibiotics. The patient is advised to eat soft foods when the procedure is ongoing. The person may have to eat soft foods for 10 to 14 days after every dentist visit.

Success rate for dental implants

An implant is a permanent solution to tooth loss that many people opt for. The procedure has a high success rate and patients always attain full recovery and continue with their normal life after the process is done. The success rate for dental implants is 98%, which is quite high, meaning a lot of patients who want it are actually candidates for the procedure.

Caring for dental implants

Once the implant is fitted in the gap and the crown is placed, the tooth functions like any other and also requires similar care. There is no special care when it comes to implants. Individuals just have to commit to a proper oral hygiene routine where they brush and floss regularly. Regular dental checkups are also vital in ensuring good oral health.

Implants are affected by bone loss in a similar way as natural teeth. When the person is affected by periodontal disease, for instance, the dental implant is affected in a similar way as normal teeth. Aside from the degrading effects of such health complications, the dental implant should last for a very long time.