Implants are a relatively new trend in dentistry and something that we have recently begun using more in our practice! Implants have multiple uses and can be a great option for replacing missing teeth.
A Short History
Implant use for replacing missing teeth dates back up to 4000 years! Skulls have been found around the world where teeth have been replaced with various materials including bamboo, shells, elephant ivory, and precious gems such as jade. It wasn’t until the 1900’s that we moved to using titanium for dental implants.
The value of titanium for use in surgery was discovered in the 1950s when an orthopedic surgeon and researcher named Dr. Branemark placed a piece of titanium on a rabbit's femur during a study on bone healing. Once the bone healed, it fused to the piece of titanium and Dr. Branemark was unable to remove the piece of metal. He theorized that it would be useful in dental implants, and over the last 50 years his theory has come true.
Dental Implant Uses
Simply put, a dental implant is a screw that we place in the patient’s jaw that can be used to attach to teeth replacements. The types of teeth replacements range from single unit crowns to full arch dentures.
The most common use of dental implants in our practice is to replace single missing teeth with a crown. As can be seen in the photo above, the implant goes into the bone and a crown is attached to the implant. As a result you have a tooth almost the same as the one you were missing!
If you are missing several or all of your teeth, there are a variety of options to replace missing teeth. Below are examples of some of those options.
Dental implant bridges can be a good option if a patient is missing a few teeth in a particular section of the mouth. 2 dental implants are placed and a bridge of 3-4 teeth is attached to the implants.
Implant retained removable dentures are a twist on conventional dentures where a number of implants are placed and attached to a patient’s dentures. The denture is still removable and can be taken in and out to clean.
Another option is to permanently attach dentures to implants, a service not currently offered at our practice.
Conclusion
In summary, there are a variety of different uses of dental implants and they can be an awesome way to enhance a patient’s smile! Every case and every patient is different and needs to be assessed personally to see if dental implants would be a good fit. If you think that dental implants may be right for you, please reach out and schedule a free consult so we can find out if this is something you may benefit from!
Jared Hamblin, DDS