Recovery and making the most of dental implants
Dental implants Herefordshire are an investment for anybody in both time and money. Sadly, getting value from the treatment is not guaranteed, so how do you maximise success rates with oral implants at our practice Warrendale Dental?
What are oral implants and why do they go wrong?
Oral implants touch on areas of medicine that most dentists would not interact with. The implant allows the full replacement of a tooth, which is far more extensive than many other dental prosthetics like crowns, bridges and dentures. It includes an artificial root that extends from the gum line down into the patient’s jawbone.
Dental implants Herefordshire are fitted over two sessions. In the first, the gum is opened at the implantation site and the titanium subsection of the implant is placed in either a vacant socket or after the jawbone has been prepared. The gum is then closed over the top of the implant relying on the gum tissue to help immobilise and keep it in place. As new bone grows around the implant, it becomes fused into the jawbone, a phenomenon known as osseointegration. In the second session after the new bone growth has been confirmed by X-ray, a prosthetic crown is placed by us on top of the artificial root.
Inserting and interfacing titanium components in direct contact with bone and assessing bone growth on X-rays comprise skill sets more common in orthopaedics than dentistry, meaning additional training, skills and equipment are required from our dentists. It also means that the success or failure of an implant is intimately associated with the rates and quality of bone growth.
Success rates
Dental implants Herefordshire have a 95% success rate over 10 years. The majority of complications that occur are within the implantation stage. Once the prosthetic crown is loaded they are unlikely to fail.
Important behaviours
Some factors are under your control and we would strongly recommend that you take an active position and get the most out of your treatment.
The largest factor in restricting bone growth is smoking. We would advise you that this not only reduces blood flow throughout the body and also directly exposes the inflamed and recovering tissues to nicotine, but the compounds in the tar are absorbed through the gum tissue in the mouth. If you are struggling with not smoking and are using nicotine replacement patches or vaping, this is an improvement compared to smoking if fully quitting is not an option.
We direct all our patients that it is important to maintain oral hygiene throughout the implantation process. Once you get your new tooth, implants themselves may be impervious to cavities, but they can still be lost due to gum recession. They can also become stained and build up plaque and tartar.
Immediately after implantation, the use of salt water and cold compresses can be helpful with the general soothing of inflamed gum tissue. During this period it is best not to engage in contact sports, as the first structures between the implant and the newly growing bone are forming. Disruption at this stage and delays can result in a crooked or misaligned implant.
Use the advice that we, as your dentist, provide for you and you will have a restoration which will last for a very long time.