All about dental implants

Dental implants are a common solution for missing teeth, offering long-lasting, functional, and natural-looking results.

Here, Dr Sahil Patel, renowned cosmetic dentist based in London, offers an expert insight into dental implants.

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is our closest replacement for a missing tooth. The three parts to a dental implant are: the fixture (screw), the abutment (connection), and the crown (tooth).

Who is a good candidate for dental implants?

Someone who is missing one or many front or back tooth could be a good candidate for dental implants. The procedure is very versatile, in the sense that there are very few situations where a dental implant isn’t advisable.

The alternatives to dental implants are bridges and removable dentures. However, both are generally considered inferior to an implant because of their shorter lifespan and their reliance on neighbouring teeth to anchor new teeth.

A dental implant is unique in the sense that it is stand-alone - it doesn’t require nor use the strength of the remaining teeth in the mouth - which limits the risks of complications long-term.

How are dental implants placed?

A medical-grade metallic (titanium) screw is fixed into the jawbone, using proprietary 3D planning software, X-rays, and drills. This allows the implant to be placed according to the location of the original tooth, which optimises the aesthetic and functional result.

After a healing period of three months, in which the implant is integrated into the jawbone, a custom connection is then designed. This connects the fixture to the new tooth.

Following this, the new tooth - which is custom-made of ceramic - is fixed to the connection, using specific tooling according to the brand and model of the implant advised.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Implants are one of the lowest maintenance dental restorations in existence, and last up to 25 years with proper healthcare. As a result, they represent a very cost-effective solution to replace a tooth, as very few materials in dentistry can stand the test of time compared to implants.

Furthermore, implants also don’t compromise the adjacent teeth, because they are stand-alone.

What are the risks and complications of dental implants?

Risks and complications include:

• Implants don’t last forever, and when they do fail remedial treatment can be complex and costly.
• Bone loss around implants – this can be caused by poor home-care, and is called peri-implantitis. It is very challenging to treat and generally bone can’t be regained once lost.
• Sinus damage: In complex implant placement, occasionally the sinuses (air spaces in the face) require modification in order to place the implant. This can cause various issues in healing and onward treatment.
• Nerve damage: If an implant is placed close to a nerve, it can cause temporary or permanent changes in sensation on the lip, chin, and tongue on that side.

Additionally:

• Each implant manufacturer has proprietary connections and components associated with their system. Dismantling and accessing the system at a future date relies on the consistent availability of parts and the expertise of your current dentist. This can be a specialised process requiring a wide knowledge of implant systems.
• Implants occasionally fail to heal in the bone, and can thus require a repeat procedure. This usually occurs without complication, but it does extend the treatment time from three months to six months.
• Aesthetics: Depending on the quality and quantity of the bone in and around the missing tooth, various prosthetic methods may be used to accurately replace the tooth. This can involve pink ceramic to replace lost gum tissue, which can look realistic but would never be as natural as the actual gum tissue.
• Fractures: Implants don’t exhibit the proprioceptive feedback of a normal tooth. This means that the protective feedback to prevent excess bite forces doesn’t exist, meaning high bite forces are likely. Fractures to the ceramic work are possible for this reason.

To schedule an appointment with Dr Sahil Patel, head on over to his Top Doctors profile today.