Dental Implants

Dental implants are basically artificial titanium stubs that are fixed into the jaw onto which artificial teeth can be attached. This implant is a replacement for the tooth root that may have decayed.

There can be individual implants for one tooth or bridge implants for several teeth. There are also 3 types of implants: artificial bone substitute implant (calcium substitutes that bond with the jaw bone), endosteal implant (implants fixed into the jaw bone instead of the root) and sub-periostial implants (implants fixed over the jaw bone).

With local anaesthesias dental implant surgery is not as painful as it used to be. Even so only a qualified periodontist or maxillofacial surgeon should perform the surgery for it to be successful.

With dental implants there is no special maintenance that is required, only the regular oral hygiene needs to be maintained. Gummy and chewy foods can be avoided to prolong the life of the artificial teeth.

Getting dental implants is expensive and can cost up to $6000 depending on the type of implants and whether a maxillofacial dentist is involved.

Dental implants give new life to those who have lost their teeth to age or infection. It gives them back their smile and the satisfaction of biting and chewing food.