Dental implants are cylinder-shaped fixtures, resembling a bolt or screw, made from surgical-grade titanium that act as artificial teeth roots. A trained dental implant specialist places one or more of these implants in your jawbone to create support for your new teeth. There's nothing too scary about that, because the implant parts are small, and are inserted in a few minutes without discomfort. That means you will like have a very fast recovery, and go back to work, school, or play, the very next day, if not the same afternoon.

The simplest dental implant (one used to replace a single tooth) typically includes three parts: 1) an "implant fixture" placed in the bone, 2) an "abutment" which connects an implant to the artificial tooth, 3) and the artificial tooth itself, sometimes called a "crown". The crown is the only part visible in your mouth and simulates the look and feel of a natural tooth.

Most dental implants are made out of medical grade titanium. The implant surface may also receive special treatments or coatings at the time of manufacturing to help encourage growth of bone around the implant. Ceramic implants made of other materials also exist such as zirconia but are used much less frequently in dentistry. All implants are very friendly to the bone, and encourage the formation of new bone around them.

While 'Zirconium' technically appears as a metal on that famous periodic table of the elements we learned about in our high school science class, manufacturers process it with other elements to form Y-TZP (Yttrium stabilized Tetragonal Zirconium Policrystal). Long story short: Zirconia shares many of the the physical and chemical properties of a ceramic.

Zirconia dental implants (also known as Zirconium dioxide or ZrO2) do not contain titanium, an element classififed as a metal. Dentists often describe Zirconia implants as 'ceramic' as they are white in color, unlike their gray titanium dental implant cousins. Zirconia implants may be suitable for patients with a known allergy to titanium.

Compared with titanium implants, zirconia dental implants may be more prone to fracture or breaking in the jaw, usually cost significantly more than standard titanium implants, and currently have far less scientific research and data to support their long-term reliability.

First off, there are different types of dental implant applications. Single implants replace individual teeth and will often match neighboring teeth so well that no one will know the difference. Multiple implants perform a much bigger job, replacing many teeth, and therefore provide even more dramatic results. Either way, experienced dental implant dentists and their master laboratory technicians use the most advanced techniques and know-how to create a natural looking smile.

Dental implants generally feel much like having your own teeth. You should not feel any unusual sensation ater they are placed. When your dentist sets the artificial teeth over them, you should have a normal bite for natural chewing, appearance, and function.

The F.D.A. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has determined dental implants to be safe and effective. Implant dentists and specialists place up to 800,000 dental implants annually in the United States. An experienced dental implant specialist will use 3-D x-ray scans and computer technology to plan the dental implant treatment. Dentists even use 3-D printing technology to creates guides for the implant surgery itself, making things faster, more accurate, and safer to install. Remember, someone sitting in restaurant near you is very likely enjoying their meal with a dental implant or two!

The service life of dental implants will vary from patient to patient, depending on various factors including personal health, lifestyle factors, maintenance of the implants, and the presence of bruxism (involuntary nighttime clenching or grinding of the teeth). Implants may be the best choice to replace missing or failing teeth in many patients, but you may also consider dental bridges or removable dentures as alternatives. But here's the good news: implants typically last for many years - and implants are almost always more reliable than the failing teeth they replace.

The dental implant surgeon will place your implants in the surrounding jaw bone very carefully to insure safe and proper positioning. This dentist, specially trained in dental implant surgery, makes a small incision in the gum tissue, and prepares a series of spaces in the jaw bone using tiny drills of various sizes irrigated by cool salt water. The dentist then inserts the implant and closes the gums to lef the implants heal for a period of months. Pro tip: The best implant dentists use three-dimensional x-rays (3-D) with special surgical templates or guides to insure that the implants are placed in the best possible position lining up with the future teeth they will support.

Usually not! The surgery needed to place dental implants is actually (and maybe suprisingly) very comfortable. A dental implant specialist typically uses just a little local anesthetic to keep you from feeling anything throughout the procedure. Over the counter pain relievers can be taken for a day or two afterwards in the event of any mild discomfort.

You certainly can be put to sleep for dental implant placement if you are in good health and meet other requirements. But most people find the experience to be very comfortable and stress free when just local anesthesic is used. Some patients who are more anxious can simply take a mild sedative, be awake for the procedure, and get through it without much difficulty at all.

More good news here. Most typical dental implant surgeries take an hour or less time to complete. Dental implants take anywhere from four to six months to fully integrate into the surrounding bone from the time they are first placed. Your dentist will provide temporary teeth so you will have something to show the world when you smile while you are waiting for the finished result. That makes dental implants in a day (with temporary teeth) possible.

You probably do - because modern implant dentists offer lots of options for people with less than perfect bone. Sometimes, your dentist will create more bone with a technique called 'bone grafting'. In other cases, the existing amount of bone in your jaws is perfectly adequate, but requires the implants be placed at special angles to create enough support for your future teeth. The implant specialist will measure the amout of bone you actually have available in your mouth using special two and three-dimensional x-ray scans that he or she will measure on a computer. Make sure to find an implant dentist that uses the latest technology!

Theoretically, implants would integrate in a child's jaw, but as a practical matter, most dentists wait until children finish growing to place dental implants. Think 18 years of age as a general guideline but you should consult directly with your child's pediatric dentist, orthodontist, and a dental implant specialist.

This question should be directed to an oncologist (cancer specialist) beecause it is very specific to your personal health situation. For dental implants, you need a strong immune system to allow proper healing, and cancer treatment can affect your healing, especially during active therapy. Patients that have completed cancer treatment can often have dental implants placed following clearance by their oncologist. Patients with radiation to the jaw for cancer in the head and/or neck are more likely to be very poor candidates for dental implants in areas that have been irradiated. In all cases, consult directly with an experienced implant specialist and your medical doctor.

Dentists place dental implants in people from 18 years to patients in their 90's. Older patients still need to eat, get nutrition, and smile with great looking functional teeth. Dental implants can often help older patients achieve that if their overall health condition is stable.

Osteoporosis or low bone density does not necessarily prevent patients from receiving dental implants. Your dental implant specialist will determine if you have suitable bone by performing a simple 3-D scan which measures the quantity and quality of bone in your jaw.

Drugs used for osteoporosis, especially when taken in intravenous form or taken over a long period of time, can prevent proper healing following any kind of oral surgery. Patients on these medications for shorter periods of time can usually have dental implants with minimal risks. The best course of action is to discuss your personal health situation with your physician and your dental implant specialist to find out if dental implants are right for you.

Doing your own research is one of the best ways to find a dental implant specialist. In particular, you may look for a dental specialist (such as a periodontist or oral surgeon) who has years of additional university-based, formal training in surgery beyond what a typical general dentist may have. Dental implant patients often look up reviews by other patients to learn about their experience with their doctors, and may check out the implant specialist's website for before and after photos.

If a broken or failing tooth is present, the dentist will remove it first. Very often, implant dentists insert an implants into a tooth socket the same day, although you will have to wait a few months before a final tooth can be made over the implant. Remember, a dental implant usually has 3 parts: the implant fixture, an abutment that connects the implant to the tooth crown, and the artificial tooth itself. If the original tooth has been missing for a while, special x-rays are taken to make sure enough bone is available to place the implant. Then after receiving local anesthetic to numb the area, the dentist makes a small incision in the gum, and a special drilling instrument prepares a space for your new implant. A special instrument turns the implant fixture into place, and very small stitches are often added to hold the gum tissue together for a week while you heal. Later, the dentist will take impressinos, and a dental laboratory will make an abutment and tooth, all after several months of healing.

Yes, but it will depend on your individual situtation. Dentists can place implants immediately into extraction sockets, unless there is a significant infection. Sometimes, not enough bone is present to secure the implant, and the surgeon must perform bone grafting or a bone repair first. In many cases, especially where highly visible front teeth are involved, the implant dentist will place the implant at the time of the extraction so a temporary tooth can be made to help form and support the gum tissue around the future implant tooth.

Implants for front teeth require special treatment to preserve (or sometimes rebuild) the surrounding gum and bone which has the tendency to shrink after teeth are removed. While a little gum shrinkage around back teeth (a molar for instance) would not be noticed, even the smallest loss of gum tissue is very noticable around front teeth that show when you smile. Dental implant specialists with advanced training are best suited to prevent these problems, and address them when they occur. Dentist want to give their patients dental implants that both look and feel great.

A dental implant bridge is a series of many teeth connected together and supported by multiple dental implants. The term 'dental implant bridge' is a very general term, and includes hybrid implant dentures (All on 4, All on 6 style) and conventional implant supported teeth. Said differently, an implant bridge uses many implants to support many teeth.

A snap on denture is simply a better denture, held in place by dental implant connections underneath it, that are typically removed at night for sleeping. Snap on dentures secure loose-fitting dentures. They allow a full lower denture to be made that will relatively stable while speaking and chewing. Snap on dentures permit an upper denture to exist in a horse-shoe shape, without requiring plastic material to cover the entire roof of your mouth, as is the case with a typical full upper denture.

Full mouth implants is a term used to describe the placement of many implants to replace missing or failing teeth. Modern techniques often allow the dental implant specialist to perform dental extractions and place temporary implant-supported teeth the very same day. After four to six months of healing, the dentist will replace the temporary teeth with the final teeth. The final restoration is usual stronger, more customized, and more natural looking.

In most situations when many teeth need to be replaced, your implant dentist will provide temporary teeth while you are waiting for healing of the implants. These temporary solutions usually require a very soft diet, but fulfill most patients' cosmetic needs. So don't worry! You'll be able to flash a smile with confidence and won't be afraid to leave the house, even during treatment.

Teeth in a day, All on 4, All on 6, and a variety of other terms all refer to a technique where a full arch of failing or missing teeth (upper or lower jaw or both) are replaced with dental implants and temporary teeth in a single day. Instead of waiting months for a result, the temporary teeth look great, and allow at least a soft diet for a period of months until your dentist replaces them with a stronger, more permanent set of teeth. The transformation is usually quite dramatic, and patients regain a sense of confidence and better oral health almost immediately.

First, locate an experienced dental implant specialist near you. Next, you will visit the dental office and meet with a dental implant specialist who will take three dimensional x-rays and photos, and ultimately plan your treatment on a computer. You will select a future date to give the dental laboratory time to prepare your temporary teeth. You will then come to the office and receive some form of anesthetic. The dental implant dentist may remove failing teeth, and then place your dental implants. A few hours later you will leave with your new temporary teeth. After a few months of healing, the dentist will uprade your temporary teeth to a stronger, more customized set of teeth and give you the best possible cosmetic results and smile.

There are many alternatives to dental implants. A dentist can make removable dentures to replace your missing teeth. You can expect that dentures can be difficult to wear, and that you must take them out at night. Dentures are generally a very poor substitute for your natural teeth - but many patients get by with them as they are usually the least expensive option. If you have enough healthy teeth remaining, dental crown and bridge work can sometimes use existing teeth to support a row of teeth that are more permanent than a denture. You must consult with a qualified dentist in your area to find out which options are right for you.

The advantages of a dental bridge without implants are that it can be completed relatively quickly and does not require surgery. The disadvantages of a dental bridge without implants are the risk of future decay under the bridge, the risk of gum disease, and the prepration or cutting down of your healthy teeth required to make the bridge. Dental bridges can be appropriate if there is not enough bone available to place dental implants. Individual situations are very different, and you should consult with a dentist or periodontist (gum specialist) to help determine which choice will work best for you.

Unfortunately, you must take removable dentures out at night - George Washington style, the glass of water - not very sexy, but often an economical choice. Removable dentures can also destroy the teeth they are connected to, and generally do not function as well as natural teeth or implants. Most patients surveyed will report that dental implants with permament teeth have increased the quality of their life, and that they are very satisified with the results. Not having to remove their teeth at night, better function, and improved health and appearance are among the reasons that patients enjoy their new implants. Dentists may also use implants in combination with removable dentures to make them more secure, an especially helpful function for dentures used in the lower jaw.

Dental implants can help secure loose fitting dentures. A dental implant specialist can place implants in the jaw that hold special attachments that allow your denture to lock in place. While this implant solution, a snap-on denture, is generally not as good as full mouth implants, in most cases it provides for a much better denture - and a better quality of life!

Dentists use Locator™ attachments over dental implants to help secure removable dentures. These attachments prevent some of the shifting, dislodgment, and movement common to dentures - and make them more secure, especially while eating. This is particular useful for lower dentures that don't stay in well despite the use of glue or adhesive. Patients report that their locator dentures vastly improve their ability to eat their favorite foods, allow them to speak more comfortably, and makes a big change in their day to day lives!

Sometimes there just isn't enough bone in your jaw to allow the dentist to place dental implants. Bone grafting means the addition of actual bone material (dontated bone) or a bone substitute, either at the time of removal of a tooth, or months or years after a tooth has been lost, to repair or increase the amount of your jawbone available to secure an implant.

Bone grafting or bone repair may be required whenever the implant dentist determines that not enough bone exists to properly secure a dental implant. Special three-dimensional x-ray images can be taken in the dental implant surgeon's office to both measure the amount of actual bone available in your jaw. Computer technology also llows the dentist to simulate the position of future dental implants, and the teeth they will support, to give you the best looking and best functioning result!

Bone grafting for dental implants typically relies upon some form of processed donated bone that comes in little tubes in a gel form. Most natural bone products when placed in your jaw remain there for several months, and encourage the formation of new bone. In most cases, the bone graft resorbs (or melts away), and is replaced by your own bone cells forming new bone to support a dental implant.

Some patients may object to the use of donated human bone for grafting in preparation for dental implants. Dentists also use animal-derived or even synthetic (man-made) alternative materials exit to help improve the existing bone in your jaw. Still, other techniques avoid grafting altogether, by positioning dental implants in non-traditional positions to make use of the bone that you do have to accomplish similar results. Examples includes All-on-4™ dental implant placement, pterygoid implants, or implants placed in the zygoma (cheekbone).

New techniques allow the placement of dental implants for patients with less than an ideal amount of bone. Solutions such as All-on-4™ full mouth implants allow implants to be placed at special angles to make the most out of the bone you have, and avoid bone grafting or other complicated procedures such as sinus lifts. A three-dimensional x-ray scan can help determine if you are a candidate to get dental implants, even with bone loss in your jaw.

When we lose molar and premolar teeth in the back part of our upper jaw, the sinus or air cavity above our teeth tends to drop and takes over space where the teeth used to be, causing the loss of bone needed to support dental implants. A sinus augmentation (sinus lift) simply returns the drooping sinus to its original position by placing a bone grafting material or bone substitute underneath it, reclaiming the lost space and encouraging the growth of new bone.

Alternatives to sinus lift procedures include a dental bridge supported by the adjacent teeth, placing shorter dental implants if enough bone remains below the sinus, or placing multiple implants in an angled fashion to avoid the sinus and use whatever bone is available in the jaw.

Your dental implant surgeon should have formal university based training in dental implant surgery. Periodontists and oral surgeons typically have had experience in their residency training placing many dental implants under the supervision and instruction of experienced practitioners. These specialists generally understand basic principles of oral surgery, and many of the finer points of bone grafting, building and preserving soft tissue around dental implants, and placing dental implants in a variety of patients and types of cases.

Periodontists are dental surgical specialists that typically have three years of training in dental implant procedures following their four year doctoral degree. As periodontists also have considerable experience preserving and regenreating gum tissue around teeth and dental implants, many are especially qualified to place dental implants and obtain excellent cosmetic and functional results for their patients.

Nobel Biocare, Straumann, and Zimmer are among some of the more established manufacturers of dental implants.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the marketing of dental implants sold in the United States. Lower cost dental implants are often manufactured by companies with their own unique design, or using close copies of other dental implant manufacturers' designs. Some dentists are more comfortable selecting dental implants for their patients from established companies with more mature products, top-notch manufacturing processes, and a high level of technical support. While implants manufactured by companies such as Nobel Biocare, Straumann, and Zimmer may cost more, the reputation of the manufacturer and the future availability of replacement parts in years to come may make the extra expense a worthwile investment.

Dental implants are generally successful in replacing missing or failing teeth. Many studies suggest an approximately 90% success rate over time - others show a higher and lower rate of success. Various things likely affect the long term success of your implants, including your individual health, genetic factors, personal oral hygiene, social and physiologic factors, the number and position of implants used, and the design of the implant restoration, and compliance with your dentist's instructions for cleaning and maintenance visits.

Sometimes dental implants can fail. Early failures can occur around the time the dentist first places the dental implants. When this occurs, the failed implant or implants can usually be easily removed and replaced in a short period of time. Implants may also fail after years of use and may need to be replaced. The important thing to keep in mind is that very few dental solutions for missing teeth of any kind is perfect or is guaranteed to last forever. Dental implants, for all they accomplish in serving the place of missing teeth, remain one of the best ways to reliably restore your smile.

There are many theories on why some dental implants may fail - and some are controversial. Reasons for the failure of dental implants can include your overall health, genetic factors, smoking and drinking, the quality and amount of bone available in your jaw, nighttime clenching (bruxism), and the design of the implant restoration. However, implant dentists and gum specialists can often successfully treat failing dental implants before they becomes hopeless, and extend their life significantly.

An experienced dental implant dentist can usually determine if your implants are failing by x-ray imaging and examining the gum tissue around your implants. Some patients with failing dental implants report swelling or bleeding in the gum around their implants, a bad taste in their mouth, or loose dental work above the dental implants. The best way to determine if your dental implants are failing is to make an appointment to see a qualified dental specialist.

If enough bone remains around your failing dental implants, various implant surface cleaning and decontamination techiques can be used to both treat the dental implant infection. The periodontist (gum specialist) or other dental implant dentist may clean the implant surfaces using a combination of laser, physical scrubbing of the implant surfaces with special instruments and machines, oral antibiotics, and flushing the infected areas with different antiseptic liquids. Implant specialists may also try to repair and regnerate bone around dental implants using grafting materials.

Laser treatment is often used to help decontaminate infected dental implant surfaces. Different techniques are used, but many dentists beleive that water cooled Erbium laser may have a beneficial effect on failing implants, when used in conjunction with other cleaning and disinfection techniques.

Dental implants costs vary widely, depending on many factors including the number of teeth being replaced, the condition and amount of bone available to place the dental implants, the case complexity, the type of tooth replacement selected, and the experience of the implant specialist. For example, a single tooth replacement costs less than a full mouth reconstruction. A snap-on denture supported by implants costs less than a fixed, permament implant solution. All-on-4 hybrid denture solutions cost less than implant bridges which more closely resemble natural teeth. Cases that require extractions, bone grafting, other oral surgery, or require extra work to achieve a great cosmetic result will cost more. As a general guide, single tooth implant solutions placed by dental specialists can cost in the $4000 to $5000 range, snap-on dentures with two implants in the $8000 to $10,000 range, snap-on dentures with four implants in the $12,000 to $16,000 range, and full arch upper or lower solutions in the $25,000 to $35,000 range, depending on whether acrylic or ceramic materials are selected. Implant bridges supported by many implants may cost even more.

Sometimes dental insurance may contribute to the cost of dental implant treatment. Unfortunately, most dental insurance plans have a relatively small maximum annual benefit, and patients are left with considerable out of pocket costs. Dental implant treatment may be covered by medical insurance, but the need for the dental implants must usually be related to a traumatic accident, specific medical condition, or reconstruction after a disfiguring surgery for it to be considered under a medical plan.

Dental implants are valuable and their price usually reflects their worth to the individual patient in terms of a better smile, better dental health, enjoying favorite foods, and a greater sense of self-confidence. Dental surgeons and dentists trained for many years at great expense to develop the knowledge and technical skills necessary for a great result. The costs of surgical instruments and supplies, specialized office equipment, the precision-manufactured dental implants themselves and hundreds of related parts needed to make them work, 3-D x-ray CT scanners and computers, dental laboratory fees required to build artifical teeth, office operation expenses, labor for assistants and other personnel, and the amount of time required by the dentist from the start to the finish of a case are only some of the expenses that go into the price of dental implants.

Many dental offices offer payment plans and financing with monthly payments to make dental implants affordable for qualified patients.