Application of permanent dental implants

Sometimes, despite their best efforts, due to genetics or unforeseen events, patients need dental implants to maintain their smiles and the overall health of their teeth. This may be due to tooth decay, but using permanent dental implants is so common that it is safe to proceed with them.

Implants look like natural teeth and are a more convenient and permanent replacement for missing teeth.

Implants are a great alternative to partial or complete dentures and dental bridges. Implants can restore the ability to chew food that would not have been possible with a bridge or denture, thus restoring the patient’s self-confidence.

Tooth Decay or Cavities

Tooth decay or cavities is the main reason for dental implants, tooth decay is caused by acids made by bacteria in the mouth that cause teeth to break down and fall out.

Teeth are initially yellow, eventually turning black as decay progresses. Tooth decay can be associated with pain and difficulty eating, along with inflammation of the tissue around the tooth and even the formation of an abscess. According to the Canadian Dental Association (CDA), the importance of controlling dental infections has increased during COVID-19, some of which may be caused by tooth decay in the mouth.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2016, there were approximately 3.6 billion people – 48% of the world’s population – who had decay in their permanent teeth! They also estimate that almost all adults will develop tooth decay at some point in their lives. In the teeth of infants and young children, an estimated 620 million people, or 9 percent of the population, have cavities, largely due to an unhealthy diet high in simple and refined sugars!

In addition, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that tooth decay is the most common childhood problem. 24 percent of U.S. children ages 2 to 4, 53 percent of children ages 6 to 8, and 56 percent of children ages 15 have already experienced a cavity.

If you are concerned about the health of your teeth or think you may be at risk for developing tooth decay, contact our dental professionals to help prevent the progression of your tooth decay.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are the best option for permanent teeth. Implant surgery involves placing an artificial root in the jaw to hold a replacement tooth—called a crown—on the implant base. The implant acts like a tooth root and is usually made of titanium and other materials that are well-suited to the human body.

Dental Implant Procedure

In preparation for the actual implant, digital scans are used to design and digitally simulate the dental implant surgery. Using 3D cone beam computed tomography – a facial scanning technology – an image of your current teeth is captured and a new smile is designed with the dental implant in mind with the help of specialized software.

Provided that there is enough healthy gum tissue and the patient has a dense enough jawbone, implants can be placed in the upper or lower jaw, in the front or back of the mouth. These become anchors onto which new man-made teeth or crowns are permanently attached.

After consulting with our dental specialists, patients can have a full set of new teeth in just one day. However, most implants involve two or three stages of treatment, the placement of which in the patient’s mouth depends on the type of dental implant and the health of the jawbone.

Under sedation and strong anesthesia, decayed teeth may be extracted after careful examination, and small incisions are made in the gums to expose the jawbone. The implant is then placed in the jawbone, and the gum tissue is sutured and secured over the implant.

These implants have porous surfaces that allow bone tissue to grow into them, further strengthening the bond. Over three to six months, the titanium implant fuses with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration.

This period allows the bone to heal and achieve structural and functional integrity, which in some cases may require a bone graft. However, we may be able to place the implant immediately in some patients who do not need to wait for this osseointegration process.

Once the implant and bone have bonded, our endodontist will attach the abutment to the implant. In some cases, the implant and abutment are one unit that is placed during the initial surgery. For some patients, a second surgery may be required to attach the abutment to the replacement teeth.

Finally, the dentist in Ottawa will create a crown that is the right size, shape, and color for the implant base to match your natural teeth. The replacement tooth – called a crown – is then attached to the implant post.

Regular follow-ups are scheduled to check the placement of the implant and the condition of the patient’s gums, a process that is crucial to the success and ongoing health of the implanted teeth.

Titanium Implants

The titanium alloy used in dental implants is highly biocompatible, meaning it is not rejected by the human body. What’s more, titanium can even bond with the surrounding bone tissue through a process called osseointegration. It can therefore provide the strongest possible support base for the artificial teeth that will be placed on top of it. Titanium is also lightweight, hypoallergenic, and highly resistant to corrosion.

Bone grafting

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure typically performed by dental surgeons or endodontists to repair damaged bone by grafting an artificial or natural bone into the damaged area. This procedure rebuilds, strengthens, and stabilizes the jawbone and provides the necessary support for the placement of dental implants.

Dentures

Dental prosthetics is a specialized branch of dentistry that involves the design, fabrication, and installation of permanent and semi-permanent artificial replacements for teeth. The field of prosthetics includes specialized procedures for repairing or replacing teeth with prosthetics such as dental crowns and bridges, dentures, and dental implants.

Dentures

This is a surgical procedure or technique whereby a fixed prosthesis is placed on four implants – 2 in the upper palate and 2 in the back of the lower jaw. In medical terms, this is referred to as the anterior jaw, where bone density is highest.

Dentures

Dental prostheses are another type of tooth replacement procedure that includes implants, crowns, bridges, dentures, and veneers—which cover dental defects and replace missing teeth. While dentures can be removable, others are permanently fixed in your mouth.