You must’ve heard thousands of times in your lifetime – dental implants can replace a broken or lost tooth. But what are dental implants? What are they made of? Shouldn’t having a foreign object plugged in your jawbone hurt?
Modern dental implants were invented back in 1952 by a Swedish orthopedic surgeon named Per-Ingvar Brånemark. At the age of 23, he discovered that titanium could safely fuse with bone – a process he called “osseointegration”, which pioneered the use of dental implants. In the modern age, this discovery is considered the standard care for prosthetic replacement of missing teeth.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a surgical procedure that allows a fixture to be placed into the jawbone and it fuses with the bone over the span of several months. They are used to fix your smile, replace natural teeth, support crowns, bridges, or dentures. Having a fixture fused in your jawbone is the nearest thing to copying an original tooth because it stands on its own without affecting any nearby teeth.
Why should I use dental implants?
There are many reasons why it’s important to use dental implants to replace lost teeth or fix your smile:
- Having a full set of teeth can fix your smile and make you more confident.
- Dental implants help preserve your jaw bone and shape and prevent jaw joint problems, including temporomandibular joint.
- It allows you to chew any food you like. A missing tooth can affect your overall health by not allowing you to take enough nutrients.
- A missing tooth can affect your speech – which can lead to lower self-confidence.
Does dental implant hurt?
The dental implant procedure is divided into two parts – the surgical phase and the restorative phase. During the surgery, the dentist opens your gums with an incision. This may sound very painful, but dentists use local anesthetics to numb the area thoroughly before the procedure. So you won’t feel any discomfort or pain. After opening the gum, your dentist will use a series of drills to make room for a dental implant, into your jawbone. As the nerves in your jawbone have been anesthetized, you won’t feel any pain. The most discomfort you may feel during this procedure is the pressure of the drill. When the drilling is completed, a titanium implant is placed in that area. Once your dentist is satisfied with the placement of the implant, he will close up the incision. Your dentist may give you medication for pain, so you have sufficient pain relief once the anesthetic wears off. After that, there is a 4 to 5 months of healing period, during which osseointegration takes place and the jaw bone holds the dental implant.
During the restorative phase, your dentist will make a small opening in the gum, on top of your dental implant to attach a custom-made laboratory fabricated Zirconia tooth or crown on the dental implant.
Dr. Salim Kapadia performs dental implant procedures from start to finish with maximum precision at an affordable cost. You do not need to go to different dentists for the surgical and restorative phases. At Dr. Salim Kapadia Dental Centre, all your dental implant needs are taken care of in one location by Dr. Salim Kapadia himself. If you’ve lost a single tooth or multiple teeth, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Salim Kapadia Dental Centre in the heart of Scarborough, on Markham Road for the best dental implants at an affordable cost.
