Dental implants are a procedure that replaces a missing tooth's form and its function.  If you were to have a dental implant, that implant would support a replacement tooth in the same way that a natural tooth root would support a natural tooth. 

The concept of performing dental implants is not new.  In fact, it has a history that dates back thousands of years.  Egyptian mummies have been found that had gold wire implants in their jawbones.  Skeletons in the Americas have been found with dental implants made of semi-precious stones.  European skeletal remains have exhibited iron dental implants in the jawbone.  In the Middle East as well, skeletons have been found with ivory implants.

Although the methods have obviously changed over time, the concept is still the same.  In our modern world, dental implants began in the United States during the early 1900's and have become increasingly more popular, especially with the increasing popularity of the titanium cylinder.  Now we see several big implant brand name implants and their variations have been approved for use on us as a public consumer.

Some of the various dental implant options that are available include :
    replacing a single tooth that doesn't fit with the other teeth just right so that grinding down or altering adjacent teeth is not necessary
    Using them as anchors to support a fixed bridge
    supporting loose teeth by being splinted to them
    supporting replacement teeth for an entirely toothless jaw
    providing stability for a complete denture to eliminate the moving and clicking associated with dentures

You will want to first discuss your needs with your dentist in order to determine if dental implants are a good option for you.  As part of the assessment, your dentist may require a complete dental history, x-rays and a thorough examination of your teeth and jaw.  This will determine if you are a good candidate for undergoing dental implant surgery.  The whole procedure involves three major steps.
1.    An implant is surgically placed into the bone.  This step is normally performed in the dentist's office with a local anesthetic.  After placement of the implant, a waiting period of about 4 months is usually required for the implant to sufficiently heal.  During this time, the implants should fuse to the bone by a process known as `osseointegration'.
2.    A minor surgery is performed to expose the top of the implant.  At this point the dentist will attach the `post' to the implant.  The post is what will be the support for either one tooth or a set of teeth.  This procedure is also done in the dentist's office and is usually quick and requires only local anesthesia.
3.    This phase is called the restorative phase because this is where your tooth will take on form and function.  The dentist will take an impression of your tooth and then make a prosthesis that will be attached to the implants.  This process will require several visits.  However, once this phase is completed, your teeth will look natural and will be strong once again.

The long-term success of your dental implant will depend largely on the quality and quantity of existing bone.  That is, the stronger the bone and the more bone available, the greater your chance of keeping your implants strong over the long run.  Success will also depend on the quality of work put into your implant.  Like with any surgical procedure, it is as much an art as it is a science and individual talent and experience counts for a lot.
Another indicator of long-term success is the quality of materials used in the restoration atop the implant.  That is, if the design of the implant crowns or overdentures are constructed poorly, your bite will be off-balance and will reduce the life rate of your implant.

Lastly, the success of your implants will depend greatly on how well you maintain them. Brushing and flossing daily is imperative in order to keep them healthy and strong.  You will also want to have your implants professionally cleaned by a hygienist that is trained on how to maintain implants and examined by your implant dentist every three to four months. 

In summary, dental implants are an amazing procedure that allows a periodontist, an oral surgeon or an implantologist to implant a fixture into your jawbone that will fuse to the bone and allow them to construct new teeth that will serve the same role as natural, healthy teeth.

Dental implants are a good option for some people when they are missing a tooth or even several teeth.  The surgery though can be taxing so care must be taken during the recovery process to ensure that you minimize the pain and to take care of the area that has been operated on.

A dental implant is one method of many that a dentist can use to replace teeth when they are missing.  For instance, a bridge is used to replace teeth by anchoring the false teeth to good teeth surrounding the missing teeth.  A root canal replaces a tooth by attaching a false or cap on top of the root that is still good.  Dentures can replace all teeth or even just a portion of the teeth.

The dental implant is done by an oral surgeon or a trained dentist.   The dentist will surgically place a screw in the jaw to hold a false tooth in place.  The tooth becomes very secure by being anchored to the jaw and a very realistic tooth can be placed on the tooth.  However, the procedure is surgery and so care must be taken during the recovery process.

Here are five tips that you may find useful during the recovery process after having the implant procedure.

1.  Rest
Your body knows how to heal, but it will need the rest in order to facilitate the process.  You could go back to work and your regular schedule almost immediately after the surgery.  However, you will probably want to take some rest and relax for at least a day or longer depending on your health.

2.  Swelling and pain relief medication
You should get a prescription from your dentist and have it filled on the way home if necessary.  Often this can be one and the same medication.  You may want to take the medication on schedule even if you feel that the pain is bearable because the medication also helps the swelling.  Additionally, remember that you are taking medication for the pain relief so be careful not to over use the sensitive area even if you do not feel pain.

3.  Salt water rinses
Salt water rinses will help the healing process.  You should rinse three times a day with warm salt water (put a tsp. of salt in a cup of warm water, rinse-swish-spit) to reduce pain and swelling.

4.  Brushing
You must be careful when brushing.  You should always be gentle when brushing, but you must take extra care not to scrub the area too hard and pull the stitching out.  You should continue to make sure the area is clean though because bacteria will get in the area and you must gently brush to remove the bacteria.  The salt water rinses and brushing should take place at the same time in order to get the best results and it will help you remember to do both of them.

5.  Soft food diet
You will want to keep your diet to softer items such as yogurt and mush.  Be careful not to eat lots of sugared items like ice cream.  This will require more cleansing and it is difficult to get all of the sensitive areas with brushing.  You may want to ask your dentist for a list of items that is recommended for you to eat after surgery.  A good healthy diet will also help you recover faster because your body will have the nutrients necessary to facilitate the healing process.

In summary, the dental implant procedure is surgery and you will need to take care of your mouth during the healing process.  Make sure that you get the proper rest and food to help give your body the time to heal.  Also, you will want to make sure that you keep your mouth clean and continue to brush during the healing process.

Dental implants are ideal to replace broken or damaged teeth. Be advised that these dental implants can be a costly procedure as well as lengthy procedure.

Typically, dental implants have a starting cost around $1000 dollars for each tooth. If you have dentures, bridges, broken or damaged teeth dental implants could be a great investment for your smile. This procedure has very low failure rates. If a failure was to occur, chances are that there was an undetected bacterial infection during the install of the implant.

Timeframes needed to complete the dental implant procedure have a few contributing factors. One such factor is state of the jawbone. If the doctor needs more jawbone to work with, bone grafting may be required. This process must be completed and healed before the dental implant can be installed.

Osseointegration is a process where a titanium post is screwed into the jawbone. This must be left for 3-6 months so that the bone can fuse around it. A plate style implant may be used between the gum and the jawbone if the bone integrity is not ideal.

Once the healing has completed, the doctor will make a cast of the mouth. Then a ceramic tooth will be made to match the existing shape and color of the teeth.

It is always advisable to consult your dentist regarding dental implants. In some cases, they may be able to offer you a finance plan to have the procedure done. Be sure to ask any and all questions about dental implants with your local dentist.

The concept of mini dental implants is a revolutionary method for supporting replacement teeth that used very small titanium alloy implant screws that would function free standing or in combination with natural tooth supports. The concept was pioneered over 20 years ago by a Dr. Victor I. Sendax, but not developed until 1997 after collaborating with a colleague, Dr. Ronald A. Bulard.

Mini dental implants were formally introduced to the dental industry at a conference in 1999 and today represent one of the fastest growing and most successful segments of the dental product industry.

In most cases, mini dental implants are used as a stabilization method for a lower denture. Over 50,000,000 people lacking teeth in the U.S. alone, and many of them experience frequent pain and discomfort as a result of loose-fitting dentures. With the aid of mini dental implants, the stability of the denture and subsequently the confidence of the wearer can be significantly improved.

For those seeking mini dental implant procedures, many dental offices in New York City and other large metropolitan areas boast decades of experience in dental implant research and surgery. Such offices make it possible to tighten and stabilize a loose-fitting denture in just one visit to the center.

The best offices cite shorter recovery times, lower cost and a lack of significant invasive surgery as the main benefits to those electing to seek mini dental implants as opposed to the standard variety. Implants can be set by of professional in just one hour and patients will leave with an increased confidence, ready to eat, smile and speak like they would with a full set of natural teeth. With virtually no discomfort on the part of the patient, mini dental implants are an attractive option for those individuals seeking cosmetic surgery.