Dental oral implants are the most natural replacement for an extracted or missing tooth. They are lightweight, metal devices surgically embedded in the gums or in the bone to which replacement teeth are attached. Oral Implants can provide support for improved appearance, speech, comfort, and chewing ability. The oral implant procedure involves the insertion of tiny metal fixtures into the jawbone. These fixtures actually bond with the bone and hold fixed or removable prosthetic teeth. The new teeth remain in the mouth and can stay secure for years and years. The implants have shown success rates greater than 90% everywhere in the world. As with any dental treatment, patients must meet stringent criteria to have a good chance for success. Exceptional oral hygiene is an absolute necessity and they require regular maintenance by a dentist as long as they are functioning.

Benefits of Oral Implants

• Regain your confidence and increased quality of life
• No need to trim the adjacent teeth to form the conventional bridge
• The solid anchorage of the dental implant will allow you to increase your chewing pressure, so eat anything you want
• Improves speech as compared to having dentures
• Prevent further loss of teeth and bone support
• Young, natural appearance
• Expected lifelong replacement for lost or extracted tooth
• No slipping, sliding clicking dentures or worrying about your dentures popping out in embarrassing situations

Oral Implant Restoration Types

Single Tooth Implant

The single tooth implant restoration consists of three separate parts. Namely, the implant's figure which replaces the tooth root, the abutment which will support the crown and the prosthetic crown. The crown can be cemented onto the post (abutment) or held in place with a screw.

Implant Supported Dentures

Implants allow you to wear full dentures and partial dentures without worrying that they will slip or fall out. Having implants to support these dentures also means that the base of the denture can be made much smaller and more comfortable. The dentures may be fixed, using bridges, or removable, using overdentures or partial removable dentures.

For overdentures, implants with screws placed in the jaw will serve as attachments for a metal bar, which will help support a removable denture. Use of 2 to 6 implants may be used for stability, as necessary. The new denture snaps over the bar and is stable and very retentive. The completed fixed-detachable denture sits on top of the implants above the gum tissue.

Multiple Tooth Implants

Implants are stronger than the natural tooth roots, therefore several missing teeth can sometimes be replaced with fewer implants. For example three missing teeth can be supported by two implants or four missing teeth can be supported by three implants and have the bridge restored over those implants.