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Q |
What is implant
dentistry? |
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A |
Implant dentistry is
the branch of dentistry that involves installing an artificial tooth
into a patient's jaw in order to replace or restore a missing tooth. |
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Q |
Is the
concept of dental implants a new one? |
| A |
Modern
implantology began in the United States at the beginning of the 20th
century. However, popularity really grew in the 1980’s with the
increased success of the titanium cylinder. Since then, many brand
name implants with minor variations have been approved.
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Q |
What factors
contribute to the long term success of dental implants? |
| A |
Long-term success depends on multiple factors. Firstly, success
will depend on the quality and quantity of bone. The better the
bone and the more available, the greater the chance of long-term
success. Secondly, the experience and ability of the dental surgeon
will be a factor. As with any surgical procedure, there is no
substitute for the experience and individual talent of the dentist.
And finally, the quality of the restoration placed on top of the
implant will play a big role in long-term success. If the design of
the implant crowns or overdentures are poorly constructed, and
biting forces are not balanced, even the best-placed dental implant
will have a compromised survival rate. |
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Q |
Who can place a dental
implant in my mouth? |
| A |
A
periodontist, an oral surgeon, or an implantologist places dental
implants. The periodontist and oral surgeon are teamed with a
restorative dentist. They will place the implants and then the
patient will be seen by a restorative dentist for completion of the
crowns or overlying appliance. There will be two dentists during
the course of treatment. An implantologist is trained in both dental
implant surgery and restoration of the dental prosthesis. An
implantologist will do both the surgery and the restoration, and
there will be only one dentist during the course of treatment.
Click
here to find an implantologist near you. |
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Q |
Who can restore the
teeth on top of the dental implants? |
| A |
A
general dentist trained to restore implants, an oral implantologist,
or a prosthodontist can restore teeth. It is the choice of the
patient to use a ‘one doctor approach’, whereby the oral
implantologist does both the surgery and the restoration, or the
‘two doctor approach’, whereby the surgery and restoration are
performed by two different clinicians.
Click
here to find an implantologist near you. |
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Q |
Are there any age
limitations for dental implants? |
| A |
No.
Any person at any age can have dental implants as long as there is
enough bone available in which to place the implants. |
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Q |
What might be some
factors that would prevent me from being an implant candidate? |
| A |
There
are some medical factors that might prevent a person from being a
good candidate for dental implants. Some of these may be
uncontrolled diabetes, chemotherapy or radiation therapy,
parathyroid disorders, blood disorders, rare bone disorders or bone
marrow cancer. Some physical factors may include insufficient or
poor quality bone, low sinuses or nerve bundles. |
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Q |
How often will I need
to have my implants checked? |
| A |
The
success of your implants will depend greatly on how well you
maintain them. They will need to be professionally cleaned by a
hygienist and examined by your implant dentist every three to four
months. This hygienist should be trained in the specific procedure
of maintaining dental implants. Also, brushing and flossing daily
is absolutely necessary for long-term success.
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Q |
Is dental implant
surgery painful? |
| A |
No.
An effective local anesthetic is used during the surgery so that you
do not have any discomfort during the placement of the implants.
The mild discomfort you might experience after surgery can be
controlled with medications. |
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Q |
When can I return to
work after implant surgery? |
| A |
You
can go to work the next day, unless some particular surgical
circumstance arises. Your implant dentist will discuss all
postoperative instructions with you.
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| Q |
Are there any
professional organizations for implant dentists? |
| A |
Yes.
The American Academy of Implant Dentistry
and
The International Congress of Oral
Implantologists are professional organizations for
implant dentists. |
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| Q |
Where can I find a
dental implant dentist near me? |
| A |
Visit
Dental Implant to find a
qualified implant dentist near you. |
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