The American Dental Association names implants as one of the biggest advances in dentistry in the past 40 years.
Three million Americans are reported to have had these procedures and the number is growing by 500,000 a year, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
Dental implants are medical screws that are placed into either the upper or lower jaw, says George Bohle, a prosthodontist with Dental Depot in Oklahoma City. The bone cells in the jaw, over a three-to-six-month period, grow to the implant and anchor it, becoming one with the bone.
He says implants are typically made of a titanium alloy and are available in a variety of designs, diameters and lengths.
“Once anchored to the bone, the implants can be used for a variety of treatments, Bohle says. “If the patient is missing a single tooth, then a post called an abutment is placed into the implant and a crown is put on top. If three or more teeth are missing in an area, then two implants can be separated and used for a bridge. These tooth replacements look, feel and chew like natural teeth.”
“If all of the teeth are missing in either the upper or lower jaw, multiple implants can be placed, and a snap-on, removable denture or a bridge that stays in place can be made,” he says. “The snap-on dentures work extremely well and come at a cost savings compared to the bridge that stays in place. The bridge that stays in place is held with set screws that tighten down to the anchored implants. The teeth on the bridge are made of either high density resin or from zirconia, which is an extremely hard material.”
Patient concerns center on the cost of the procedure and the amount of pain involved. Bohle says costs vary by provider and insurance coverage, but in Greater Oklahoma City a fair estimate is $1,300 to $2,200 per implant screw.
“As scary as it may sound placing a screw into your bone, there is little discomfort,” he says. “The bone does not have much feeling and typically it is the gums on top that are sore for about a week.”
He advises those who opt for the implants to be patient, as the process can take months.
“After surgery, there will be multiple follow-up appointments over the next three to six months to monitor the health of the implant and bone,” Bohle says. “Once healed, the implant may need to be uncovered if it were left under the gums at placement. A mold or a digital scan will then be made and the laboratory will make the post and crown, bridge, or dentures to fit.
“There may be several appointments to verify that parts fit and to allow the patient to visualize the prosthesis prior to completion. Once complete, the prosthesis is cared for as if it was a natural tooth or in the case of a snap-on denture, removed daily, brushed and reinserted.