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You
Must Have A Screw Loose In Your Head by
Dr. Pietrini
When I was growing up if you did something foolish,
someone would often remark "you must have
a screw loose in your head." Surgical screw-type
devices are commonly used in dentistry for a number
of different procedures like repairing fracture
bones, as posts in teeth, which have had root
canal treatment, and for dental implants. Fortunately,
when these screw-type appliances are used they
remain firmly in place.
In 1962
thirty-five percent of people over sixty had lost
all of their teeth due to decay or periodontal
disease. By 1985 only fifteen percent of this
age group were without teeth. With the advent
of preventive dentistry, fewer teeth are being
removed than in previous years; however, there
are still millions of people with some or all
of their teeth missing. Since the average life
expectancy today is over eighty, an increasing
number of patients are seeking treatment for permanent
replacement of their teeth. The option that many
of them are choosing is dental implants.
While
many dental implants were placed in the 1960's
and 1970's, it wasn't until the 1980's that advancement
in technology and research made this treatment
safer and more successful for patients. If implants
are properly placed, the ten-year success rate
is over 97 percent.
What
are dental implants and how do they work?
There are two stages of treatment in placing dental
implants. The surgical stage involves imbedding
the implant in healthy bone, which may take 2-3
visits to complete. If there is inadequate bone
present, the patient might require a bone grafting
procedure first. Then after several months healing
a cylindrical-shaped device is threaded into the
bone. The surgeon allows the gum tissue to heal
over this area while new bone grows in around
the implant during the next 4-6 months. When healing
is complete, a minor surgical procedure is performed
to uncover the top of the implant. A metal healing
cap is threaded into the implant and the gum is
allowed to heal for about a month. The second
stage of the treatment is called the restorative
stage. Your dentist will unthread the healing
cap and tread a metal post into the hollow center
of the implant. This abutment will serve to hold
a crown, fixed or removable partial denture or
a complete denture.
When
a single tooth is being replaced, the dentist
takes an impression of the area and sends it to
the laboratory for a crown to be made. When more
than one tooth needs to be replaced, several choices
are available. They can be replaced as individual
abutments with crowns or the abutments can be
spaced throughout the area where the teeth are
missing and your dentist can attach a permanent
(fixed) bridge. When most or all of the teeth
are missing, a special connecting bar can be attached
to the abutments and a removable bridge or complete
denture can be made, which will snap onto the
bar to hold the appliance firmly in place.
If you
have one or more teeth missing, contact your dentist
to see if you are a candidate for dental implants.
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