Despite the great advances in the ways of oral and teeth care, millions are still need to have their teeth extracted. The most important reasons lead to tooth decay, gum diseases and accidents. For many years dentures and bridges were the only available way to fill the gaps created by tooth extraction. However, things are different nowadays as dental implants became one of the most advances technologies in the field of dentistry. 



There are other aesthetic advantages for dental implants, such as improving the smile, where the final outcome of dental implants is a beautiful prosthetic teeth that looks just like the natural, and an increased ability to chew; in addition to improving the oral health. Unlike bridges, dental implant does not require drilling. To learn more about dental implants, we met Dr. Amr A. Bukhari Consultant of Periodontal Surgery and Implantology at the International Medical Center, Jeddah...



Why are dental implants often the first choice?



Strong and stable, a dental implant restores a lost tooth so that it looks, feels, fits and functions like a natural tooth. Traditional, tooth-supported dental bridges only last five to seven years, and with proper care often more than 10 years, but at some point they may need to be replaced. While dental implants may need periodic adjustments, they can last a lifetime when properly placed and cared for over time.



Who is a candidate?



Dental implants can be placed in most adults who are in good to moderate health. They are not typically placed in adolescents until they have reached their full expected physical maturity. Certain uncontrolled medical conditions such as patients with uncontrolled diabetes and heavy smokers may decrease the effectiveness of implant treatment, so be sure to discuss your full medical history with your doctor before beginning treatment.



Does teeth lost causes bone lost?



Yes, when a tooth is lost, the lack of stimulation causes loss of alveolar bone. There is a 25% decrease in width of bone during the first year after tooth loss and an overall decrease in height over the next few years.



The more teeth lost, the more function lost. This leads to some particularly serious aesthetic and functional problems, particularly in people who have lost all of their teeth. And it doesn’t stop there. After alveolar bone is lost, the bone beneath it, basal bone — the jawbone proper — also begins to resorb (melt away).



If the patient is hesitant to do the surgery and choose the right specialized dentist, what is your advice?



Any patient can undergo the dental implantation as long as he/she is qualified. However, cost and procedure time may be factors in choosing a treatment option to replace missing teeth, it is important to do your homework and carefully choose a well-qualified, experienced dental implant expert and the restoration method that will meet your long-term needs so that you can eat, smile, laugh, talk, play and enjoy all your activities.



How is a dental implant done?



Dental implants are frequently the best treatment option for replacing missing teeth. A successful implant requires that all parties involved — the patient; the restorative dentist, who makes the crown for the implant; and the oral and maxillofacial surgeon, who surgically places the implant, follow a careful plan of treatment. If the jaw bones are healthy, the oral and maxillofacial surgeon surgically places the posts, or implants, in the patient’s jaw, when the implants have stabilized in the jaw; the restorative dentist prepares an impression of the upper and lower jaws. This impression is used to make the model from which the dentures or crowns are created. The surgery take approximately 30 minutes



Is the placement of implants painful? How much time is required for an implant placement?



Implant placement usually does not result in much post-operative discomfort -usually the patient takes Tylenol or Advil for about 2-5 days.  If more extensive treatment is needed, for example bone grafts or many implants, then the post-operative course may require more time and medication.  Anesthesia during the surgery should make the placement procedure pain-free.  We are conservative with anesthetic agents and our philosophy is to utilize the least amount of medication for the patient to comfortably tolerate the procedures. Depending on the complexity and number of implants being placed, the procedure can take between 30 minutes to 3-4 hours.



What about rejecting the implants?



Fortunately, most patients do not have many dental implant complications since dental implants are made of biologically compatible substances with human body such as Titanium, theses materials have been evaluated and examined for many years before it becomes legal to use. A dental implant is essentially a titanium screw or cylinder which is inserted into a prepared bony socket in the jaw and acts as a replacement root for the missing tooth. During healing, the titanium surface of the implant fuses with the surrounding bone, in a process known as osseointegration, which can take about 3-6 months. After this time, the implant is stable enough to support one or more false teeth.



Will there be pain or discomfort after dental implants?



Like any other surgery that cause pain, however, Anesthesia during the surgery should make the placement procedure pain-free. The pain following the surgery is similar to that of tooth extraction. Patients may experience swelling after 48 hours, and they are provided with pain killers and sedatives to help ease the pain.