The Future Of Dental Implants

The Future Of Dental Implants

Write a short note on a dental implant.
Answer:

“A dental implant is a material or device placed in and/or on oral tissues to support an oral prosthesis”. Glossary of prosthodontics terminology (GPT) 8th edition.  Dr Leonard Linkow in 1952 place first dental implant and is recognized as the Father of Modern Implant dentistry.

Characteristics of Dental Implant:

• The implant should be made by highly biocompatible material such as titanium.
• It should be sterile.
• The implant is inserted by atraumatic surgical technique.
• The implant should have primary stability.
• The implant should have adequate loading at the time of healing period.
• The implant should have surface configurations which lead to oleophilic attraction.
• Implant should consist of two parts, i.e. one which favors bio adhesion and another which favors non-adhesion.

Parts of an Implant:

• Abutment: Part of the implant which supports the crown and provides retention to it. The abutment looks like a prepared tooth. It is attached to the body of an implant.
• Implant body/future: At the time of implant surgery, the implant body is placed in the bone. The function of the implant body/future is to receive the abutment.
• Healing screw: It should be placed over the implant body after first stage of surgery, this facilitates suturing of tissues and prevent the growth of tissues over the edge of an implant.
• Healing cap: It should be placed over the implant body and protrude outside tissues in oral cavity. Healing caps lead to the maintenance of tissue contour around the implants.

Advantages of Implant:

• Implants prevent the cutting of naturally healthy teeth for receiving the field prosthesis.
• They preserve the bone and decrease bone resorption.
• Implants decrease load over remaining natural teeth since they offer individual support.
• Implants improve efficiency in chewing and speaking as compared to complete denture wearers.

Disadvantages of Implant:

• The patient has to undergo a surgical procedure.
• To enable healing before the prosthesis waiting period of 3 to 4 months is required.
• Implants are costly.

Indications of Implant:

• In cases where there is loss of one or more natural teeth.
• In cases where good quantity and quality of bone is present around the edentulous area.
• In cases where the patient does not want a reduction of the natural tooth for field prosthesis.
• For providing support to overdentures.
• In implant-supported maxillofacial prosthesis.

Contraindications of Implant:

• In edentulous cases where bone quality is not appropriate.
• In cases with bruxism.
• In patients on steroid therapy.
• Patients with bleeding disorders.
• Patients with immunodeficient conditions.