Dental implants are really the best long term restorative solution to replace one or more missing teeth. Dental implants can not only replace teeth but can also serve as a support for dental bridges or dentures. Dental implants consist of three parts - a titanium screw, an abutment and a separate crown.
The core of the dental implant is a small titanium screw, a type of metal generally accepted by the human body, which is used in a wide range of surgical rehabilitation. The dental implant is inserted into the jawbone and with time, the bone integrates with the surface of the implant, a process called osseointegration. This firmly anchors the dental implant. There are many types of implants available, a dentist can always choose the one which suits you the best, depending on your dental condition, budget and aesthetic preference. This requires an X-ray which will show the amount of bone remaining as this determines the amount of available space for the implants. After this it's possible to decide which implant is the most suitable for your particular circumstances
What Types of Crown Materials Are Available?
Permanent crowns can be made from all metal, porcelain fused to metal, or all ceramic.
Compared with other types, metal crowns need less removal of the tooth structure. They withstand biting and all other forces a lot better than other crowns. Furthermore they don't chip or break as often as other crowns. The only drawback is the metallic colour of the crown. Because of this, metallic crowns are a good choice in case of molars which are not in sight.
Porcelain fused to metal or zirconium dental crowns can be colour matched. These crowns do look the most similar to real teeth. On the other hand the porcelain part of the crown can chip or break in the same way like real teeth, and the metal part can show through as a grey line at the gum.
All ceramic or all porcelain dental crowns provide the best natural colour match compared to any other crown type and may be more suitable for people with metal allergies. They are not as strong as porcelain fused to metal crowns
ARE THEY SAFE? Dental implant technology is a safe, well-established, tried and tested field of surgery. With normal care and precautions, 90 % of modern implants last for at least 15 years.
How successful are dental implants?
At our dental clinic, according to our previous annual statistics (2009), we have a first time success rate of 100% for fitting dental implants. The average industry percentage for first time success is 98% and the remaining 2% are usually fitted successfully on the second attempt. With proper care, implants can last a lifetime.
