Gum Disease & Dental Implants
Gum disease is a process by which specific strains of bacteria in the mouth cause inflammation within the gum tissue.
The body’s immune system fights this bacteria, and in some patients, this can lead to bone loss around the teeth.
Unfortunately, dental implants are also subject to the facts caused by this bacteria and the subsequent immune response if you would like to replace the tooth or teeth on the maxillary upper arch and in the back of the mouth.
The maxillary sinus becomes an area of potential concern. The maxillary sinus is an air-filled cavity that’s primary function is to produce mucus.
The sinus floor is the alveolar bone, the same bones surrounding the teeth.
When a tooth on the upper arch in the back of the mouth is lost, the bone can resorb, and the sinus can NUMA ties or enlarge over time.
This enlarging of the sinus places it near the surgical site for the implant.
If the remaining thickness of the bone in the implant site is due to the sinus floor, a sinus lift or augmentation will need to be considered in addition to the implant.
Just as the name implies, the sinus lift will place bone graft material into the floor of the sinus thereby lifting the sinus floor and creating more bone for the implant.
How to Maintain Good Oral Hygiene With Dental Implants
To make it easier to understand, let’s say you have a patient with a suspicious white patch in the buccal mucosa.
Since several other white lesions look like that, make sure it is not any other white lesion.
Only after this, could you make a diagnosis of leukoplakia.
Hence, it is a diagnosis of EXCLUSION!
Leukoplakia or any other white lesion for that matter appears white because of the thickened surface keratin layer and the hyperplastic epithelium.
This thickened abnormal keratin layer evenly reflects the visible light spectrum as opposed to being permeable to visible light and the red spectrum being reflected by the connective tissue.
This clinically masks the vascularity (redness) of the underlying connective tissue making it appear white!
Most cases of leukoplakia are related to the use of smoked or smokeless forms of tobacco and may or may not regress on discontinuation of the habits.
Other factors like alcohol, trauma, and candida Albicans have also been reported to cause leukoplakia although these associations are now being disputed.If you get an implant, you must 100% be committed to keeping it clean and healthy.
This means your oral hygiene needs top-notch, including brushing at least twice daily and regular flossing.
Meticulous hygiene is necessary to ensure the long-term health of the dental implant and your remaining teeth.
Surgery is involved sometimes when you get an implant; that surgery alone is enough to deter some patients.
The surgery is minor in the grand scheme of things. However, it’s still surgery which means that you need to be in relatively good overall health and not have any conditions or illnesses that put you at a higher risk for a poor outcome because healing of the implant is essential to long-term success.
Things with uncontrolled diabetes and smoking patients are at a higher risk of implant failure or complications.
In one study, non-smokers had a ninety-eight point six percent success rate, and smokers had almost 16% failure risk.
Smoking also plays a factor. If you’re a heavy smoker, close to a pack or more per day, your risk of implant failure can increase to almost 31 percent.
If you’re a light smoker meaning ten or fewer cigarettes per day, you’re closer to a 10 percent risk of implant failure.
If you’re strongly considering a dental implant and are willing to pay the money for it, your best option is to quit smoking first.
Tooth Implant Placement
Placing a dental implant in the anterior or the front of the mouth, especially in the smile zone, can be highly challenging.
Aesthetics becomes a factor in these situations, and there can be many things that complicate good outcomes.
You could have an implant placed in the front of the mouth, which is a success.
Because it integrated and adhered well, but ultimately it’s an aesthetic failure because the outcome compromised the appearance and smile of the patient.
The surrounding gum tissue and the amount of remaining bone are so crucial in this area that they can make or break a good outcome.
If you are considering an implant in the front of the mouth, this will require extreme attention to detail and should be something you discuss in depth with your provider.
They will let you know their concerns and discuss options with you. If you’re a patient who has ever thought about straightening your teeth or getting braces, this will also need to be a consideration in planning your implant treatment.
If a lot of tooth movement would be required to accomplish your goals of straighter teeth, the implant placement should possibly be delayed until after braces.
If you’re a young patient under 20, an implant may need to be delayed until you’re a little older to get the best results.
You want growth to be close to finishing before placement of the implant. Ignoring this could lead to a poor aesthetic outcome and disappointment.
How to Pick a Suitable Doctor for Placing Implants
Implants are a treatment option being placed by a variety of dental providers.
In some instances, the implant may be surgically placed by one provider and restored or have the replacement crown placed on it by a completely different person.
The starting point for a conversation about implants will be with your general dentist provides.
If they place implants in their practice, they may do everything you require.
If your treatment is more complex or requires a multi-discipline approach, you may be referred to a dental specialist who will also see you for some treatment.
When looking for a provider to do your implant, you may want to talk to the provider about their experience and training with implants.
It may also benefit you to know about their past success when placing implants.
Dental Insurance Plans
Dental implants take time sometimes, the implant placement can take one or more surgeries depending on the need for bone grafting, sinus augmentation, or other considerations.
If other procedures, such as grafting or sinus lift, are required, this will also add to the expense of the treatment.
A period of healing is required and can vary depending on the location of the mouth.
Your dentist may offer you an option to have a temporary tooth placed onto the implant.
Sometimes until the permanent tooth is fabricated, this is not always a suitable option and could cost you more.
There are so many dental insurance plans and variations of plans that you will need to check and see what can be covered.
Many plans do not offer much help when considering dental implants, and it could lead to out-of-pocket expenses.
Make sure you talk with your dentist, find out what your treatment will involve, and check with your insurance to see what can be covered.
We accept all dental insurance plans, and we directly bill the insurance.
The payment plan is available.
For more information, please call 416-234-8060
