Almost all dental implants in use today are made from titanium or titanium alloy, materials that have been shown over many years to be well tolerated by bone. The terms 'osseointegrated implants' or 'endosseous implants' are widely used to descibe dental implants that can develop and maintain a close union with bone in order to support replacement teeth.

There are many different dental implants systems available and when competantly used they can all deliver a highly reliable form of treatment.

Dental Implants are essentially a substitute for a natural root and commonly it is screw or cylinder shaped. Dental Implants are placed into a socket carefully drilled at the precise location of the intended tooth. If an implant has a screw thread on its outer surface it can be screwed into position and if it does not, it is usually tapped into place. The main aim during installation of any dental implants is to acheive immediate close contact with the surrounding bone. This creates an initial stability, which over time is steadily enhanced by further growth of bone into microscopic roughness on the dental implants surfaces.

In order to support replacement teeth, dental implants normally have some form of internal screw thread or post space that allows a variety of components to be fitted. Once fitted, these components provide the foundation for long term support of crowns, bridges or dentures.

How Many Teeth Can Be Supported By Dental Implants?

All the common forms of tooth replacement, such as bridges or dentures can be replaced by dental implants. If you are missing just one natural tooth, then one dental implant is normally all that will be needed to provide a replacement. Larger spaces created by two, three of more missing teeth do not neccessarily need one dental implant per tooth, however the exact number of dental implants will depend on the quality and volume of bone at each potential dental implant site. Occasionally, it is even possible to join natural teeth to dental implants with a conventional bridge. In the upper jaw, bone density is generally poorer than in the lower and if you have no teeth at all, most treatment providers will want to place a minimum of 6 dental implants to support a complete arch of 10 or more replacement teeth. In the lower jaw, the bone towards the front of the mouth is often very strong and as a direct result, fewer dental implants may be needed than are required to treat a whole upper jaw. A simple treatment plan to provide 10 or more teeth in the lower jaw might be possiblewith as few as 4 dental implants, although it is still more common to use 5 or 6.

Who Is Suitable For Dental Implants?

If you have good general health then dental implants will almost certainly work for you. However, habits such as heavy smoking or drinking can increase the number of problems associated with initial healing and thereafter may negatively influence the long-term health of the gum and bone surrounding each dental implant. Remaining teeth may also be compromised making treatment planning less certain. Some dentists will decline to place dental implants if smoking cannot be reduced or given up altogether. If you have any other complicated medical problems then speak to someone with relevant experience - it is rare to have health problems that prevent the use of dental implants.