Dr. Eduardo Lorenzana is a Dentist who has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Dental Implants.
Q. What are dental implants?
A. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root made of titanium (or titanium alloy) that a periodontist places into the jawbone to act as a new root to support a replacement tooth or bridge.
Q. What are dental implants used for?
A. Generally speaking, dental implants are new titanium roots that are surgically implanted into the bone and can be used to replace missing teeth in a variety of applications. They can be used to replace just one missing tooth, multiple missing teeth (such as someone missing 3 or 4 molars and premolars in a row - a space too long for a traditional bridge), or in a person missing all of their teeth who either are dissatisfied with the fit of their denture or wish to trade in their denture for fixed implant-supported bridgework.
Q. What are the benefits of dental implants?
A. There are quite a few benefits to dental implants. Among them:
• They are the most advanced tooth replacement system ever devised. We are now in about the 5th generation of dental implants. They are more predictable, longer-lasting, and cost-effective than bridgework.
• Implants help preserve the jawbone to prevent the appearance of premature aging. This is due to functional stimulation of the bone. In other words, if the natural tooth root nor a dental implant is present to stimulate the bone, the jawbone resorbs over time.
• Done properly, dental implants look and function like natural teeth.
• They are placed/restored in the periodontist’s office with minimal discomfort.
• They improve comfort, appearance, and speech.
• They have a 95-99% success rate.
• Dental implants allow patients to eat the foods they love and talk, smile and laugh with confidence.
• Represent a conservative treatment option – adjacent teeth are left untouched. Dental implants are actually more tooth-saving than traditional bridgework, since implants do not rely on neighboring teeth for support.
• Titanium dental implants never develop decay.
• They never require root canals.
• Implants can provide greater stability for upper and lower dentures.
• Dental implants can even completely eliminate the need for a denture.
Q. How long does an implant last?
A. Surgeons expect a dental implant to last a lifetime, period. Even if the crown eventually needs to be replaced due to cracked porcelain or changes in aesthetics, the actual dental implant that has been implanted in the bone should never need to be replaced. Certain factors can modify that expectation, such as a patient’s commitment to good oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings and whether a patient is a smoker or diabetic, among others. A thorough consultation with a periodontist can better inform each patient of their risk factors and set realistic expectations.
Q. What are implants made of?
A. Implants are generally made of titanium. The ones I generally use are made of commercially pure Grade 4 titanium through the Swiss company Straumann. They are the most thoroughly studied implant in the world, and perhaps most importantly, they are the one that both my mom and my mother-in-law have in their mouths. Titanium is used primarily due to its biocompatibility - it is inert when introduced in the human body, with no true allergic response documented in the scientific literature. Recently, some alloys of titanium have been investigated in order to provide stronger implants more capable of being utilized in more challenging indications. Our practice has been participating in a non-interventional clinical study reviewing the efficacy of a titanium-zirconium (Ti-Zr) alloy known commercially as the Roxolid implant. The Ti-Zr implant has proven less likely to fracture in areas of higher load, but where minimal bone is available. I am sure the next few years will result in further advances in implant metallurgy, all for the benefit of our patients.
Q. Who is a candidate for implants?
A. Men over the age of 17 (depending on their growth status) and women over the age of 15 (also depending on their growth status) are a basic guideline. Other factors include health status and amount of bone available to place the implant.
Q. How are dental implants placed?
A. Dental implants are in most cases placed in an outpatient procedure at a specialist’s office. In straightforward situations where ideal bone and gum exist, a small conservative incision is made in the gingiva and the bone is exposed. Using surgical drills of expanding diameter, an opening is made in the bone where the implant is then placed. After allowing for the appropriate healing time (usually 4-8 weeks), the patient is then referred back to their restorative dentist to have the final crown made. In areas where bone is plentiful the recovery is less traumatic than a tooth removal. When bone grafting is required, a patient can expect slightly more swelling and/or bruising - but again, this depends on each individual patient’s clinical situation. The procedure has to be done gently or it does not work as well. I tell my patients than in most cases, it is night and day compared to wisdom tooth removal, which means it can be accomplished with much less trauma and discomfort.
Q. How to contact Dr. Lorenzana if we have further questions?
A.
Address:
3519 Paesano’s Parkway, Suite 103
San Antonio, TX 78231
Phone: (210) 492-3519
Fax: (210) 492-3525
Email: drlorenzana@yahoo.com
Website: www.lorenzanaperio.com
