A dental implant is a prosthetic device, made of titanium, which is implanted beneath the oral tissues and within the bone to provide retention and support for a fixed or removable prosthesis.
Dental implants have significantly improved in the past 20 years, with high success rates. Patients report a comfort level that is greater than with any other restorative technique.
Successful replacement of a missing or extracted tooth by an implant is a major advancement in dentistry. Implants of various types have been used in dentistry for a long time, but the pioneering work of a Dr. Branemark resulted in widespread acceptance of the technique of implantology. He popularized endosseous implants in the shape of cylinders. When inserted into the bone, these established a firm connection. This integration, or, osseointegration is defined as a direct attachment between bone and the surface of the implant.
Whether or not a patient is a good candidate for a dental implant can only be decided after an initial interview with the patient and taking the necessary x-rays to determine the anatomic position of certain critical structures, such as nerve canals, as well as the composition of the bone itself.
The dentist, after taking a thorough medical and dental history, and consultation with the patient's physician, must decide whether any systemic disease, such as diabetes or cardiac disease, is severe enough to put the patient at risk when the surgery is performed. The dentist must also determine if there are any other risk factors, such as smoking, that may compromise the long-term success.
