Dental Continuing Education Classes

Were Dental Implants found in Egyptian and Mayan cultures?

Indeed, continuing dental education has a long history.

Dentistry has a long history with evidence of dental treatment on skulls in the time of the pharaohs. More specifically, there is evidence of successful dental Implantology on a Mayan skull from the time 600 A.D. Pieces of shell are implanted in the lower front tooth ree who are missing all their teeth and suffer with complete dentures, two to four implants can help to stabilize a loose denture. This type of treatment has been shown to help improve the health, nutrition, and quality of life for those who suffer with complete lower dentures. For others who are missing only one tooth, it offers the advantage of being able to restore that missing part of the body without involvement of the surrounding teeth. Finally, there are those who are missing teeth only in the back of their mouth, and have no adjacent teeth to use as a support for a fixed bridge. A removable prosthesis is usually cumbersome and difficult to get used to, and, has a great psychological barrier. In all of the cases mentioned, dental implants are the treatment of choice, and, in fact, are considered by most to be the current standard of care.

The process of getting dental implants varies from case to case, as does the time to complete the treatment. The basics of the procedure consist of the dentist first evaluating if you are able to get an implant with a proper examination. This will always include proper x-rays and often a CT scan of the jaws. A CT scan allows the dentist to view the area where the implant is to be placed in three-dimensions. Conventional x-rays only allow a two-dimensional view and distort the image to some degree. Placement of a dental implant is a surgical procedure and there are many different techniques to accomplish this. Usually, the dentist will make an incision in the gums to access the bone underneath. The bone is gently prepared to accept the implant and it is usually screwed into a precisely fitting hole.

The implant usually requires a period of undisturbed healing of 3-6 months. During this time the implant is buried under the gums and not visible. After healing the doctor will access the top of the implant again to place a cap on it that will protrude through the gums. The final steps are the taking of dental impressions and fabrication of the artificial post and tooth that will all be anchored by the implant. Even though the previous description might make you wince, it is usually easier than you think. The pain experienced is usually compared to a routine tooth extraction. During the procedure the dentist will anesthetize the area with a local anesthetic, just like when you have a filling. For more complex cases, patients may be sedated in the doctor’s office, or hospitalized for general anesthesia in the operating room. But, the overwhelming majority of cases are done with routine local anesthesia.

Some newer techniques offer patients the opportunity to extract a tooth that is hopeless and place the implant immediately into the extraction socket. Sometimes, these implants may be loaded with a temporary tooth at the same time. In the same way, some patients who will unfortunately loose, or have lost, all of their teeth may have implants placed and a prosthesis placed immediately. This type of prosthesis is fixed in place and offers the stability and secure feeling of natural teeth. Other patients are not able to have their implant and their new tooth attached immediately. In these cases other types of temporary teeth are fabricated. There are many types of these temporary teeth; usually the patient and doctor decide together what the best choice is.

As in all things, patients need to be good consumers in their choice of dental care too. Dental implants are state of the art and offer patients many advantages over previous techniques. Anyone who is missing a tooth, or who needs to have a tooth extracted, should inquire about dental implants.

By: Content Manager

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

www.greenwichctdentist.com/dental_tooth_implants.htm www.greenwichctdentist.com/

Replacing Maxillary Canine with an Implant
When you replace a maxillary canine with a dental implant, is it necessary to place a wide platform implant fixture or will a regular platform be satisfactory?

Restorative Skills Workshop for Dental Implants
The Restorative Skills Workshop Program is designed for surgical specialists who want to send their patient back to the restorative dentist with a temporary crown in place.

EightDay Mini Residency in Dental Implants
This eight-day structured program is designed to provide a wealth of practical information to give you the dentist the skill sets to create a successful dental implants practice.

Advantages of Dental Implants
Most people are familiar with dentures as replacements for missing teeth, but may not know much about the advantages that implants offer over dentures. Implants are a safe, highly effective and comfortable solution.

Five types of Dental Implants

There are 5 basic types of dental implants  available and the type chosen for a particular patient depends upon a number of factors. The size and condition of the patient’s natural jawbone is probably the main factor and of course no two patients are the same. Some jawbones can be wide and deep and others narrow and shallow with many variations in between.

The most commonly used material used for implants is the inert metal titanium because it has been found to fuse well with live bone tissue in the jawbone. This fusion process is known as ‘osseointegration’. The highly skilled work of inserting implants is carried out by a perodontist or oral surgeon who operates from within a hospital environment or more likely from a private clinic.

Root Form Implants

As the name suggests, root form implants resemble the root of a tooth but are formed like a self-tapping screw which gives it a good surface area for maximum fusion to the living bone. It is inserted by screwing the implant into a hole previously drilled into the jawbone or into the cavity left from an extraction. The implant then acts as a root or foundation for a new prosthetic crown. However, this type of implant can only be used if there is sufficient width and depth to the jawbone. Sometimes it is necessary to graft additional bone to the jawbone before dental implants can be considered.

Plate Form Implants

If there is insufficient live bone structure because the jawbone is too narrow or not deep enough then plate form implants is another option the perodontist will consider. This takes the form of a long narrow strip of titanium which is inserted between the jawbone and the gum and will fuse with the jawbone giving a foundation for a number of new prosthetic crowns if required. Sometimes it may also be necessary to graft additional bone if the jawbone is in a poor condition before the implant can be inserted.

Subperiosteal Implants

Subperiosteal implants are an option used where the condition of the jawbone is such that an insert is not possible and a bone graft is not feasible. The jawbone is exposed and a mould impression taken from which the subperiosteal implant is created and placed on top of the jawbone under the gum and fusion takes place between the jawbone and the subperiosteal implant. Sometimes a CAT scan is taken of the patient’s jaw which then allows the subperiosteal implant to be made without first exposing the jawbone which would otherwise require a two stage surgical operation.

Artificial Bone Substitute

This is a synthetic material which has similar properties to natural bone and will cling to the live jawbone and grow like real bone. This type of implant is usuallyused as a foundation for dentures.

Endosteal Implants

Endosteal implants are similar to subperiosteal in that they are moulded or shaped to fit in a cavity in the jaw rather than sit on top of the jaw.

This article is intended only to give a very basic outline of the types of dental implants considered by the perodontist or oral surgeon. Sometimes a variation or combination of the types described may be used but it is important that if you are considering this type of dental treatment that you consult your dentist or a perodotist to establish what is the most suitable type of treatment for your . unique situation.

By: Richard G M Taylor -

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

For more information on Dental Implants visit www.dentalimplantsite.ws/