What is Dental Implants ?

1. What is a dental implant?

   A dental implant is an artificial replacement for the root of a tooth and supports one or more false teeth or dentures. Similar to the root of the tooth, it is placed in the jaw bone.

2. Why are dental implants needed?

   Dental implants are used to replace one or more missing teeth in the mouth. Replacing missing teeth helps to maintain the bite, the position of the teeth in the mouth as well as the health of jaws and muscles.

3. I have some of my own teeth. Can I still have implants?

   Yes. You can have any number of teeth replaced with implants - from one single tooth to a complete set.

4. Are implants safe and how long do they last?

   Implants are safe and a well established mode of treatment supported by numerous long term studies. They are biocompatible - meaning they do not cause allergies and they are safe to place in the body. Implants last for 15 to 20 years if they are taken care of well. If you don't look after you’re implants they will develop a coating similar to what you get on neglected natural teeth. Left untreated, this can lead to gum infection, bleeding, soreness and general discomfort. You could get all these problems with natural teeth. Regular maintenance appointments with the dentist as well as good home care will have the biggest impact on the life of your implants.

5. Are the implant teeth difficult to clean?

   No. You have to clean implant teeth just the way you care for your natural teeth. The dentist will give you the necessary instructions and will show you the use of certain devices that will help you keep the implant teeth clean.

6. What are the risks associated with this procedure?

   As long as your blood reports are fine and the doctor has prescribed the necessary medication, there are no risks associated with this procedure.

7. What type of anaesthesia would be used?

   A local anaesthetic will be used to numb the part of the jaw where the implant will be placed. The effect of the anesthetic would last for about 60-90 minutes.

8. What about pain?

   Patients never complain of pain during the placement of implants as the procedure is done under anaesthesia. However there may be some mild discomfort for 3-5 days after the surgery. This will be further reduced by the medication prescribed by the doctor.

9. What precautions should be taken after the procedure?

   We recommend using an ice pack in the first 8-10 hours of the procedure to keep swelling and discomfort to a minimum. Avoid spitting or gargling in the first 24 hours. Avoid extremely hot and spicy foods for 2-3 days. Do not smoke or chew tobacco. You may be asked to eat soft food for 3-4 days.

10. What happens next?

    After your implants have been placed, the bone in your jaw needs to grow onto them and fuse to them. This usually takes a few months. This helps to make the implant firmly attached to the bone so that you can chew your food comfortably after the cap is placed.

11. What is the duration of stay required in Bombay for the treatment? How long does the treatment take?

    The placement of dental implants takes one visit. Stitches will be removed 7 days after implant placement. A maximum of 8 to 10 days stay will be required. The cap on the implant/s will be placed after 3-5 months which will require another 10-14 days stay in Bombay. The timetable of your treatment will be discussed with you after taking a look at your Xrays and blood reports.

12. When can I get back to work?

    Dental implants barely cause any discomfort, so you can resume work the very next day.

13. When can I start exercising/swimming?

    We recommend you to swim or exercise 3-4 days after the placement of implants.

14. What happens if the implant does not fuse with the bone?

    This happens very rarely. If the implant becomes loose during the healing period, or just after, it is easily removed and your jaw will heal in the normal way. Once your jaw has healed, another implant can be placed there. Or the dentist can make a bridge, fitting it to the implanted false teeth that have been successful.

15. Do the implants show?

    Most implants look exactly like natural teeth.