One of the biggest strengths of dental implants is their durability and they never get cavities.Each implant is typically made from medical-grade biocompatible materials like titanium and zirconia. This means you get a natural-looking teeth, without the same issues of decay, traditional gum disease and root canal therapy you get with your natural teeth. In fact, when properly cared for, dental implants can and will last a lifetime.
One of the things people love most about Dental Implants is how real they look and feel. Imagine waking up and smiling in the mirror, chewing your favorite foods again and laughing out loud with friends, all without the daily chore of dentures. With dental implants, it will be as if youve had these teeth all your life.
Success or failure of implants depends on the health of the person receiving the treatment, drugs which affect the chances of osseointegration, and the health of the tissues in the mouth. The amount of stress that will be put on the implant and fixture during normal function is also evaluated. Planning the position and number of implants is key to the long-term health of the prosthetic since biomechanical forces created during chewing can be significant. The position of implants is determined by the position and angle of adjacent teeth, by lab simulations or by using computed tomography with CAD/CAM simulations and surgical guides called stents. The prerequisites for long-term success of osseointegrated dental implants are healthy bone and gingiva. Since both can atrophy after tooth extraction, pre-prosthetic procedures such as sinus lifts or gingival grafts are sometimes required to recreate ideal bone and gingiva.
The final prosthetic can be either fixed, where a person cannot remove the denture or teeth from their mouth, or removable, where they can remove the prosthetic. In each case an abutment is attached to the implant fixture. Where the prosthetic is fixed, the crown, bridge or denture is fixed to the abutment either with lag screws or with dental cement. Where the prosthetic is removable, a corresponding adapter is placed in the prosthetic so that the two pieces can be secured together.
An implant supported bridge (or fixed denture) is a group of teeth secured to dental implants so the prosthetic cannot be removed by the user. They are similar to conventional bridges, except that the prosthesis is supported and retained by one or more implants instead of natural teeth. Bridges typically connect to more than one implant and may also connect to teeth as anchor points. Typically the number of teeth will outnumber the anchor points with the teeth that are directly over the implants referred to as abutments and those between abutments referred to as pontics. Implant supported bridges attach to implant abutments in the same way as a single tooth implant replacement. A fixed bridge may replace as few as two teeth (also known as a fixed partial denture) and may extend to replace an entire arch of teeth (also known as a fixed full denture). In both cases, the prosthesis is said to be fixed because it cannot be removed by the denture wearer.
As one of the top surgeons in the field of cosmetic and implant dentistry in the world today, the name of Dr. Alan Farrugia has become a byword for artistic excellence. A true patient advocate, Dr. Farrugia has experienced dental implant surgery first hand, which reinforced his desire to provide the best results in the safest, most relaxing and controlled environment, possible.
For over 25 years, Dr. Farrugia has been at the forefront of the cosmetic dentistry, most recently refining the industry standard All on 4 method, elevating it to another level in the form of his Rapid Replacement and Recovery Technique. As a result, Dr. Farrugia is one of the few surgeons in the world who can deliver patients permanent teeth in one day rather than the usual temporary teeth that require multiple visits and months of waiting. Constantly in demand across the globe to share his expertise, Dr. Farrugia was even honored with a license in China, to educate dental surgeons and provide even more patients with the superior treatment of his Rapid Replacement and Recovery Technique. Dr. Farrugia can still be found in his DENTL Implant Studio, in Naples. Florida, training the next generation of master dentists that will continue Dr. Farrugias lifes work.