People lose teeth for different reasons. Untreated gum disease, bone loss, and extensive tooth decay are on top of the list. Sports injuries or accidents are another cause of tooth loss. In 2010, approximately 6% of the Canadian population aged 20-79 had no teeth and 22% of the population aged 60-79 had no natural teeth. There are different options to replace missing teeth:
1. Implant
2. Fixed Bridge
3- Removable Denture
Choosing no replacement should never be an option. Here are 4 reasons why replacing a missing tooth is vital to your dental health.
1. Teeth may shift .When every tooth in your mouth is neatly in a row, they can keep each other lined up and stable. If you’re missing a tooth however, there is the possibility of teeth shifting. Teeth can shift leading to a change in your bite, potential gum disease and possible tooth decay.
2. Your face could change. even the loss of a back tooth can cause face muscle dropping, potentially making your face look older. Every aspect of your face is intertwined, so the loss of a tooth can cause your bone to deteriorate and muscles to droop over time. Replacing a missing tooth helps to keep the others in place, ensuring your mouth stays healthy (with good oral care!) and your face doesn’t change dramatically.
3. It may affect your self confidence. If you have ever had a missing tooth (and we all have at some point!) you may remember how difficult it can be with a hole in your smile. While this discomfort may be ignorable for a while, it can grow irritating after a time. Some people may find that the missing tooth affects their speech patterns, which can lead to a loss in self-confidence. Patients who have dental implants placed often speak of how they not only look natural but also feel like their real tooth.
4. It can impose extra load on other teeth. In healthy situation, while you chew and grind, the load will distribute on all teeth. When you lose back teeth, other teeth may have to endure greater load, sometimes beyond their tolerance. This can cause tooth fracture and pain on function.
Dental technology today is quite advanced, If you have a missing tooth that needs replacing, your dentist can help you decide which treatment is best for you. The important thing is to act quickly to maintain your healthy, beautiful smile. The quicker you take action, the less complicated the treatment process will be.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium fixtures that are surgically inserted into the jawbone. Mostly titanium is used to make dental implant which is the best material because it is biocompatible. This means it is closely matched with your body. Once they are  integrated into the jawbone, an artificial crown is attached to the implant. The implants provide strong support, as they are inserted into the bone. Unlike a traditional bridge, no adjacent teeth need to be ground down to hold the replacement teeth in place. With a bridge, you are turning one tooth problem into three teeth problems. With implants, you are treating a one tooth problem with a one tooth solution.

The Implant Process

The condition of the jawbone will determine how the dental implant surgery is performed. Dental implant surgery may involve several procedures, such as bone graft and gum graft. The time frame can last from five months to a year or more depending on the complexity of the treatment.

 

Initial examination

Your dentist will perform an initial exam to:

  • Review your medical and dental histories
  • Evaluate hard and soft tissue around missing tooth site clinically to find out if implants are right for you
  • Take X-rays or Order a CT scan to identify sinus and nerve placements as well as determine how much bone is available 

Surgery: Placing implants in the jawbone

1 – The patient is anesthetized in the area where the dental implants will be inserted

2 – Make a cut to open your gum and expose your bone
3 – The implant is inserted  into the jaw bone,
4 –  A healing cap is put on the head of each implant, guiding the gum tissue to heal properly
4 – Gum tissue is stitched back into place
The bone and implants integrate over three to six months.\\
 
POST IMPLANT SURGERY INSTRUCTION

• Bite on the gauze pad covering the surgical site to help stop the bleeding for 30 minutes Following Surgery. Some oozing is normal for 24 to 48 hours following surgery and should not be a concern. It is common for saliva to be slightly blood tinged for several days following surgery.
• Numbness of lips, cheeks, or tongue due to anesthesia is a temporary feeling and will wear off within 2-4 hours. Please take care not to bite your lips, cheeks.
• Apply ice packs to your face to reduce swelling for the first 24 hours after surgery.
• Take pain relief medication as prescribed immediately after surgery.
• Do not rinse, spit or  drink with a straw for the first 24 hours after surgery.
• DO NOT smoke or consume alcohol for the next 24 hours after surgery .

• DO NOT perform strenuous activities for the next 3 days.
Do not disturb or touch the wound.

Swelling

Swelling around the mouth and cheeks is a normal reaction to the surgery and usually takes 2-3 days to fully develop. Swelling can be minimized by applying ice packs to the cheeks for 10-20 minutes on and 10-20 minutes off until 24 hours after surgery. After the first 48 hours, you can begin using a heating pad or moist heat for relief of swelling, bruising, and stiffness of the jaw.

Diet

Suggested foods are soups, pudding, yogurt, ice cream, juices, milkshakes, pancakes, and anything soft you can tolerate. Drink lots of fluids to stay hydrated. Avoid hard and crunchy foods, such as chips, that may disturb the surgery site. Try to resume a normal diet after the first 3 days.

Wound Care

If prescribed to you, use the Peridex (Chlorhexidine 0.12%) mouth rinse 2-3 times a day after brushing. Swish for 60 seconds then spit it out. Sutures (Stitches) will dissolve on their own 2-3 weeks after the surgery.

Emergencies

You may contact us with questions or concerns at (416) 299-8188. In the event of an emergency please contact emergency medical help.
Is It Common to Experience Pain After Getting Dental Implants?
You should not feel pain during dental implant surgery because you will be under local anesthesia. Recovery may include pain that lasts a few days, but it can be managed with medication. Pain that lasts longer than a few days or gets worse may require medical care.