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Loma Linda Implant is intended to provide information on dental implants to the general public.  Please read the disclaimer before using this web site.

What is a dental implant?

So, let me briefly explain what a dental implant is.  Dental implants are usually made of pure titanium (commercially pure) or titanium alloys.  Titanium is the metal known as biologically compatible with human body and light and strong.  You have heard about space crafts using titanium.

The shape of dental implants are usually cylindrical bolts or screws, and these dental implants are usually screwed into the bone after making appropriate size holes in the bone.  Some dental implants are not machined to the shape of a screw.  The diameters usually range from 3.5 mm to 6 mm.  (2.5 mm is about 1/10 of one inch).  Their lengths can vary from about 8 mm to 13 mm or 15 mm.  There are some with much smaller and larger diameter and lengths.

The surface of dental implants are usually treated with different methods to promote better bone healing around them (osseointegration).   It takes about 3-6 months for bone to heal around the implant before crowns (caps) are put on top of the dental implants, sometimes less and sometimes more.  Once the dental implants have integrated into the bone, they can last indefinitely with good regular care by the dentist.

The Dental Implant Process

What Is The Dental Implant Process Like?

The implant process usually takes from 3-6 months; although crowns can sometimes be placed over the implant the same the surgery is performed.  The first step in this procedure is the surgical procedure.

First, a pure titanium or an alloy titanium screw is drilled into the bone. Local anesthetics are used for the procedure.  For most dental implant surgeries, the post operative pain is usually minimal, surprising most patients who expect quite a bit of pain. Occasionally, the implant site require bone grafting, lengthening the over all process by 6 or more months.

Once the implant is placed into the jaw bone and is stable, the implants are usually left alone.  For the next three to six months, bone heals around the implant very tightly, a process called osseointegration.  Once osseointegration has occurred,  a healing abutment or a post is placed on top of the implant.  This healing abutment can be placed the same the implant is placed into the jaw bone, avoiding a second surgery.   For the next two weeks, your gum tissue will heal itself by closing around the abutment.

Restoration over the Implant

Either a removable denture or a fixed crown or bridge can be used to restore the implants depending on your needs or demands and the conditions in the oral cavity of the patient.

• Fixed crowns and bridges  are permanently cemented or screwed into the implant and are not movable and usually used for a single missing tooth or a short span of missing area.
• Removable dentures are prosthetic teeth that are fastened to a metal frame and the metal frame is usually attached to the implants (several implants) with some type of attachment apparatus (some are like snap on buttons).  Implant supported removable dentures are removable and works much like regular dentures but are more stable and better have support, thus more comfortable to use than conventional dentures.   Implant supported removable dentures are used mostly for the lower jaw when enough quantity of bone is present only in the anterior (front) area.
• Sometimes a hybrid type of prosthesis can be used.  In a totally edentulous jaw, where all teeth are missing in the upper or lower jaw, a bridge can be made to be screwed on to the implants.  The difference with the regular fixed bridge over implants, the hybrid type also as the gum portion (pink porcelain that mimics the gum)  made on to the bridge.  The hybrid type is useful when the regular shaped teeth on the bridge will not fill in all the space between the jaw bone and the opposing teeth.

Attaching the crown to the dental implant.

Once the implant is osseointegrated (bone has healed tightly around the implant) and gum has healed around the healing abutment, the healing abutment is replaced with a prosthetic abutment.  Over the prosthetic abutment, a crown can be either cemented or screwed on.

The Success Rate

Most research papers report success rates of 90% to 98%.  Some failures do occur, most failures occur during the first year.  Causes of failure are inadequate bone quantity, inadequate bone quality, infection around the implant, poor oral hygiene.  Remember you will not have cavities with implant crowns but you WILL have gum disease around the implant and lose bone around the implant which will eventually lead to the loss of the implant.

Available researches show that dental implant last over 10 to 20 years.  That is how long the researchers have followed up their cases.  Many believe the implants will last indefinitely if they are properly cared for.

So remember to visit your dentist for regular check ups and cleanings!