What exactly is a dental implant?
Dental implants are made from bio-compatible material (often titanium) and are in effect an artificial tooth root. The titanium screws are embedded into the jaw bone to replicate tooth roots. Once embedded, they fuse with the surrounding bone tissue to create a permanent structure in the mouth that can support a dental prosthetic such as a crown, bridge, or dentures or be used alongside other dental implants to support an entire arch of replacement teeth. In providing such a strong base to mount a dental prosthetic, dental implants can effectively restore lost function while restoring lost teeth.
Dental implants are made up of three main components:
The implant: This is a titanium screw that is drilled into the jawbone and will fuse with the surrounding bone to create the foundation for the prosthetic.
The abutment: This is the connector piece that holds the dental prosthetic into the implant.
The dental prosthetic: This is the dental prosthetic that is attached to the implant via the abutment and is actually seen above the gum line.
Dental Implants in Kisumu Dental Center – What Patients can expect: –
Undergoing dental implants here in Kisumu Dental Center requires a number of appointments or stages. Let’s take a closer look…
The consultation
During the first visit, Dr Odoyo E. O will have a one-to-one talk with you to understand your dental needs. He will ask you about your medical history, give you an oral examination and take some digital x-rays. From this, he will develop your customized treatment plan. This details what needs to be done and within what time frame. [read more]
Fitting your dental implant(s)
After few weeks, you will be called back to our dental surgery for implant placement. With our lead surgeon Dr Odoyo we are pleased to offer our patients the latest dental implant technology with computer-guided flapless surgery. This means that in some cases, patients with compromised jaw bone can still receive dental implants.
Digital implants also mean that Kisumu Dental Center patients benefit from shorter surgery time, fewer dental visits, and a superior solution in terms of implant placement, stability, and healing.
The good news for patients in Kisumu Dental Center is that dental implants are truly multi-functional. In addition to replacing a single tooth our Principal Dental Surgeon can also treat patients who have multiple missing teeth, or even, all of their teeth. The latter of which uses as few as 4 implants to secure a full arch of natural-looking, false teeth.
Bone fusion (osseointegration)
After dental implant placement, patients here in Kisumu Dental Center will need to allow time for any bone tissue to fuse with the newly placed implant or implants. This is known as osseointegration and is vital to ensuring a stable restoration in the mouth. This can take anywhere between 2-5 months depending upon your healing abilities. Our dentist in Kisumu Dental Center will use this time to create your permanent crown or crowns.
Abutment/crown fitting
Once our Principal Dental Surgeon is happy that your dental implant or implants have fused with your existing bone, your abutment and the permanent crown can be fitted. In some cases, this can be done at the time of implant placement in a process known as immediate loading. Naturally, however, the abutment and permanent crown are fitted at a future date.
The whole process takes somewhere between 3-6 months to complete depending on your existing condition, your body’s ability to heal or the type of implants placed. The end result, however, is a flawless natural look where there were once missing teeth.
If you have a gappy smile and feel that it’s about time you did something about it, come and talk to our dentists about dental implants in Kisumu Dental Center. Dr Qdoyo has the experience and skill to transform your smile into something that you can be proud of.
Your smile is our Pride. [/read]
What happens during the dental implant procedure?
During your dental implant placement, you will be kept at ease with sedation and anesthetic. An incision will be made in your gums, and a series of specialized drills will be used to create a space for the implant. A small hole will be drilled and then, the titanium screw of the dental implant will be placed into this hole. Depending on your treatment plan, the abutment may also be attached to the implant. Finally, your gums will be sutured and you will be able to return home the same day. [read more]
Dental implant procedure steps
After the implant has been placed, your bones will go through a process called osseointegration to gradually fuse themselves around the implant. This process is essential to anchor the implant into the jawbone and provide the necessary support and strength. Osseointegration generally takes about 3-6 months, however it can also take longer.
Once osseointegration has occurred and the implant has fused to the surrounding bone, then the dental prosthetic can be attached. If not already attached, there may need to be a small surgery to attach the abutment prior to attaching the dental prosthetic. Once the prosthetic has been attached, the dental implant process is complete and your smile is restored! [/read]
How long will my dental implants last?
Although dental implants are the longest-lasting restoration method available, the length of their lifespan can be varied. Different factors such as oral health habits, whether or not you smoke, and the type of implant can all affect their lifespan. Usually, dental implants have the ability to last at least ten years and some have even lasted longer than that. However, there are also instances were they may need to be replaced sooner, such as if too much force has been exerted on them or if they become loose. To replace your dental implant, our dentists will remove the old implant and place another within the same procedure.
