For any senior person suffering from the loss of one tooth or more they have the option of choosing either having an implant or false teeth.

Since dental implants require surgery, a reliable cosmetic dentist should be consulted, the implant operation can be quite a lengthy procedure.

As is usual with any kind of surgery, the patient will experience some bruising, swelling, and pain in the mouth, but this will subside within a few days.

Attaching Dental Implants.

If the senior person opts for dental implants, then, so long as her/his jaw bone is sufficiently strong, to provide a firm anchorage point the implant procedure can give excellent results both for cosmetic appearance and much enhanced eating ability.

n  First the metal, usually Titanium, implants are inserted in the jaw bone, and a 3 – 6 month healing period is needed.

n  In the healing process the jaw bone will grow around the titanium implant creating a very strong support base.

n  When the implant has been ‘accepted’ and virtually become an intrinsic part of the jaw bone, a natural tooth crown can be placed on the tooth implant.

Very rarely, a tooth implant may be rejected. In these cases, which are less than two percent (2%) of all implanting, the dentist may try a larger implant, or recommend an alternative treatment. There are three types of tooth implant which are often used

Types of Tooth Implant.

The Root Form. This is a screw in type of implant and is most commonly used when the senior persons jaw bone is in good condition with ample width and depth. Then,an anesthetic will be administered. The gums will be stitched over and allowed to heal for a period of about 3 – 6 months.

The Plate Form If the persons jaw bone is narrow, this option may be selected by the dental surgeon. The Plate is long, flat and narrow. And will attach to the narrow jawbone in a better manner than the root form. Then, as before anesthesia, stitching and healing will follow.

The Subperiosteal Implant. This kind of implant will be recommended if the seniors jawbone is insufficiently wide or deep, to accept the other two forms of implant. It is individualized to rest on top of the jawbone and under the gums, and is positioned by one of two methods.

a). After anesthesia, an impression is made of the exposed jawbone. The dental laboratory will then make a custom fit implant for the jawbone.

b). The next method requires a CAT scan of the jawbone, and via the route of computer modeling, a model of the jawbone is constructed, and from this computer model an individualized implant is made.

The elderly should be aware, that this kind of surgery can be very expensive, and it needs both a great deal of time and effort on behalf of the professional team of dentists involved. However the results can be very beneficial in terms of oral comfort, eating habits, and a long lasting smile!

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