Dental Implants – Increasing Needs for Improving Dental Aesthetics to Elevate Demand

Increasing awareness about oral health and needs for enhancing dental aesthetics among patients suffering from tooth loss is uplifting the acceptance level for dental implants globally.

Regardless of several advancements in dental care, the number of individuals suffering from tooth loss due to periodontal diseases continues to increase. Previously, the available treatments for tooth loss were highly expensive and comparatively less effective. With technological developments in dentistry, dentists started using dental implants to help patients to replenish their missing teeth. Now, the use of dental implants has become more widespread as individuals are becoming more conscious about their dental health and aesthetics.

With the increasing prevalence of periodontal diseases, which can result in loss of teeth, most individuals are preferring dental implant as a suitable treatment option. Also, many private and governmental organizations are initiating campaigns to encourage more people to follow dental care regime. With growing awareness about oral health and improvements in the global economic conditions, the uptake of dental implants has increased substantially over the past few years. As it helps patients to restore their primary oral functions as well as facial aesthetics, demand for dental implants is likely to increase in the upcoming years.

What is a Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a surgical component used in dentistry to place an artificial tooth root that holds a replacement tooth and supports the dental prosthesis. Dental implants are surgically positioned in place of a missing tooth, which looks like a natural tooth and holds permanently cemented bridges. The dental implant treatment is vaguely divided into three phases – evaluation, placement of implants and artificial teeth, and recovery.

Evaluating whether the patient is an ideal candidate for a dental implant is the first and important step. It is then followed by planning the position and number of implants, which is highly critical to ensure the success of a dental implant procedure. Dental implants consist of a screw or a cylinder, which is around 8-16 mm long. It is surgically placed in a planned bony socket in the jaw to replace the root of the missing tooth. After fixing dental implants at appropriate positions, crown or denture is attached to it with the help of dental cement or lag screws.

Who is Dental Implants Suitable for?

As stated in a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO), every year, over 10 million people get injured in road accidents. Dental implants are an ideal option for individuals who lose their teeth due to road traffic injuries. Patients suffering from tooth decay, congenital defects, root canal failure, or other periodontal diseases are preferring dental implants to restore their facial aesthetics and dental functions. Any patient, who has lost one or more teeth and decent dental health, can undergo a dental implant procedure. The increasing acceptance level for dental implants among patients across the globe is rapidly boosting growth of the dental implant market. Many patients are accepting dental implants as its prosthetics do not disturb soft dental tissues and improves dental aesthetics.

Types of Dental Implants

Dentists choose an appropriate dental implant treatment after identifying the exact requirements of their patients. Depending on the specific patient needs, a dental implant can be chosen from its various types. Primarily, dental implants are categorized based on the type of dental treatment they are used in – single-stage and two-stage. Dental implants can also be categorized based on the types of materials used to manufacture them such as Titanium and Zirconium.

• Single-Stage Dental Implants

Single-stage dental implants are used in single-stage dental procedures where the head of the implant is left visible in the end. In these procedures, longer single-stage implants are surgically inserted in the jaw bone and in level with the gum tissue. Temporary restoration and the abutment is attached to single-stage implants, without having to perform a surgery, after a few months of healing.

• Two-Stage Dental Implants

Two-stage dental implants are used in dental surgeries that are similar to single-stage dental procedures. However, two-stage dental treatments require a minor surgery, after several months of healing, to attach the abutment to the dental implant.

Benefits of Dental Implant Treatments

One of the biggest advantages of dental implants is that they prevent the facial structure of patients from deteriorating by preserving jawbones. They help in improving the facial and bone features of the patient, who is suffering from tooth loss, and give them a feeling of comfort with natural-looking dentures. Dental implants easily blend with the bone structure and match the color of natural teeth, which makes it the most-preferred choice for ‘aesthetic-conscious’ patients. Sliding dental implants help patients to restore their oral functions such as eating and chewing without pain. Even though the success rate of dental implants may vary, they are highly durable and last a lifetime with a good care. Along with continuous developments in technologies in the medical field, the technology behind dental implants is evolving rapidly. By integrating dental implant procedures with various software, leading manufacturers are offering highly accurate solutions.

Arslan Khan is currently living in Delhi, working as a Senior Research Manager @ Fact.MR. He is a blogger with unique content each time.