What are dental implants? Dental implant technology is the fourth revolution in dentistry since 1840 and is a mature dentistry treatment item. It is a method of implanting dental implants (i.e. implants, often made of titanium, which are biocompatible, stable and harmless in the human body, and can be firmly bonded to the bone cells of the alveolar bone after a few weeks) into the alveolar bone under local anesthesia (local anesthesia is very painless, and there is only a slight pain after the operation), and then making dentures on them. Dental implant surgery is a small surgery in alveolar surgery, with small incision, short time and little bleeding, similar to planting a tree. Indications for Dental Implants Dental implants are internationally recognized as the preferred means of restoring missing teeth and can be used for a variety of different missing tooth situations in adults. However, not every adult patient with missing teeth is eligible for dental implants and needs to be free of serious cardiovascular or cerebral disease. The following cases are most suitable for dental implant technology: i. Full dentures cannot be worn, and they fall off easily when talking or eating. At this time, several artificial roots can be planted in the alveolar bone and fixed with the full dentures, the full dentures will be very solid. Second, the front teeth are missing, the choice of dental implants as beautiful as the natural growth of teeth. If there are no real teeth in the back of the missing teeth, it is not ideal to use fixed or removable dentures, but dental implants will have the best effect. What are the advantages of dental implants? The application of fixed denture is limited by objective conditions, and it needs to wear the healthy neighboring teeth, while the removable denture is difficult to satisfy the patients because it cannot fully restore the chewing efficiency, affect the pronunciation and foreign body feeling, and it is common that the denture will bring the healthy teeth on both sides bad. Since the 1930s, especially in recent decades, with the development and mutual penetration of dentistry and biomedical engineering, implant dentures are widely used in clinical practice and have achieved good results (10-year success rate of 93% to 95%), and are known as the third set of teeth. What are the advantages of dental implants compared to traditional dentures? 1. Closest to the appearance of natural teeth. 2. It helps to prevent the resorption of alveolar bone. When the dental implant exercises the chewing function, the chewing force transmitted into the jawbone as the original teeth is quickly dispersed, so it can withstand a large biting force and has a good support role. For cases where the alveolar ridge is obviously resorbed and it is difficult to succeed with the traditional denture, the implant denture has its significant superiority. 3. Economy. Depending on the patient’s maintenance ability, it can be used for 10-30 years without additional cost later. 4. No dental caries will occur. 5. Delicious chewing life. Dental implants can easily feel the taste and delicacy of food and improve the taste of life. 6. No need to grind down the normal teeth around the missing teeth. 7. Chewing efficiency is greatly improved compared with traditional dentures. 8. Good retention, more stable and secure than traditional dentures, even more stable than real teeth. 9. For some patients, it helps to restore facial appearance. 10. Small or even no abutment, comfortable and non-foreign body feeling, little impact on pronunciation. 11. Dental implants can mobilize and activate various receptors and central nerves, which can help prevent brain aging. What is the entire procedure of dental implant? Step 1: Pre-surgery, clinical examination and preparation for surgery. Step 2: Stage I surgery to place the implant into the jawbone, with a healing period of 3-6 months. Step 3: Phase II surgery to attach the healing abutment to the implant, with a healing period of approximately 2 weeks. Step 4: Take the mold and create the restoration for about 2 weeks. Step 5: Review, once every 6 months. The following issues should be noted after the dental implant is done: ( 1 ) Take out the medicated cloth bitten in your mouth after 40 minutes. Usually, there is a small amount of bleeding in the operative area on the same day and the next day after the surgery. ( 2 ) Patients who have undergone surgery to elevate the floor of the maxillary sinus should not forcefully blow their nose after surgery. ( 3 ) For 24 hours after surgery, ice may be applied cold (20-minute intervals). Swelling will last 48-72 hours and then slowly subside. ( 4 ) The patient should eat cold semi- or fully liquid food on the same day (do not use a straw as it may cause bleeding). 1 week after surgery (early stage of healing), absolutely no smoking and no alcohol, eat soft food such as porridge. ( 5 ) Within 3 days after surgery, avoid hot baths and heavy physical activities, and ensure proper rest. ( 6 ) Do not brush the dental implant area within one week to avoid stimulating the wound. ( 7 ) Remove the sutures 7-14 days after surgery, do not touch the operated area with tongue and hands during the period. ( 3 ) Observe the dental implant and the trauma at any time within two weeks, and contact the surgeon if you find any problems. ( 4 ) Do not eat foods that are too hard and particularly tough for 3 months to prevent excessive force on the dental implant. ( 5 ) Rinse with mouthwash several times a day, brush your teeth three times with soft bristle toothbrush in the morning, afternoon and evening, do not use toothpicks to floss your teeth, use dental floss and interdental brushes to remove interdental food residues, and it is better to clean your teeth once in half a year or so. ( 6 ) Actively prevent and control systemic diseases, it will reduce the immunity of the oral cavity, which is detrimental to both dental implants and natural teeth. ( 7 ) Regularly go to the hospital for review, find out the caries, gingivitis, periodontitis, poor biting and peri-implantitis and other problems must be dealt with in time. ( 8 ) Dental implants should be prevented from external collision, and contact the doctor immediately in case of impact.