1. What is artificial dental implant? Artificial dental implant, also known as implant denture, is a kind of bionic tooth made of biological material, which is divided into two parts: the implant (i.e. the root part), which is implanted in the human jawbone to play a supporting role, and the crown, which bears the role of chewing. According to the changes of the alveolar bone and jawbone after the loss of teeth, the doctor selects a certain shape of implant to be implanted in the jawbone as an artificial tooth root, and then installs the crown on the implant pile in the exposed mouth to obtain a shape and function similar to natural teeth. 2. Is the dental implant procedure painful? The implant surgery is usually done under local anesthesia and there will be no pain or discomfort during the surgery. After the surgery, there will be slight pain or discomfort after the anesthesia wears off (we will prescribe some painkillers for you after the surgery). According to our clinical experience, the pain level after implant surgery is clearly less than that after tooth extraction. 3. What are the advantages of dental implants? Compared to removable dentures, dental implants are fixed restorations that do not require daily removal, have better comfort, and have almost no foreign body sensation after adaptation. Compared to porcelain bridges, dental implants do not require wear on adjacent teeth and last longer. The force direction of dental implants is more rational, which helps to protect the adjacent teeth and preserve the alveolar ridge. In addition, dental implants are more advantageous for long-term patient outcomes. A long-term study of fixed bridges by foreign scholars showed that the retention rate of fixed bridges was 87% at 10 years and 69% at 15 years, with the main cause of failure being the loss of abutment teeth. Forty-four percent of patients wearing a removable denture had the possibility of losing their abutment teeth after 10 years. In contrast, the success rate of single-tooth implants at 10 years is 96.5%, and in all reports, there are no missing teeth adjacent to the implant. 4. What is the failure rate of dental implants? Generally speaking, the success rate of implant surgery in the lower jaw is over 95%, and the success rate of maxillary dental implants is over 90%. With the advancement of the implant process itself, the success rate of the implant surgery has also improved. 5. What are the circumstances that require dental implants? Generally speaking, as long as there are missing teeth, you can choose dental implants. Especially for patients with missing teeth who cannot receive a removable denture and have a high demand for aesthetic comfort, in addition, there are some patients who have severe bone defects that make it difficult to solve the problem with conventional restorative methods, implants are an option. 6. How long does the treatment of dental implants take? If no bone grafting is required, it will take about 4-6 months to complete. If local bone grafting is required due to insufficient bone, it will take another 4-6 months to extend. If you have periodontal disease, you also need to treat periodontal disease before implant treatment. The time for periodontal treatment varies according to the degree of the patient’s condition. 7. How soon can dental implants start after tooth extraction? Conventional implant surgery is usually performed 3-6 months after tooth extraction. However, if the tooth is anterior and there is no local infection, immediate implantation can be considered, that is, implant surgery is performed at the same time as tooth extraction. The advantage of immediate implants is that they effectively preserve the alveolar bone and gums, allowing for a better aesthetic result after the final restoration. If the anterior area is not suitable for immediate implantation, it is better to do the preservation of the extraction site at the same time as the extraction, if possible, so that the bone and soft tissue in the extraction area can be preserved as much as possible to achieve a more ideal aesthetic effect after the completion of the implant restoration. 8. Can the elderly still have dental implants? Age is not an indicator to determine whether dental implants are possible, as long as the patient is in good health and there are no contraindications to dental implants. In fact, some elderly people often have poor retention problems due to the long time of wearing dentures, and dental implants can help such patients to solve the problem. With the advancement of technology, the contraindications for implant restoration are gradually decreasing, but we do not recommend implant surgery for patients with serious systemic diseases, such as severe diabetes with unsatisfactory control, serious cardiovascular diseases, uncontrolled blood disorders, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, liver and kidney insufficiency, etc. 9. Why do some people need bone grafting for dental implants? After tooth loss, the alveolar bone will shrink due to the lack of physiological stimulation. When the bone shrinks to a certain extent, it is difficult to achieve good stability and position of the implant, bone grafting is needed to solve the problem of insufficient bone volume. 10. How long can dental implants be used? Generally speaking, dental implants can have a long service life, but the success of surgery and restoration is only half of the guarantee of the service life of dental implants, good oral hygiene habits and adherence to regular review is another important factor. Some studies have reported that the success rate of single tooth implant for 15 years is over 95%.