Best Dental Implant in Sri Lanka
Cayo Dental Implant Center

Dental implants are titanium screws permanently lodged into the jaw bone. A ceramic tooth is later connected to this implant. In other words, dental implants pave the way to ensuring artificial teeth are now directly connected to the body. They serve as a much more stable replacement for removable dentures. Dental implants can be done for either individual teeth, small groups of teeth, or even for an entire arch at once. As the number of teeth being replaced increases, there may be fewer dental implants needed to hold the artificial teeth in place. For example, a 14-tooth arch can be done with just 8-10 dental implants.

Who is Eligible for Dental Implants?

Anybody above the age of 18 years, having completed their pubertal growth spurt, is eligible to get dental implants. The procedure is generally safe for most people. However, patients with uncontrolled diabetes who aren’t careful about their lifestyle may not be eligible for dental implants. Patients who have osteoporosis must also take extra precautions. Those who have bone cancer or any major bone disease should not undergo dental implant surgery.

After Care for Dental Implants

It is vital to inform the dentist of the presence of implants every time you visit them. There is no special requirement for any extra day-to-day care or medication. Patients can live their lives normally, with no sensitivities. It is recommended to go for a dental cleaning and a checkup twice a year. The implants are also completely MRI-safe and will not cause patients any issues at airports.

Pain, Side Effects, and After Effects of Dental Implants

Dental implant procedures generally have no side effects. The screws implanted are made of titanium, which means they are highly biocompatible. Titanium is generally used for knee joints, heart stents, and valves. The screws used for dental implants are of a higher quality and are designed to be more precise. The quality of the titanium used is essential for dental implants. The titanium used for dental implants is of very high quality to ensure functionality and aesthetic appeal.

The after-effects of dental implant surgery are similar to those of any dental surgery. There may be some swelling and pain immediately following the procedure. However, healthy patients with healthy jaw bones have almost never complained about any particular after-effects. If a tooth is extracted and nothing is done for a while with that space, the jaw bone will begin to shrink, and a bone augmentation procedure may become necessary. This can be time-consuming, costly, and also a little painful.

What is the process?

Our team will have a consultation with the patients at Cayo Dental, where we examine the patient’s mouth in great detail, along with X-rays.

Once the green light is given, a convenient date is scheduled for the surgery. On the day of the procedure, the patient can have their normal meals during the day and come for the surgery as an outdoor patient.

There usually is no need for the patient to be admitted to the hospital. If the bone quality is good, the implantation takes less than half an hour to complete. The patient can then go home and even have their next meal as usual.

The implant is now done, but there still won’t be a tooth. In fact, there will only be a suture over the area where the implant was placed into the bone. There’s a 4-month-long wait before the tooth can be affixed to the implant.

However, there are exceptional cases where dentists can immediately fix the artificial tooth as well. But it’s not recommended unless there’s an emergency.

If patients need more than 4 months before they can return for the tooth, they are advised to have the tooth placed ideally within a 2-year period.

The reason for this 4-month waiting period is that the implant has to get fused to the bone, i.e. osseointegration. This is when the implant comes in direct contact with the bone. The titanium screw is threaded into the bone and after those 4 months, no matter how much you try to unscrew it, the implant won’t budge. This is known as the power and importance of osseointegration.

During the waiting period, there is no special care, just regular immediate post-operative care. This means no hot or cold food/drink and no rinsing the mouth within the first 24 hours.