What is Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a prosthesis that interfaces with the bone of the jaw or skull to support a dental
prosthesis such as a crown, bridge, denture, or facial prosthesis, or to act as an orthodontic anchor.
How To Get Free Dental Implants In South Africa
You’ll have to do some real investigating around your local health centers, but they do exist.
There are actually a variety of ways to get free implants, including clinical trials, charities, grants, and dental schools.
It can be a bit tricky to chase down exactly what you’re looking for, which is why we’re here to help! In this article, you’ll find out how to get free dental implants including:
Free dental implants for veterans
Free dental implants for disabled people
Free dental implants for low-income people
How painful are dental implants?
The surgery itself should not involve any pain since the mouth will be numbed. As the numbness wears off, though, patients will often feel some level of pain.
Many dental professionals provide pain medication to help manage discomfort at the implant site.
How long is the dental implant process?
Your dentist will place the titanium implant in your jawbone, right below the gums. This surgery usually takes about 1-2 hours for each implant to be placed.
After this step is complete, most dentists will wait about 3 months before the final restoration of the tooth replacement.
What are the requirements for a dental implant?
1. A healthy mouth without tooth decay and gum disease
2. Adequate bone height- ideally greater than 8mm. This can be assessed on a CT scan.
3. Adequate bone width- ideal greater than 5mm. This can be assessed on a CT scan.
4. Enough space for the new tooth, teeth, or bridge. This should be assessed on articulated study models, digital photographs, or intra-oral scans.
5. A stable bite. This is determined as above.
6. Sound levels of keratinized tissue- this is the band of tissue surrounding teeth right at the gum level called attached gingiva. This will help provide robust support to the cuff of the dental implant.
7. Lack of parafunctional habits- tooth grinding at night can cause even the best treatment to fail
8. Great oral hygiene- dental implants require more than just brushing. Special care is needed to clean them properly to avoid peri-implantitis.
9. Regular visits to the dental hygienist and regular checkups.
10. A great implant dentist!
Who is not suitable for dental implants?
People with Weak or Insufficient Jaw Bone
One of the main reasons why someone might not be a good candidate for dental implants is weak or insufficient jaw bone.
To support dental implants, the jaw bone needs to be strong enough.