A dental implant is a small metal (Titanium) screw – a metal that human body easily accepts. The dental implant is inserted into the bone of the jaw, which, over the time integrates with the implant surface. 6 weeks should be considered for the healing process. After this time, a crown or a bridge is secured to the implant.

…In case of accident:
Sometimes a small accident can cause tooth loss. In this case, dental implants provide a solid foundation for replacement teeth.

…In case of disease:
Periodontitis, caries, or other diseases are considered a threat to your teeth, and can cause tooth loss as well. Dental implants restore then lost function and appearance.

…In case teeth are congenitally missing:
For teeth facing abnormal growth, dental implants are an ideal solution for replacement.

Dental implants provide a high stability for the foundation of your replacement teeth.

Restoration without implants:

In this case, healthy neighboring teeth have to be ground down to support a crown or bridge.

Restoration with implants:

The dental implant replaces the root of the lost or missing tooth, providing a stable foundation for the replacement tooth, thus eliminating the need to grind down healthy neighboring teeth.

Implants can also be used to support full dentures.

Conventional dentures

Conventional removable full dentures attach to the jaw with a type of suction effect. Because there is no stimulation of the bone, it may deteriorate over time.
As the bone recedes, the dentures may no longer fit properly. Ill-fitting dentures can be painful and cause problems with eating, speaking, and esthetics.

Removable dentures with implants

With implant-supported dentures, the inconveniences of ill-fitting conventional dentures and the need for adhesives are eliminated. The implant provides a stable foundation for the removable denture while helping preserve the jaw bone. The denture is attached to an anchorage and can be easily removed for cleaning and then snapped back firmly into place.

Traditional methods of tooth replacement such as crowns, bridges and dentures have disadvantages in terms of appearance and function. For this reason, dentists consider dental implants to be the preferred method of tooth replacement.

Example: replacement of one tooth

1-Planning:

The treatment sequence begins with an examination of your oral situation. Through X-Rays and models of your mouth, your doctor will determine the suitable treatment plan for your case.

2-implant placement:

The next step is placing the implant in your jaw under local anesthesia. Once it is placed, it is left to heal. Under normal conditions, the healing process should take 6 weeks.

3-replacement teeth:

When the healing period is complete, the implant forms a strong bond with the bone and provides a solid foundation for attaching your replacement tooth.

Much like natural teeth, implants need regular check-ups and cleaning. Your dentist could provide you with home care kits or other cleaning devices suitable for your situation.
Regular care and cleaning helps you maintain a long-term function of your implant.

- Help to maintain the shape of the face
- Help to preserve the bone in the jaw. Removes the need to grind down healthy neighboring    teeth for a bridge
- Can eliminate the pain of ill-fitting partials and dentures
- Make replacement teeth stable for eating and smile with confidence

Mini dental implants are ultra-small diameter (l.8 millimeter width), bio-compatible titanium alloy implant screws, conceived and developed over 20 years ago by a Manhattan dentist, Victor I. Sendax, DDS. Dr. Sendax originally created the unique design of this innovative dental product as a transitional device to help support fixed bridge replacements for missing teeth. His novel theory was that mini implants could function free standing by themselves or in combination with natural tooth supports and/or larger conventional type implants. This was a revolutionary concept in dental science.

WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE FOR THEM?
The most effective use of the MINI IMPLANTS is to stabilize a mandibular denture. Approximately 30,000,000 people in the United States who are "edentulous" (literally meaning lacking teeth) who struggle daily with prosthetic devices. A majority suffers a great deal of discomfort as a result of loose or ill-fitting dentures. Moreover, it is very common for family members to experience disagreeable breath as a result of food being trapped under their denture prosthesis. Successful placement of the MDI solves all of these many social and practical problems and concerns.

WHEN CAN THEY BE USED?
When critically needed for support purposes, and where solid bony adaptation (integration) has clearly occurred, mini implants can function as long-term supporting structures rather than as short-term or medium term devices. In fact, some have been successfully functioning in patients' jaws for several decades. Further, they're particularly effective in crown and bridge applications, as well as single-tooth replacements.

You need a denture

You do not only require a new denture for cosmetic reasons but also to ensure lasting preservation of your remaining teeth.

If one of your teeth is missing, the adjacent teeth tilt towards the existing tool gap. Accordingly, the remaining teeth are exposed to excessive stress. This way the durability of these teeth is additionally impaired. Please don't wait longer than your dentist recommended when selecting your denture. Otherwise, additional damage to the remaining teeth might be the consequence.

Which type of denture is suitable for you?

In principle, removable dentures can be connected to the remaining teeth with clasps or so-called attachments.
The photo shows a prosthetic appliance that has been fixed to the remaining teeth using clasps.

A steel clasp takes hold over a natural tooth. This clasp ensures that the denture is fixed to the remaining teeth; however, it can still be removed. This is an adequate type of connection but it does not provide optimum stability. Therefore slight movements of the denture always occur.

Problem of durability

Due to the slight movements of the clasp the surface of the natural tooth will be gradually damaged. Additionally, the fixation of the clasped tooth in the jaw bone is loosened. This may result in the loss of the tooth after some time.

Normally clasps are visible. This applies especially to clasps that have to be inserted in the anterior area. These so-called clasp dentures are sometimes preferred because they are less expensive.

Attachment-fixed denture

In order to avoid the disadvantages of the clasp denture, the attachment-fixed denture has been developed. With this type of supply, the removable denture is fixed to the remaining teeth using so-called attachments.

Prior to the fabrication of an attachment-fixed denture some teeth are prepared so that crowns can be placed onto them. Then the crowns are fixed on the prepared teeth. In this way the teeth are protected against damage. The crowns feature the original shade and shape of your natural teeth and consist of metal and ceramic or acrylics. The crowns are firmly fixed to the natural teeth. Accordingly, they cannot be removed. An attachment is fixed to the crowns. A fitting second attachment is located in the removable denture.

Joining the fitting attachment components ensures a Stable connection of the denture with the crowns. By releasing the attachment connection, you can remove the denture from the mouth at any time in order to clean it.

Problem of durability

The surface of the tooth is protected against damage with a crown.
The stable attachment connection avoids loosening of the tooth, which the denture has been fixed to.

Problem of esthetics

And what is certainly also important to you: dentures with attachments are not visible to other persons. Metal elements do not disturb the appearance of your teeth.

Clasp or Attachment

We have already explained the difference between a clasp and an attachment.
Now you have the choice between a favorably-priced clasp denture and a highly esthetic attachment appliance.

Association Dentaire Française: www.adf.asso.fr/cfm/site/afficher_rubrique.cfm?rubrique=26
Union Française pour la Santé Bucco-Dentaire: www.ufsbd.fr
American Dental Association: www.ada.org/public/index.asp