Dental implants have been used in dentistry over 50 years. They are basically sophisticated screws made of Titanium. Titanium is an inert material that does not cause any type of rejection (all implants used in U.S. are approved by FDA). Depending upon the requirement, these implants are then placed in the jawbone and rest under the gum. This helps the implants to fuse with the bones. After the appropriate healing time (anywhere between three to six months), the implants are uncovered and used to replace one or more missing teeth by fabricating some sort of dental prosthesis.
As the implants are inorganic, there are very slim chances of rejection. Should a failure occur - and this is only a remote possibility - it is mechanical in nature and not due to rejection by the body. Implants are anywhere from 85-95 percent successful depending upon certain factors such as implant location, amount and quality of bone, and patient compliance. These factors will be evaluated before we place your implants.
After the implants have integrated, you will be able to function normally without any unusual sensations. Your chewing ability will really depend upon the type of prosthesis you have chosen.
Dental implants take approximately 3-4 months in the lower jaw and 6 months in the upper to integrate. Once integrated, it takes some visits to complete the restoration depending upon the complexity.
