New Type of Implant Increases Success Rate in Patients
New Type of Implant Increases Success Rate in Patients
For millions of patients who’ve lost one or more of their natural teeth, dental implants offer a life-changing alternative to tooth loss. At our family dental office, Dr. McLeod has helped to improve the smiles of many of her patients through the placement of dental implants in Newberg.
Unfortunately, while dental implants can help to restore a patient’s ability to eat, drink, smile, and laugh like normal, they do have some weaknesses. Problems can develop with a dental implant if patients don’t practice quality oral hygiene at home. A buildup of harmful oral bacteria can negatively impact an implant’s life expectancy. This bacteria, the same type that contributes to the development of gum disease, can affect an implant and whether it eventually needs to be replaced.
Peri-implantitis, a condition that affects both the soft and hard tissues that help to support the placement of an implant, is the primary concern for the health of a dental implant. Just as oral bacteria can cause the development of gum disease, which can cause tooth loss, it can also lead to peri-implantitis, which can cause an implant to fail.
To help reduce implant failure, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new type of implant that may work to help address this issue.
A Better Type of Implant
To develop a more resilient implant, researchers focused on finding new ways of fighting biofilms. These are groups of microorganisms that take on new characteristics, including the development of a slime-like layer that makes the bacteria contained in the biofilm more resistant to removal.
A buildup of biofilm can collect on implants and onto the surface of a patient’s teeth, leading to gum health issues, such as periodontal disease, while also slowly damaging the implant.
To combat the damage caused by biofilm, the new implant uses a barium titanate nanoparticle-infused material. The material negatively charges the area immediately surrounding the base of an implant and acts like a barrier that works to repel bacterial growth.
This new technology has been made possible through advances in microelectronics and nanofabrication. These advances assist with addressing any potential bacterial buildup and contamination while also helping the implant bond more efficiently with the surrounding tissue.
Early trials involving this new type of implant have found it incredibly effective at helping to prevent bacterial growth near the base of the implant. By successfully reducing bacteria’s ability to grow around the base of an implant, this new technology helps to increase the implant success rate in patients. If harmful oral bacteria can no longer attack the foundation of an implant, patients will be able to enjoy their replacement tooth without needing to worry about peri-implantitis.
Protecting Your Implant Health
While these new types of implants offer an exciting new future for patients needing the placement of dental implants in Newberg, this technology alone won’t help to keep an implant healthy.
Just as with their natural teeth, patients must make a commitment to brushing and flossing daily, along with scheduling regular exams and cleaning with our team at Newberg Family Dental, if they hope to keep their mouths healthy. Only by practicing quality oral hygiene at home can you hope to prevent the types of problems that can lead not only to implant failure, but permanent tooth loss as well.