From the above reading you must have understood how Dental implants have come into existence. Dental Implants are the future in dentistry and are becoming more and more widely used by the dentists across the globe. Dental implant success rates have skyrocketed in the past few years and people are finding comfort and confidence in replacing missing teeth with dental implants.

Compared to all other dental disciplines, implant dentistry has enjoyed far more innovation and progressive development in recent years. Various developments of new implant systems, the propagation of new and improved diagnostic procedures and the introduction of novel surgical techniques have taken place. Technical procedures have also advanced from the introduction of state of the art CAD-CAM technology to improve prosthodontic precision of fit and allow restoration of implants in non-ideal positions. Now we shall discuss the scope of Dental Implants.

Every type of tooth-replacement dentistry can be performed using dental implants as a more successful alternative. One implant can replace a single tooth, a few implants can support a bridge replacing more teeth or a completely edentulous mouth can be restored using implants to carry either a fixed bridge or a removable denture.

The number of implants needed to replace many teeth depends upon a number of factors including both the amount of bone available and the type of bone. In the upper jaw six to eight implants can support an entire arch of fixed teeth while four implants are required to support a maxillary overdenture. In the lower jaw five implants are satisfactory to support a full-arch bridge while removable overdentures can be supported by a minimum of two implants to five implants. Mini Implants can be used in smaller numbers to support and stabilise removable dentures to great effect. Patients often describe how the placement of implants under a denture has changed their life because a difficulty in chewing and talking can be very depressing and a stabilised denture allows eating of whatever is desired and speaking in public without fear of the denture moving. Sometimes an implant can be placed directly into the socket of the tooth after extraction or traumatic loss and a crown can similarly be fitted at the same appointment. The "Immediate" technique is not suitable in every case and works best in experienced hands in select situations.