A dental implant is a long-term, discreet solution for replacing missing or failing teeth. Our professional dental staff are here to explain exactly how the process works prior to treatment
Having missing teeth can impact the way you eat and speak, which can knock your confidence.
A dental implant is a titanium screw that is placed directly into your jawbone, replacing your missing tooth root. After it’s fitted, the bone surrounding your implant will gradually fuse to it, holding the implant firmly in place. A false tooth (a crown or denture) is then fitted to the top of the implant. The false tooth or teeth are similar in shape, size and colour to your existing teeth, meaning your implant will blend in naturally with your smile.
With the advances in modern technology, dental implants are suitable to almost all patients. In some cases, this might mean that an additional procedure may need to be completed to strengthen the jawbone.
This procedure is completely safe and is a routine part of dental implant treatment. If the bone has reabsorbed, bone can be placed in a separate procedure prior to the implants being placed. There are several ways in which this can be achieved and your dental practitioner will advise as to which treatment is suitable.
One of the unfortunate consequences of tooth loss is also bone loss. The alveolar bone that surrounds and supports our teeth is dependent on stimulation from the teeth themselves to maintain its form and density. When you have missing teeth, this stimulation is no longer present, which means the bones begins to stop remodelling and rebuilding. Data would suggest there’s a 25% decrease in bone width during the first year after tooth loss and then a four millimetre decrease in height over the next few years. The impact of this is that your jaw bone can lose strength, definition and function.
Dental implants stimulate the alveolar bone to grow in much the same way as your natural teeth do. This can protect the underlying structure and health of your face.
Dental implants are marginally more susceptible to medical problems than natural teeth. They therefore require slightly different methods of cleaning and maintenance from the rest of your teeth. How well you look after your dental implant(s) greatly affects how long your implanted teeth will last. Proper maintenance will therefore save you time, money, and prevent discomfort in the long run.
Care for your dental implants by preventing gum disease which is the most common cause of problems. You can support your implants by, flossing daily, paying extra attention to brushing your implanted tooth, continue regularly seeing your dentist and keeping an eye on your gum health.
