Dental implants are a popular and long-lasting way to replace missing teeth. This permanent solution eliminates the need for dentures, decreases the amount of bridge work required and can improve the appearance of a patient’s smile. However, dental implants offer more than just cosmetic benefits—they can also boost your oral health and quality of life.
When an individual loses a tooth, it is not only unsightly but can also cause deterioration of the jawbone. This happens because the bone needs the pressure and stimulation of chewing to maintain density. In addition, missing teeth can alter speech patterns and lead to digestive issues like bloating or indigestion. Dental implants fill the gaps left by missing teeth and restore proper chewing function and speech patterns.
They also prevent other teeth from shifting out of place, which can lead to bite problems and TMJ. Dental implants are placed into the empty socket and fuse with it through a process called osseointegration, making the implant very stable and allowing for further restorative treatment (like crowns or a bridge) in the future.
A dental implant is a screw-shaped metal post that’s surgically placed into the jawbone. It is then covered with gum tissue and allowed to heal. This can take weeks or months, but during this time a temporary prosthesis may be used.
Unlike dentures, dental implants do not shift or move around in the mouth and allow patients to eat their favorite foods without worry. Furthermore, they do not require the nearby teeth to be shaved down for support, which can lead to the development of cracks or crevices in the surrounding teeth and raise the risk of infection.
Dental implants can help individuals who are struggling with a debilitating disease, such as HIV or AIDS, to improve their oral hygiene and live healthier lives. In addition, the implants can replace a single tooth or multiple teeth and help prevent bone loss in the area where the missing tooth was located.
If you are considering dental implants, we encourage you to speak with a dentist or an oral surgeon who has extensive experience in this treatment. Your dentist can give you a detailed treatment plan and estimate of costs and discuss whether dental implants are the right option for you.
It is important to note that while dental implants are very successful, they do not always succeed. In the event that an implant does fail, it is typically because the patient was not in good overall health or practiced poor oral hygiene. Therefore, it is crucial for patients to visit their dental professional regularly and follow the post-op instructions provided by their dentists. Patients who do these things will enjoy a high success rate for their dental implants.