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What are Dental Implants?
Dental implant is a titanium post (like a tooth root) that is surgically positioned into the jawbone beneath your gums and they provide a permanent base for fixed, replacement teeth. Implants are typically made of titanium, a biocompatible material that is easily acceptable by the body and serves as a strong foundation for the replacement teeth. Once inserted the process of osseointegration takes place where the natural bone locks the implant into place by fusing, or attaching itself, to the implant. Once in place, it allows your dentist to mount replacement teeth or a bridge into that area.
What are the advantages of Dental Implants?
Dental implants are considered the most durable, lifelike and long-lasting form of tooth replacement. They have a large number of benefits and advantages over all other forms of tooth replacement. Dental implants prevent bone loss that normally occurs underneath your missing teeth. Dental implants are the only dental restoration that preserves and actually help to stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss. By preserving bone, the stability of adjacent, natural teeth is maintained and so is the size and shape of your jaw bone. Because implants fuse to your jawbone, they provide stable support for artificial teeth and give the strength and stability required to eat all food one requires. It allows you to speak easily and comfortably and are built to last which makes them your best long-term, cost-effective solution.
How is it different from other dental tooth replacement?
For many patients, fixed crown & bridges dentures and removable dentures are simply not comfortable or even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition placing a tooth-supported crown and bridge requires grinding away the teeth on both sides of the missing tooth and thereby damaging your healthy teeth to restore those that are missing. An advantage of implants is that no adjacent healthy teeth need to be prepared or grind down to hold your new replacement teeth in place. Also, traditional tooth supported bridges can lead to bone deterioration, gum problems and may interfere with eating, smiling, speaking and other activities of everyday life. It may last 5 to 7 years, and with proper care often more than 10 years, but at some point they may need to be replaced. Those costs can really add up over time. While dental implants may need periodic visit can last a lifetime.
Beyond the aesthetics, a dental implant doesn’t come loose like a denture since it’s fixed to the bone and provides the maximum support for the supporting tooth. Because a dental implant feels and looks like a normal tooth, it can do wonders for your self-esteem.
But taking everything in consideration your dentist will review your medical history, oral hygiene maintenance etc .If you are considering dental implants, you must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. But even if enough bone is unavailable the option of ridge modification can be done by placing bone substitutes to build up the ridge which gives you enough bone for a successful Implant. If you have a missing a tooth and believe a dental implant might be the right solution for you, start by consulting your dentist because Dental implants are the next best thing to your healthy, natural teeth.