Tooth loss is devastating. On one hand, you may have visible gaps in your smile which leave you feeling self-conscious and could impact confidence. On the other hand, you may struggle to enjoy some of your favourite meals, and it could affect your speech.
Losing teeth can open up the risk of further dental problems. Complications like drifting teeth, jawbone deterioration, gum disease, and further tooth decay are all potential risks you’ll face when you’re left with gaps in your smile.
You may have heard about how dental implants are a popular choice for replacing missing teeth, but if you’re not familiar with how they work, you’ll probably have several quite important questions you need answering.
In this guide, we’ll discuss dental implants and give you an insight into how they could benefit your life.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants replace the roots of your teeth. While other dental restorations focus on creating natural-looking teeth to complete your smile and give you the ability to bite and chew, dental implants go deeper and provide a similar type of anchorage as your natural teeth did.
Implants are made from titanium. This is because titanium is biocompatible, durable, and won’t degrade in your body. The material has lots of industrial uses and is even used in space technology.
Over time, your dental implant will fuse with your jaw to create a strong bond. This process gives your smile a firm foundation on which to feel confident.
What Are the Different Types of Dental Implants?
When we talk about dental implants, it’s easy to think about the replacements for single teeth. But there are other types, and we can use implants in innovative ways.
A single tooth implant consists of a titanium post embedded into the jaw, which is then covered with a custom-made crown above the gumline.
All-on-4 implants allow you to replace up to an entire arch of teeth. This type of treatment uses four to six strategically positioned implants to spread the support for your new smile across the entire jaw.
Implanted dentures are another option which uses the same titanium foundations. Instead of being fixed to the implants, you’ll have removable dentures giving you the same flexibility as traditional false teeth.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants Compared to Other Treatments?
If you’ve lost one or two teeth, another treatment option is a dental bridge. These replacement teeth are attached to healthy neighbours on one or both sides. The new teeth are bonded onto crowns, which are placed onto your adjacent teeth or held in place with wire bonded behind.
Bridges close gaps in your smile, improving its appearance. A dental bridge will restore the ability to bite and chew; however, it won’t give you the same stability as your natural teeth or implants.
Dentures are a long-established way of replacing several missing teeth. Although there’s a big difference between the comfort and fit of modern dentures and the false teeth of years gone by, this option again doesn’t offer the same level of support as implants.
You can, however, opt to have implant retained dentures to give you improved confidence.
Dental implants are the pinnacle of innovation and offer unparalleled stability. They stimulate the jaw, helping to keep it healthy while restoring your bite.
Who Are Dental Implants Suitable For?
Although dental implants are an attractive option for anyone who has lost teeth, we need to assess various aspects of your health to make sure they suit you.
Because your implants will need to anchor into your jaw, we need to check you have enough bone density to sustain the force from the implant. Losing teeth and having advanced gum disease can both impact jaw health.
Once the implant is in position, your jaw will take a few months to heal around it. We need to know you’re in good general health so we can be confident this recovery will go smoothly.
During your initial consultation, we’ll also ask you questions about your lifestyle. Being a heavy smoker can also impact your ability to heal.
How Long Will Dental Implants Last?
If you look after your oral health, there’s no reason your dental implants couldn’t last for life. You may need to change the crown after ten or fifteen years, but the supporting implant can stay in place.
Are There Any Special Care Requirements for Dental Implants?
The beauty of dental implants is, once they are in place, you don’t need to worry about doing anything out of the ordinary to care for them.
Treat your new dental implant exactly the way you should treat your natural teeth. Brush morning and night with fluoride toothpaste and a soft toothbrush, floss daily, use mouthwash, avoid excessive sugar and don’t smoke. Finally, visit us for checkups and hygiene visits often and we’ll help ensure your smile stays healthy.
Dental Implants in Durham
Dental implants can fully restore the look and function of your smile while reducing the risk of the health complications associated with losing teeth.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn whether dental implants are right for you.
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