Millions of people suffer tooth loss globally despite improvements in dental care. For several years the only treatment options for replacing missing teeth were bridges and dentures. But today, there are dental implants that can effectively replace missing teeth and restore your masticatory functions. Dental implants help when there is extensive tooth damage that can not be treated with restorations and crowns.
Waterford dental implants offer the best replacement for missing teeth when other options do not fit properly, constantly move or become loose within your mouth.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are artificial prostheses or structures inserted into your jawbone. These are called replacement tooth roots that provide a strong foundation for fixed or removable replacement teeth.
Dental implants are excellent alternatives for people with malfunctioning or poorly fitting dentures and bridgework.
These prostheses are anchored to your bone through a surgical procedure called osseointegration (fusion of the metal to the bone). This provides stable support while eating and speaking.
What are the factors that favor dental implants?
Dental implants are mostly recommended to replace teeth that have been compromised, lost, or broken beyond repair.
However, dental implants are not beneficial to teenagers and young patients since your jawbones need to be fully developed. You must have an adequate amount of jawbone beneath the affected tooth to provide sufficient anchorage. In some cases, your dental surgeon may use bone grafts to strengthen the jawbones for a dental implant.
What to expect if I get a dental implant?
You need to undergo an in-depth oral examination and a series of X-rays to determine if you need a dental implant or if it is the best-suited treatment option.
- You will be given anesthesia (a numbing agent) before removing any remaining pieces of your damaged tooth.
- The socket will be cleaned thoroughly.
- A titanium root will be fixed in your jawbone.
- Your bone is given time to heal and fuse with the titanium root.
- A temporary crown will be placed to keep your implant safe.
- Once the jawbone has grown around the implant, a permanent abutment will be installed on top to support the permanent artificial crown or tooth.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
There are many advantages of implants that include:
- Improved speech
- Easier eating
- Enhanced appearance
- Improved comfort
- Improved oral health
- Last for a lifetime with good care
Takeaway
Dental implants are revolutionary alternatives to missing teeth that offer permanent solutions, and have a high success rate providing long-term benefits. They help improve speech, eating, and enhance your overall appearance that boosts your self-confidence.
