A Natural Finish: Why Consider Dental Implants

This advanced dental procedure allows us to replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth or even a full arch of teeth. This type of restoration can be used without affecting other teeth, which makes it a fantastic restorative option.

Leaving a gap in your smile often isn’t a great idea due to the risk that the remaining teeth could shift into the gap. This can lead to crooked teeth and a poorly aligned bite. The surrounding and opposite teeth can also become loose due to a lack of support. And finally, it’s also likely to impact your confidence if the gap is visible.

In the past, the only option for replacing a missing tooth would be a bridge or denture, but dental implants can now pave the way for a more natural finish.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant sees a titanium screw inserted into the jawbone, which acts as a base to add a replacement tooth to, also known as a crown. The procedure takes place over multiple visits, with time for your mouth and jaw to heal in between.

The result is a highly functioning tooth that helps to maintain the structure of the mouth but that also looks natural. With good care, the dental implant portion can last a lifetime, while the crown, bridge or denture will typically last for around 12-15 years.

How do dental implants work?

This is a complex surgical procedure that takes place over multiple visits, with waiting time in between to allow the area to heal. The procedure starts by placing a small titanium screw into the jawbone.

This screw then essentially needs to fuse with the surrounding bone to become part of the structure of the mouth and provide the same rigidity you would expect from a natural tooth root.

Once your dentist is satisfied that the bone has sufficiently healed, they will once again expose the top of the implant and attach something called a healing abutment. This allows a crown to be fitted over the top.

The result is a replacement tooth that looks natural. The tooth is permanently fixed in place and you won’t be able to remove it without a dentist’s help. We can also use multiple implants to create a base support for a full arch restoration, and this can include “snap on” magnetic dentures.

What are the advantages of having a dental implant?

Part of the problem of losing teeth is that they help to support the structure of the mouth – and in turn the face. When teeth are missing this is affected as the jawbone starts to recede where the tooth has been removed.

A dental implant helps to address this by adding support to the jawbone. In the case of bone mass being lost, dentists can perform a bone graft so that there is enough bone for the implant to connect with.

As well as helping to maintain facial structure in a way that surface tooth replacement such as dentures cannot, implants allow teeth to be replaced without any healthy teeth being affected.

When a dental bridge is used to replace lost teeth, this needs to be fitted to adjoining teeth, which may need to have some of the surface removed to accommodate the crowns that will hold the bridge in place. This can weaken the surrounding teeth over time, resulting in further tooth loss.

Although implants may require a greater investment at the time of treatment, they offer a great solution to preserve the health of your mouth in the event of losing a tooth.

Can dental implants fail?

Yes, dental implants can fail in some situations. This will typically be a result of poor aftercare and unmanaged gum disease. Gum disease can spread to the socket of the implant, causing damage to the bone which can allow the implant to become loose. Taking good care of your teeth and also committing to regular dental checkups is a simple way to avoid this issue.

For more information on dental implants contact Bhandal Dental Surgery.