A natural finish: Why to consider dental implants

When it comes to teeth natural is best, but should the worst happen and you need to replace a tooth implants are an excellent way to maintain a natural look.

As dental implants are designed to be replacements for single teeth they can be used without affecting other teeth and make a fantastic restorative option.

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 (a crown).

The result is a highly functioning tooth that helps to maintain the structure of the mouth but that also looks natural.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants do require the patient to undergo surgery as the screw is inserted 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.

An abutment is then attached to the top of this screw which allows a crown to be fitted over the top.

The result is a replacement tooth that looks natural.

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.

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.

For more information on dental implants contact Bhandal Dental Surgery.