Advantages of dental implants
It is often thought that when you experience tooth loss, dentures are your only option, but have you considered dental implants?
Dentures can feel loose and irritate your gums, which over time can lead to gum recession and loss of bone and gum tissue, and even with the best care, dentures will need replacing eventually. Dental implants can instead give you a more stable, natural feeling, and when looked after, can last a lifetime.
This is because they are not just replacement teeth, but they also replace lost tooth roots. They connect to the gum tissue and bone in the mouth, and so work and look exactly as natural teeth do. They can be tailored to each specific need, and will restore confidence if missing teeth are making you self-conscious of your smile.
Anyone healthy enough to have routine dental surgery would be an ideal candidate for having dental implants fitted. The only practical requirements are having healthy gums, and enough bone to hold the implant. Patients must also be committed to maintaining good oral hygiene. Those patients who may not make best candidates for the procedure can be evaluated on an individual basis.
The replacement root is a small screw, usually made of titanium, and over the top of this is fixed a bridge, which keeps your teeth securely fastened. They can only be removed by a dentist as they are so sturdy. An overdenture can be securely fixed over at least two implants, and this can be removed for cleaning.
An increasingly popular option are mini dental implants, as they are much faster to implant, and cost less, but work in exactly the same way. Mini dental implants can be a good option for older dental patients, as they are inserted very gently.
Usually, dental implants provide the most natural-feeling alternative for those who have lost teeth, and are very stable. This allows for more confidence when speaking, laughing, and importantly, eating, as chewing food becomes easier.
