What You Need to Know About Dental Implants
Dental implants are an excellent solution to lost teeth!
Your teeth are an important part of your overall health and appearance, so what happens when you lose a tooth? If you’re twelve years old or younger, losing your teeth is normal and expected, but once your adult teeth have grown in, losing a tooth is a much bigger problem. There are numerous ways that adults can lose their teeth, and it can happen to anyone. Four common ways adults lose one or more of their pearly-whites are due to gum disease, cavities, physical injuries or trauma, and other, non-tooth related diseases such as diabetes, arthritis, or hypertension.
If you’ve lost one or more of your teeth as an adult, don’t lose hope—with the marvels of modern dentistry, there are ways to restore your smile to what it once was through dental implants.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a replacement for your tooth’s natural root, which is the portion of your tooth that holds your tooth in place by rooting it into the jawbone. The portion of your tooth that you can see only makes up about one third of your actual tooth, the rest of the tooth is part of the root. When dental implants are used to replace a lost tooth, an artificial tooth root is affixed to your jaw bone and used to support a new tooth or bridge. With the help of a dental implant, your missing tooth or teeth can be replaced with artificial teeth that look and function just like natural teeth.
What types of dental implants are available?
At G Dental 32, we offer two types of implants—endosteal and subperiosteal.
Endosteal implants are a very common type of dental implant that is sometimes used instead of a bridge or removable denture. An endosteal implant is surgically placed directly into the jawbone, and is a safe and effective option to replace a lost tooth. There are numerous types of endosteal implants that dentists use, including threaded, smooth, or bladed types of implants.
Endosteal implants are placed surgically by drilling into the jawbone. A metal implant is then placed into the jawbone that will serve as the artificial tooth root. After implanting the replacement root, it can take several months for the tissue and bone around the artificial root to fully heal. After healing, and once the artificial tooth has been attached, endosteal implants are very stable and both feel and look natural. Our experienced dentists will be able to help determine if an endosteal implant is the right choice for you.
Subperiosteal implants are placed on top of the jawbone, underneath the gum, rather than into the jawbone itself. A new replacement tooth is then attached to the jawbone via a metal frame that is exposed through the gums to hold onto the new tooth. The process for placing a subperiosteal implant is not as extensive as an endosteal implant and the healing time is typically shorter, however, these types of implants are not always as stable and natural-feeling as endosteal implants. If you are unsure about what options would be best for you, our team of dental experts can help!
What are the benefits of dental implants?
There are numerous benefits to getting dental implants. In addition to improved appearance and a boost in self esteem, dental implants can:
Improve Your Speech: Your teeth can affect how you speak, and you may not even realize it until you get implants! Without dentures or bridges that can become loose and move around as you speak, your speech will be clear and you’ll have complete control of every word.
Improve Your Comfort: Removable dentures and bridges can cause irritation and discomfort when they become loose. With dental implants, new teeth become a part of you, and are typically as comfortable as your permanent adult teeth!
Improved Eating: Dentures and bridges that are not secure can become loose when chewing, especially if you’re chomping down on hard or chewy foods. With dental implants, eating is easier and more comfortable than ever.
Improved Oral Health: Dental implants don’t damage surrounding teeth like a tooth-supported bridge does. This means more of your own teeth are left intact and healthy. Dental implants are also easy to clean and maintain—they won’t decay over time and are as simple to clean as your own teeth.
Improved Convenience: Removable dentures are less than convenient when it comes to removal, cleaning, and messy adhesives. When your teeth are anchored into your jaw, there’s no need to worry about others noticing your dentures, or deal with difficult adhesives.
Improved Protection: When you get dental implants, you are protecting your jawbone from deterioration. Without a dental implant, missing teeth can allow for bone loss where there are gaps in your smile. Over time, this bone loss can change the shape of your face and jawline, even causing the appearance of premature. With dental implants, bone loss can be stopped before it ever begins!
What are you waiting for?
We know what a shot to your self esteem a lost tooth can be, but luckily there are solutions available that can restore your smile. Dental implants are an excellent safe, effective, and durable solution to the problem of tooth loss. We even offer implant-supported or implant-retained dentures for patients who have lost all of their teeth.
Don’t let another day go by with missing teeth and uncomfortable dentures or bridges. The miracles of modern dentistry have improved the smiles of millions, and you could be next! Call us today to schedule an appointment—we’re here to answer any questions you might have and restore your smile to help you feel your very best.
