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Regular brushing, flossing, and checkups help to maintain our natural smile but if you’ve lost a tooth or two due to decay or injury and you are missing a vital tooth, it can make a major difference to your smile, chewing and bite. Many decades ago, we would trim down adjacent teeth to support a bridge or make a flipper. Now, dental implants have become the most revolutionary treatment for the past 25 years, because it simulates your own tooth. Think of it as artificial tooth roots. They look very similar to screws and when placed in your jaw, it bonds with the bone in the jaw so that the implants are sturdy.
Dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.
Implants are the most revolutionary treatment because it simulates your own tooth. Think of it as artificial tooth roots. They look very similar to screws and when placed in your jaw, it bonds with the bone in the jaw so that the implants are sturdy.
An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.
The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw, and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.
Implants are versatile. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.
Advantages over dentures or bridges
Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural, but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don’t directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don’t compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.
Post-treatment care
Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.