Dental Implants
Introduction
People lose teeth all the time, whether it be through trauma (for instance when teeth are knocked out) or due to gum disease, tooth decay or simply old age. Whatever the reason, they need to be replaced, both for functional & aesthetic reasons. Common treatments for replacing missing teeth have been dentures or fixed bridges. However, dental implants have now become a popular solution to replace missing teeth due to the fact that they provide a longer-term solution, slow down bone loss and preserve nearby healthy tooth tissue.
What is a Dental Implant?
A Dental Implant is an artificial replacement for the root of your natural tooth. It is carefully & precisely anchored into a pre-drilled socket in your jaw-bone to support a crown, bridge or even secure a denture firmly in place. Implants are made from Titanium as its properties are well tolerated by bone and integrate easily with bone tissue. During the placement of a Dental Implant, the aim is to achieve close contact between the outer surface of the implant and the surrounding bone tissue so they can “fuse” together (osseointegration) and create a stable support for the new teeth.
What are the advantages of dental implants over dentures and bridges?
- Reduced bone loss
Normally, the bone tissue surrounding the root of your tooth is maintained by your body’s natural renewal process. However, when you loose a tooth, you are left with a hole where your tooth root used to be and the bone around this area will slowly begin to disappear and may change the shape of your jaw. A Dental Implant placed in that area can actually stimulate bone growth and production, preventing loss of valuable bone structure. In some patients where bone loss is substantial, a bone graft may be required before placing a Dental Implant. - Improved function
Once Dental Implants are fully integrated into your jaw, they function just as well as your own natural teeth meaning you can eat the foods you want and speak with complete confidence. With dentures, eating hard foods such as apples can be a problem: either the dentures come loose or patients cannot withstand the hard biting forces as they cause pain in the gums. - No need to drill or remove any healthy tooth structure
When replacing missing teeth with bridges, the teeth either side of the gap have to be prepared and healthy tooth structure needs to be removed to accommodate a Crown or Bridge to fit over the top of the tooth. If one of these supporting teeth becomes damaged in the furture, the entire bridge restoration will also be compromised, whereas with an implant, the restoration is independent of any of your other teeth. - Better aesthetics
If done correctly, an Implant should be indistinguishable from your surrounding natural teeth. Dentures can look unnatural if they do not blend with your gums and any existing teeth, also some bridges and dentures have unsightly metal clasps to hold them in place. Dental Implants provide a much better cosmetic and functional end result.
How long do dental implants last?
Implants have been used in dentistry for over 30 years to replace missing teeth and they can last a lifetime dependant on how well you look after them. Like any other restoration, your implant-supported teeth can still be damaged by trauma and affected by gum disease and poor oral hygiene so regular visits to your Hygienist are important.
How much do dental implants cost?
Prices of Dental Implants vary considerably depending on the amount of work needed and the number of implants required. A consultation will be required in order to give a custom-made treatment plan & estimate of cost.