A dental implant is a permanent and long-term solution to replacing missing teeth and can provide many benefits. This article will explain what a dental implant is and how it can help improve your oral health.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a titanium post or screw that is surgically placed into the jawbone in order to replace missing teeth. The screw then serves as an anchor for a crown, bridge or denture to be attached to it.
Benefits
The benefits of dental implants are numerous – from improved oral health to increased self-confidence in your smile. Let’s take a look at the benefits of a dental implant.
Improved oral health
The biggest benefit of dental implants is improved oral health. An implant will help to keep your gums healthy by preventing bacteria from entering the area around the implant.
Without an implant, you’re more prone to infection due to food particles getting stuck in between your teeth or around the gum line.
Implants also help preserve the surrounding bone structure that would otherwise be lost with missing teeth, leading to better overall oral health.
Better comfort and improved speech
Implants are designed to fit like natural teeth, so they provide comfort and stability when eating, speaking, and smiling.
Compared to dentures, they allow you to speak more naturally since they don’t slip or move around as other alternatives do.
This makes them much easier and more comfortable for daily activities such as eating and talking.
Improved self-esteem
Dental implants can help improve your self-esteem as they restore confidence in your smile and make you feel better about yourself overall.
Missing teeth can be embarrassing and cause social anxiety, but with implants, it’s easy to feel confident knowing that you have a complete set of permanent teeth that look just like natural ones. Plus, no one will ever know that you have implants unless you tell them.
Durability and long-lasting results
Implants are incredibly durable – in fact, many people who receive implants can expect them to last for 20 years or more before needing replacement.
This makes them an excellent long-term investment for those looking for permanent solutions to their missing teeth issues without having to worry about frequent replacements or repairs due to wear and tear over time.
Who is eligible for implant surgery?
To determine if you are eligible for implant surgery, your dentist will need to evaluate your medical history and perform a comprehensive examination of your mouth. They will also take X-rays and CT scans of your jawbone to check bone density, size, and shape.
In general, anyone who is healthy enough to undergo a routine dental extraction may be eligible for implant surgery. However, some conditions—such as diabetes, low bone levels, or poor oral hygiene—may make you not eligible for a dental implant.
What is involved in the implant surgery process?
At Ultra Dental, our dental implant process requires some planning and consultation before we go ahead with the Implant surgery.
Here are the next steps for starting your Implant journey at Ultra Dental:
- First consultation- Opportunity to ask questions on all things Implants
- Second consultation- Our Dentist will collect all the data required to start the planning process. These include taking intraoral photos, intraoral digital scans, X-rays, and more!
- Third and final consultation- Final planning and animation showed our patient of how the implant will be placed. Approval from the patient on treatment
- Stage One: Implant Surgery- 1-2 hour surgery in a sterile environment where the implant screw is placed
- Stage Two: Implant Surgery- Final Implant Crown is placed on the implant screw.
Afterward, there may be some discomfort, but generally, it is minimal compared to traditional tooth extractions or surgeries like wisdom teeth removal.
The entire healing process typically takes 4-6 months before the final implant crown can be placed onto the implants themselves.
When to consider dental implant surgery?
Missing tooth replacement
The most obvious reason for dental implant surgery is to replace a missing tooth. This surgery is more advantageous than other methods of replacing missing teeth because it provides greater stability and helps maintain existing bone tissue in the jawbone.
As such, it’s an ideal solution for those who want to restore their smile without compromising their oral health.
Tooth decay
Tooth decay can cause severe damage to your teeth and gums over time, leaving them vulnerable to infection and further decay.
If left untreated, these infections can spread throughout the mouth and eventually lead to loss of teeth or, worse yet, permanent damage to your jawbone or facial structure.
In these cases, dental implant surgery can help protect your smile while restoring its original shape and appearance.
Gum disease
Gum disease is an infection caused by bacteria that accumulates below the gum line due to poor oral hygiene practices or a weakened immune system.
This infection can cause significant damage to the surrounding tissue and bone in the jawbone over time if left untreated.
Dental implant surgery can help restore stability and reinforce healthy tissue in these areas by bridging gaps between teeth that were previously damaged by gum disease.
Jawbone deterioration
Jawbone deterioration is another common problem that affects many people due to age-related wear and tear on our bodies as well as lifestyle factors like smoking or poor nutrition habits.
This deterioration can cause instability in our bite and make it difficult for us to chew properly without discomfort or pain. Dental implant surgery can help restore strength and stability in these areas so you can enjoy eating without worry or pain again.
Improving aesthetics
Dental implant surgery can help improve aesthetics as well as overall oral health. By replacing missing or decaying teeth with artificial ones, you’ll instantly enhance your smile while also protecting yourself from further damage down the line.
Plus, since they look just like natural teeth once they’re implanted into place, no one will even know they’re not real.
Conclusion
When considering whether a dental implant should be part of your treatment plan, it’s important to understand all the potential benefits that come along with it.
From improved oral health and better comfort, while speaking or chewing food all the way through to increased self-esteem, there are many positive aspects associated with this popular form of restorative dentistry that make it worth considering if you’re looking for a long-term solution for missing teeth.
With proper care and maintenance, your dental implant could last up to 20 years or longer. For those seeking a permanent solution without having frequent replacements down the line, then an implant may just be the perfect option for you.
Dental implants are becoming increasingly popular as more people strive for a picture-perfect smile. Whether you’re interested in single-tooth replacement or multi-tooth restoration, getting expert advice from our experienced and friendly dentist is sure to set you on the path to a restored smile at Ultra Dental!
