Tooth loss is not a normal part of old age. If you brush your teeth twice a day, floss after meals and use a good fluoride mouthwash, as well as visit the dentist on a regular basis, then you can keep your natural teeth for the whole of your life. Avoiding the dentist and poor oral hygiene cause plaque and tartar to build up on your teeth resulting in tooth decay and gum disease. These things can weaken your teeth so that they fall out of their own accord or cause unpleasant symptoms that ultimately require a tooth extraction.
If you have lost a tooth or undergone a tooth extraction, then you need to speak to your dentist and find out about replacing your missing tooth. Missing teeth can be replaced using bridges, dentures or dental implants Ryde. Dental implants are the most popular and efficacious solution for tooth loss. This is because dental implants are a potentially permanent solution for replacing your missing teeth whereas bridges and dentures have to be replaced over time.
The first dental implant surgery on a human patient was carried out in 1965 by Dr Branemark, an orthopaedic surgeon from Sweden. The implant lasted for the rest of the patient’s life who passed away 40 years later in 2005. Since then further research has been carried out into dental implants and they now have an excellent success rate of more than 95%.
Are dental implants suitable for you?
To begin with, your dentist will discuss your medical history and find out if dental implants are suitable for you. There are certain health conditions which mean that you may not be a suitable candidate and this includes diabetes, blood clotting disorders, cancer, immunological disorders as well as those who are heavy smokers or have problems with drug abuse. Some patients suffer from bone decay or gum disease and this will need to be addressed if you are to undergo dental implant surgery. If your dentist decides that dental implants are not suitable for you then you can discuss bridges and dentures to replace your missing teeth.
Dental implant surgery
If your dentist decides that dental implants are a good choice for replacing your missing teeth then you will undergo an X-ray to find out what size implant you need and how it will be positioned in your jaw. You will then be booked in for the surgery. The surgery is normally carried out under local anaesthetic, sedation or general anaesthetic depending on your levels of stress and anxiety. The procedure can be carried out within an hour or 2 hours depending on the number of implants that you need to replace your missing teeth. You can have a single implant to replace 1 to 3 missing teeth or you can have multiple implants to replace all of your teeth depending on your dental requirements. Once the implant is in place it takes several months for it to become embedded into your mouth. During this time your dentist will make sure that the healing process is coming along successfully. Once the implant has healed you can attach a crown or a set of dentures to replace your missing teeth.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
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