For many people, finding a dentist can be as easy as doing a quick search on a search engine, or spotting the nearest one to where they live. But for others, finding dentists who offer certain treatments can be important, particularly as you get older and more dental needs may arise. However, even when you are younger, it can be prudent to ensure that dentists offer treatments you may need in case you have an accident. Dental implants are just one treatment that may be required for people who have an accident during a sport or have poor oral hygiene, as well as for mature people who have lost teeth for other age-related reasons. Tooth loss can affect a person’s self-esteem and the face can appear sunken, so getting teeth replaced by your dentist can be an important step to ensuring your remaining teeth and gums don’t have any further issues.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are titanium screws that are attached to the jaw bone and act as artificial roots for your replacement teeth. Replacement teeth can be crowns, dentures or bridges and this depends on how many teeth need to be replaced. Crowns are normally used for individual teeth, whereas dentures or bridges can be used for several missing teeth or a whole set. These replacement teeth are held firmly in place thanks to the titanium screws as they are set into the jaw bone and the bone bonds to this metal.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
If you have dental implants, nobody else will know about it, unless you choose to tell them, of course! This is because your replacement teeth are made to match your remaining natural teeth and so they shouldn’t look different aesthetically. Also, as they are held firmly in place, there shouldn’t be any embarrassing moments of them loosening while you talk as can be the case with dentures, for example. (we all remember comedy sketches of grandma’s teeth flying out into someone else’s glass of water, right?!) Thankfully, you won’t need to see a funny side with dental implants! You can even eat and drink anything you want to, so nothing is off the menu – result!
You can also maintain your dental implants easily by simply brushing and flossing regularly, and seeing your dentist for regular checkups. Another benefit is that there should be no discomfort with your dental implants once they have had time to bond to the jaw and the permanent replacement teeth are attached (there will be a healing process of 6-12 weeks where temporary replacement teeth are attached to the titanium screws first). With dentures, for example, these can be uncomfortable and require adhesives to be used. With dental implants, you shouldn’t need to worry about any discomfort or loosening.
When people have missing teeth, their faces can have a shrunken appearance. With implants, they can add structure back to your face and help you to appear more youthful. They also protect the remaining natural teeth and gums from further infections or complications. When teeth are missing, patients can also experience difficulties with speech and if this is you, you should find that your speech is improved once you have had dental implants fitted.
Is anybody eligible for dental implants?
If you would like to find out if implants are for you, you simply need to book in for a consultation with your dentist. If you have enough bone density in your jaw, you should be able to have implants. If not, don’t worry! You may be able to have a bone graft to increase the bone density and allow you to have dental implants fitted. By having a consultation with a dentist, they can examine your mouth and advise you on the best course of treatment for you and you will also be able to ask any questions you may have as well.
So, what are you waiting for? If you need a dentist and one that offers dental implants, be specific in your search engine research, ask friends and family for recommendations and speak to practices to find out what they offer. Do the groundwork and it could give you plenty to smile about in reward!
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