For years if you lost a tooth you would invariably end up with a bridge and if you lost a number of teeth you would have to turn to dentures. Behind the scenes dental science and technology have been developing a concept that was first used on a human being in the 1960s. Dental implants Navan utilise all those years of development and the skills and experience of a team of highly qualified and dedicated dental clinicians to bring relief to patients who have lost teeth through decay or accident. This procedure is fast becoming available to more and more patients.
A stable solution
One of the most sought-after solutions for anyone who has lost teeth is a replacement with stability. A dental bridge is usually supported by an adjacent tooth so a stable tooth is usually easily achieved. Dentures pose a different problem and stability is normally achieved by utilising the ridges of the maxillary and mandibular ridges. Loss of a tooth poses some other problems other than stability. When a tooth is lost the jawbone in that area starts to deteriorate, because the body no longer sends important minerals to that area of the bone. Over time this can manifest itself in a visual hollowing of the face in that particular area. Bridges and dentures unfortunately do not stimulate the bone, because they are above the surface of the bone. An implant, however, does stimulate the bone because part of the procedure is to place an artificial root into the jawbone.
First step to teeth replacement
As with all dental procedures it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination in the first instance to identify the oral state of the patient. Utilising X-rays and scanners it is possible to assess the condition of the jawbone and to locate the exact position of nerves. Determining the density of the jawbone is vitally important because this is what will have to take the prosthetic root. There are numerous other factors which have to be taken into account, such as resistance to infection, healing rate and the mental ability to handle dental procedures. If the jawbone is not dense enough, recent developments in bone augmentation have made it possible to improve bone density. A positive assessment will allow the procedure to move forward and a personal treatment plan will be created.
The procedure
On the day of the procedure a local anaesthetic will be administered and a small incision is made in the gum at exactly where the implant will be placed. A small hole is drilled into the jawbone and a titanium post is screwed into the bone. A recovery period of between eight to twelve weeks is required before the next stage of the procedure can be undertaken. This will give the titanium and the bone time to fuse providing a solid foundation for the crown. A crown will be created to match the shape and colour of the surrounding teeth. An abutment is fitted into the titanium post and the crown is set on the abutment to ensure a solid and stable new tooth.
Aftercare
For the first few weeks after the procedure it will be necessary to avoid chewing on anything that is hard and you may experience some pain and discomfort for a few days. This will pass and you will eventually be able to eat and drink normally. It is possible to brush and floss an implant in the same way as with natural teeth. An implant should last for twenty to thirty years depending on your oral hygiene regime.
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