Missing teeth can have a massive knock on your confidence. Gaps in between your teeth can make you feel embarrassed when speaking to people in case they notice them and can even affect your capability to bite or chew on food. Luckily, all hope isn’t lost as there is an answer, and you don’t have to travel overseas to fix your teeth. Sheen Dental Implants Richmond offer an amazing solution by replacing missing teeth with natural looking, permanent dental implants that make your smile look complete again!
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are medical grade titanium screws that are surgically fixed directly into your jawbone in order to act as a replacement for your missing tooth root. The purpose of a tooth root is to act as an anchor for your teeth, so just like a tooth root, dental implants act as an anchor for a denture or crown. After it is fitted in, the bone surrounding the implant gradually begins to fuse to it, thereby securing it in place. Once it is in place and your dentist is certain it will not move, the implant can finally act like a tooth root, supporting a denture or crown on top of it that no longer needs to be removed at the end of the night.
Why you should choose dental implants
It comes as no surprise that dental implants are so popular, considering the benefits of having them are endless. In recent years there has been a massive upsurge in the number of adults choosing to have dental implants fitted over wearing traditional dentures or crowns. Here are just a few reasons why we think you should opt for dental implants over traditional dentures:
- Permanent – unlike traditional dentures that are removable, dental implants are able to provide you with a permanent solution to missing teeth as the titanium screws are actually surgically fixed into the jawbone. They are then further secured by the process of the original bone gradually fusing to the implant and allowing it to function like a natural tooth root.
- Natural looking – your dentist will choose the most natural looking set of dentures or crowns to place on top of your dental implants; they will ensure the dentures or crowns match the shade, shape and size of your original set of teeth, thereby giving your mouth a more complete and cohesive set of teeth. Additionally, once the implants are secured and the dentures or crowns are placed on top of them, any pre-existing gaps will be filled.
- Prevention of bone loss – when you lose a tooth, the bone that was originally beneath the tooth begins to shrink due to no activity occurring above it. As the bone is no longer being stimulated by the root, it slowly begins to shrink making your face droop over time. With dental implants acting like natural teeth, your jaw can continue to be stimulated, and further bone loss will be prevented.
- Enjoying food again – missing teeth make biting and chewing food painful and difficult, however dental implants can restore the strength in your mouth, allowing you to go back to enjoying your favourite meals without worrying about the pain.
Who can qualify for dental implants?
While dental implants are suitable for most people, there are a few exceptions based on your lifestyle habits and illnesses or disease you may have. This is because certain factors can have a negative effect on the way the treatment heals and how the rest of your mouth will respond to the treatment. Factors which may make you an unsuitable candidate for dental implants include:
- Smoking tobacco products
- If you have previously had radiotherapy around the jaw
- Drinking alcohol persistently and taking recreational drugs
- If you have active gum disease.
What is the process of getting dental implants?
The process of getting dental implants fitted into your mouth is a lengthy one which requires a lot of patience, however the results are worth the wait, with the entire process potentially taking up to nine months. The process involves a consultation with your dentist to assess your suitability for the treatment, then progressing to taking X-rays of your teeth to come up with a treatment plan and to create a model of your existing teeth. The process is completed when the implant is fitted into the gap, and the area surrounding it is stitched up, allowing the bone to grow around the implant and fusing it to the jawbone. Once the implant has fused to the jawbone, a denture or crown can be permanently fixed onto the implant.