What Are The Benefits of Dental Implants?

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What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants can always be considered as an option to replace one tooth, or several teeth, or all your teeth. If you wear full or partial dentures or a bridge, dental implants may well be suitable for you and are worth investigating. Your dentist will be able to advise whether or not dental implants are suitable for your situation.

  • They are a permanent solution to missing teeth.
  • In appearance, feel and function, they are identical to your natural teeth.
  • They restore your bite by stopping the remaining teeth on either side of the space moving and rotating.
  • They restore the ability to chew food properly.
  • The appearance of your smile improves.
  • They can reduce the appearance of wrinkles and premature aging.
  • They help retain bone structure.
  • They restore normal function, comfort, aesthetics, speech, and health.

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is structured on a thin, metal rod, usually made from titanium; this is buried in the bone and acts an artificial tooth root by forming an attachment for a replacement tooth.

Following insertion into the bone, it is left in the gum tissue to heal. When healing is complete, it is uncovered; a small metal post is connected and that is what secures and supports the artificial tooth.

The length of time it takes for dental implant treatments depends on the type of bone and the location of the tooth; it can take from a few months to over 9 months. The time-frame will be lengthened if bone grafting or bone growth is needed.

Is everyone suitable for a dental implant?

Not necessarily. There are a variety of conditions that can cause problems – alcoholism, uncontrolled diabetes and some psychiatric disorders.

Your dentist will need to check to see how much bone you have and if you have enough space in your jaw bone for an implant. It is possible to grow bone or graft bone from your hip, for example, to compensate for the lack of bone in your jaw.

The success rates of dental implants vary, depending on where in the jaw the implants are placed.

In general, dental implants have a success rate of up to 98% in the lower jaw. Further back in the mouth the success rate drops slightly, but is still usually over 90%. If you smoke, the chances of success drop by at least 10%.

With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.

Are dental implants complicated?

If there is sufficient bone available for the implant, the answer is no. All of the procedures can be done by your dentist in the surgery with only a local anaesthetic.

There are two surgical stages for dental implants:

  1. The implant of the metal rod or root component into the bone.Taking about an hour to complete, the stitches are removed 6 – 10 days later. The buried implant is left to allow healing for 3 – 6 months, or longer. It is during this time that bone grows into the implant surface to secure it.
  2. Lasting about 30 minutes, the second stage involves uncovering the implant with a small incision in the gum and attaching a post to the implant. It will take as little as two weeks before the prosthetic tooth is be attached.

Your dentist will ensure the discomfort is minimal and is also able to prescribe medication for any discomfort you might experience.

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Dr Alan

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