Dental Implant Benefits

Understanding a Dental Implant

A dental implant is a way of providing a person who has lost teeth with a permanent replacement which looks and feels exactly the same as the original.

An implant works by drilling a precise-sized hole into the bone of the jaw, where a titanium implant is inserted, which acts exactly the same as the root portion of a normal tooth, onto which a crown can then be placed. Extreme care must be taken with this procedure, as it is important that the bone does not become damaged by overheating, so it is done slowly and with plenty of cold water to keep the temperature down. Titanium is used for the implant due to its unique properties, which allow the bone to fuse with the metal. Once completed, the implant offers a permanent solution to missing teeth, and the majority of people report that the procedure is close to painless, with the result being as good as the original.

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Patient Suitability

Before you can have an implant it is essential that you have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. Some people’s jaw bones are too thin or soft to be able to provide the support needed, in which case you may additionally need a bone graft to provide sufficient strength. An additional problem for some is, the sinuses are too close to the jaw, or there is insufficient height in the upper jawbone, which then requires surgery for a sinus lift.

Bridges and Dentures

Prior to the introduction of the dental implant, options for replacing lost teeth were the bridge and the denture. For some people neither option is comfortable, or sometimes even possible, due to sore spots, poor ridges or problems with the gag reflex. One problem with the bridge is that the teeth on either side of the missing tooth need to be ground down to accept the bridge, and the space behind the tooth filling the gap is a collection point for plaque and bacteria.

Dental Implant Benefits

The dental implant, while being more expensive, has many benefits which simply cannot be offered with traditional treatments. Because the post fuses with the bone in the jaw, they become permanent, looking and feeling like your own teeth, which is far more comfortable in the mouth. While dentures can move around slightly within the mouth, which may cause you to slur words a little or can make chewing problematic, the implant is absolutely solid, allowing you to talk and eat with confidence. It is important to have any gap fixed, as the remaining teeth will begin to move to fill the gap left by the missing tooth, which can cause your cheeks to sink, making you look older, a problem completely rectified by the implant.

The installation is very simple with numerous dentists offering dental implants in Sydney and nationwide.

Dental implants allow for good oral hygiene, as no other teeth need be affected by their installation. They also allow easier access between teeth for improved cleaning. Implants are extremely durable and with proper care will probably last you your entire lifetime.

If you have a missing tooth, talk to your local dentist about the procedure and find out if you are suitable for an implant to complete your smile once more.