Reasons Why You Need to Choose Dental Implants
Missing teeth not only affect your appearance but also your dental structure. This is because the supporting bone can get reabsorbed, which weakens the teeth. That is why you need to replace and cover these gaps to preserve your dental integrity. Luckily, we have several restorative dental treatments such as implants, dentures, and bridges that can replace the teeth.
Among all the restorative dental procedures, dental implants are among the treatment options that you use to cover the unsightly gaps.
Some people are reserved about dental implants because of the notion that the process is painful and lengthy. However, these are myths because the dentist will use anesthesia and dental sedation to make the procedure painless. Before you can disregard getting dental implants, here are a few reasons to consider.
- The Implants Resemble Your Teeth and Create a Natural Look
Dental implants are made of three parts—the screws, abutment, and crowns. The implants are fixed on the jaw and after they fuse to the bone, they create a natural look as the implant is not visible. The abutment is used to connect the abutment and crowns, which are tooth-colored and resemble your natural teeth.
- Prevents Bone Loss
Bone loss is one of the complaints of people with missing teeth. According to several reports, people with missing teeth tend to lose about 12 percent of the supporting bone in the first year and more after that. Leaving these gaps unfilled for an extended period weakens your structure and the surrounding teeth.
Using the other restoration options like denture and bridges do not necessarily prevent bone loss. Because the dentures are removable, the jaw will continue to shrink. Dental bridges are permanent, but they ate not as effective in preventing bone loss as implants.
When the metal screws are fixed, they fuse to the bone and this creates strong support for the implants. Furthermore, it can stimulate new bone growth and preserve your bone density.
- They Prevent Decay and Gum Disease
While dental bridges are effective, they still are at risk of developing decay. Not the bridges per se, but the teeth underneath can decay. The tiny space where the bridges and the gums meet can trap food particles and cause the bacteria to multiply. With time, this will lead to decay and other dental problems like gum infection.
The implants are made of titanium that is not only durable but can withstand decay. However, you still need to maintain proper dental hygiene to preserve the rest of the teeth.
What Can You Expect at Your Dental Appointment?
The dental implant procedure is done in a few steps that are spread over a couple of months. The process involves:
- Examination and planning
A compressive dental assessment, medical and drug history is done first to assess your eligibility for the implants. The dentist will examine the extent of the bone loss to determine if you need a bone graft or not. Bone grafting uses granules from your body or cadaver to stimulate bone growth.
The dentist will also discuss the different implant types available and choose the most suitable for you depending on the location, bone density, and the number of teeth missing.
- Fixing the implants
The process lasts for about 45 to 60 minutes and it is an outpatient dental procedure. The dentist will drill the jaw to fix the implants and stitch the gums. A temporary restoration like dentures can be used to cover the gums to facilitate healing.
During the healing process, the bone and implant will fuse. This process is important because if it fails, the implant procedure can fail.
- Placing the abutment
An abutment connects the implant to the crown. The dentist will make an incision on the gums to place the connector. A cast of your teeth and gums is taken to create the dental crowns needed.
- Fixing the crowns
This is the final step and the dentist will cement or screw the crowns in place to create a natural look.
Schedule an Appointment
Visit Dentist of Chester Springs for more information about dental implants and how they are fixed.