What are Dental Implants?

Missing teeth are a pain to live with. Not only do gaps in your smile look less than attractive, but depending on where they are, they will almost certainly affect how well you can use your teeth and mouth. Fortunately, there’s no need to suffer from the inconvenience of tooth loss.
 

Dental implants are a new, innovative, and surgical approach to replacing missing teeth. However, unlike other solutions, dental implants do not rely on other teeth or adhesive to keep them in place. They are considered to be the most natural in appearance, the most durable, long-lasting, and successful of any dental restoration.
 

Single dental implants

Single dental implants are the most well-known type of implants. As their name suggests, they replace just a single missing tooth. Every single dental implant comprises several sections, including a titanium post, a special connector, and a bespoke porcelain crown. Together, these form the structure of the artificial tooth.

The titanium post is the most integral part of a dental implant. It is this biocompatible post that is surgically placed into the jawbone in place of the original tooth root. As the jaw heals around the post, it cements it permanently into the jaw, making it part of the overall structure. This process, called osseointegration, underpins the entire technique. Once the post is secure, a bespoke porcelain crown can be crafted and then attached using a special connector call an abutment, completing the treatment.
 

Implant-supported bridges and dentures

If you have multiple missing teeth adjacent to one another, you may wish to consider an implant-supported bridge or denture. This is where the bespoke restoration is created, but rather than being attached to existing teeth or using adhesive, they are placed onto implant posts. Exactly how many posts will be needed will depend on the size of your restorations, but bridges can usually be supported on just two, while dentures may need up to a maximum of eight.
 

Benefits of dental implants

Why should you choose dental implants over other tooth loss solutions? There is a range of important benefits that set implants apart from the alternatives.

Just like natural teeth

Patients and experts both agree that dental implants are the most natural in the appearance of any prosthetic teeth. They are completely bespoke, designed so that they are the perfect shape, size, and color to restore your smile. Dental implants are so lifelike that it will be pretty much impossible for anyone around you to tell that they aren’t your natural teeth.

Prevention of bone loss

Bone loss is a serious consequence of missing teeth. When there’s no longer a natural root to stimulate your jawbone, it will begin to deteriorate. A dental implant is the only tooth replacement option that replicates this stimulation and keeps your jawbone strong. This also means that the integrity of your facial structure remains intact instead of changing shape – something which can cause you to look older than you really are.

A strong, healthy bite

Conventional tooth replacement solutions are not normally secure enough to enable patients to use much force when they bite down, which can make it difficult to eat some foods. This isn’t the case with dental implants. As they are permanently anchored to the jaw and form part of its overall structure, you can bite down with exactly the same force that you would use with your natural teeth without needing to worry that they will be damaged or come out. Better still, there is no pressure or stress on your natural teeth, which helps them to stay in great condition for longer.

Convenient

Other tooth replacement solutions like dentures need to be removed at night for cleaning. Many wearers also find that they avoid certain foods for fear of pulling them loose. However, there are no such worries with dental implants. They are stable and permanent, meaning you don’t remove them for cleaning and don’t need to be concerned that they will pull out when you eat. When it comes to keeping them clean it’s super-easy to take care of them. You can just brush and floss as you would with your normal teeth.  

Long-lasting

Dental implants are considered stronger, tougher, and more durable than any other tooth-replacement solution. Provided you look after them properly at home and see your dentist regularly, your implanted teeth could last you upwards of 25 years.

For more information about dental implants, don’t hesitate to speak to our expert team.