If you are struggling with missing teeth, it can affect your emotional well-being and cause you to hide away your beautiful smile. Unfortunately, these gaps in your mouth may also have hazardous consequences for the rest of your oral health, such as deflected bites, tooth decay or resorption of bones. You might be wondering, “What exactly are dental implants? Am I a suitable candidate to get them?” If so, then don’t hesitate to look into what they offer!
If you are looking for an aesthetically pleasing, permanent solution to replace missing teeth, dental implants may be just what you need. These implants can be used whether a single tooth is missing or even if the entire arch of your mouth needs restoration. To qualify as an ideal candidate for this treatment option, it’s important that you maintain good oral health and overall physical well-being – plus have the patience to undergo certain lengthy treatments involved in this process.
Learn about the incredible advantages of dental implants and how this groundbreaking restoration can improve your life.
What are dental implants?
For a dental implant to be successful, three separate parts are needed: a small titanium or ceramic threaded rod surgically implanted in the patient’s jawbone, an abutment that links it to the prosthetic and finally, either a crown, denture or bridge.
If you have difficulty with bridges or dentures that don’t fit properly, struggle to eat foods because of missing teeth, or just find other prosthetic options uncomfortable – dental implants are an excellent solution.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Selecting a dental implant offers you multiple advantages, such as enhanced aesthetics and superior function. Furthermore, they are the most durable option when it comes to replacing missing teeth.
Long-lasting
The titanium post is permanent. Thanks to osseointegration, it will fuse with your jawbone and gum tissue for many years —up to decades, in fact!
And prosthetic teeth are not vulnerable to cavities like natural teeth; their lifespan averages 15-20 years without any issues. With an astonishing five-year survival rate of 96%, that’s something we can all smile about!
Restore normal function
Unlike substitutes such as dentures and bridges that can cause slippage and restrict your dietary choices, dental implants are a permanent solution. They integrate with the jawbone to give stability and strength to the artificial teeth, thus allowing you to chew, bite, eat and talk like before. No more worries about slipping off dentures or feeling restricted due to changes in diet!
Natural appearance
Dental implants are virtually indistinguishable from regular teeth, and your Lyndarum Family Dentist will make sure the dental restoration is an exact match of your remaining teeth to give you a picturesque smile. With good care, like avoiding food and beverages with pigmented colours or using tobacco products, they can maintain their original appearance for years.
Cost-effective
When considering the cost of prosthetic alternatives like bridges or dentures, it’s clear that dental implants are more expensive upfront. After all, they require surgical procedures and medical-grade titanium to be fully installed. Yet when viewed through a long-term lens, these investments pay off since implants are built for longevity, thus avoiding costly repairs and replacements over time!
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
If you have gaps or broken and missing teeth, dental implants could be a viable option for you.
To check the quality of your jawbone, your dentist will take digital images during an initial consultation. Depending on the findings, he may suggest a bone graft or sinus lift as necessary prior to implant placement. If you suffer from any advanced gum disease, you may be treated for it weeks prior to the dental implant procedure. Dental implants require healthy gums to be held in place properly.
For individuals living with specific autoimmune conditions like type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and oral autoimmune disease, dental implants procedure may need to be revised due to the risk of rejection. When this occurs, the body’s immune system identifies titanium implant posts as foreign objects and prevents them from bonding securely within the jawbone.
Patients who are immunocompromised, those living with HIV or Crohn’s Disease, those undergoing chemotherapy treatments and organ transplant recipients should consult their dentist to discuss the potential side effects of dental implant surgery. Interference between the medications prescribed for these conditions can lead to an unsuccessful implantation procedure.
The dental implant process
Following an initial consultation and assessment of your health to ensure that you are fit for surgery with no risk of complications, our team will begin planning your tooth implant journey.
The great thing about receiving replacement teeth is that there is extensive preparation before the patient undergoes surgery. Thanks to modern technologies like 3D computer planning and CBCT scans, surgeries are more precise, faster-paced, and less uncomfortable for patients.
The minor nature of the surgical procedure means that patients only require local anaesthesia. Nevertheless, in order to ensure your mouth’s soft tissues are not overwhelmed, the implants will need to be inserted over various stages. You can request your dentist for general anaesthesia if you have anxiety related to the tooth Implant procedure.
To begin, a tiny hole is drilled into the jawbone in order to fit a titanium implant. This screw-like post serves as an artificial tooth root and offers support for a replacement dental crown.
After the implant has completely fused with your surrounding bone and healed, you will be asked to make an appointment to fit the connecting post (abutment). The integration process of tooth implant roots can take anywhere from six weeks up to half a year – it is not something that can be forced or rushed. Your dentist will create treatments based on how quickly you heal; when they have fitted in the abutment, they’ll immediately move forward with placing your dental crown.
Expert technicians construct natural-looking crowns that fit your mouth and facial features perfectly, utilising a detailed digital impression mould in the lab. Those crowns are crafted to precisely match the hue of your surrounding teeth, so they blend into your smile seamlessly.
Every individual’s dental implant experience may vary, but your dentist will provide you with the necessary guidance and overview of what to expect throughout the procedure. Rest assured that you’ll be in good hands!
Contact Lyndarum Family Dentist for high-quality implants
Are you ready to reinvigorate your smile and discover all that dental implants have to offer? Lyndarum Family Dentist is here for you! Give us a call at (03) 9626 9581 or use our online form to arrange an appointment. We look forward to helping you achieve the healthy, beautiful smile of your dreams!
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Everything to know about dental implant procedure https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/dental-implant-procedure
