The emotional impact of losing a single tooth extends beyond the physical to the psychological, affecting one’s confidence on a visceral level. Having a gap in your smile takes away from your visual appeal and impairs your ability to speak, chew, and bite effortlessly.
The emotional impact of losing a single tooth extends beyond the physical to the psychological, affecting one’s confidence on a visceral level. Having a gap in your smile takes away from your visual appeal and impairs your ability to speak, chew, and bite effortlessly.
Not only that, further implications of a crooked smile include increased susceptibility to periodontal disease, dental caries, and bone loss. But not to worry. As the sands of time shift and the needs of dental patients evolve, so do dental technology and its applications.
Dental implants play an expansive role in this regard, providing a solution for tooth loss that is both lasting and all-encompassing. For this reason, we take a deeper look into how you can and why you should restore your smile with this multi-functional restorative technique.
Decoding How Dental Implants Work
Forged from titanium, these artificial tooth roots are intricately embedded in your jawbone after undergoing a fusion process known as osseointegration. This titanium base establishes a lasting connection with the host bone, providing unwavering support for replacement teeth. The biocompatible nature of the titanium ensures seamless integration with your bone, creating a sturdy and long-lasting foundation for the newly placed dental structure.
Why Opt for Dental Implants?
Among the many tooth replacement options, dental implants are renowned for exhibiting the following advantages:
- Seamless Naturalism: Crafted to mirror the look, feel, and function of natural teeth, it is preferred by those who seek aesthetic continuity for its ability to integrate into the oral cavity seamlessly.
- Preservation of Oral Harmony: Unlike alternatives, dental implants do not require sacrificing some part of your teeth. They act as guardians of oral health, preventing the danger of bone resorption that often accompanies tooth loss.
- Long-lasting Utility: With vigilant care, dental implants stay in place for a lifetime. Impervious to cavities, their durability and reliability underscore the importance of oral hygiene.
- Comfort and Confidence: Dental implants facilitate carefree eating, unhindered speech, and unrestrained smiles in social settings.
Getting Dental Implants
- Initial Consultation
Start the process by engaging in a private consultation with a specialised dental practice like The Walton Practice. A comprehensive evaluation here, supported by x-rays and dental impressions, will establish the groundwork for the procedure to come. At this point, dentists will ask for medical histories, specify objectives, and get realistic about your expectations.
- Implantation
The implantation surgery is a ritual characterised by precision and finesse. Before a minute incision is made, the individual is put under local anaesthesia to allow for easy access to the exact position of the jaw area to be implanted.
The duration of the surgery can range from thirty minutes to several hours, depending on factors such as the number of implants and the need for supplementary procedures like bone grafting or sinus elevation. Following surgery, the temporary appearance of swelling, bruising, and bleeding soon dissipates, and antibiotics and analgesics are prescribed to aid recovery.
- Healing and Osseointegration
In the weeks and months after, the implant gradually integrates and cradles itself into the bone as the incision heals. Applying too much pressure is not allowed during this period, so you’d have to be on a soft diet. Consistent visits to the dentist promote a high regard for the sanctity of the mouth.
- Placement of the Abutment and Crown
As osseointegration draws to a close and the titanium base becomes firmly fixed to the jaw, the abutment is attached to hold the replacement tooth. It is worth noting that even under anaesthesia, this could still be accompanied by minor discomfort that rapidly dissipates afterwards.
Final Pointers
Dental implants are an enduring remedy for cracks, gaps, and a number of oral maladies affecting your teeth. In addition to being visually pleasing, they contribute a distinct note to the tune of your newfound smile by reconstructing a seemingly lost part of you and enabling you to use it to its functional best.