In the past ten years, a lot of developments happened in dentistry. New materials, better procedures and modern techniques are now available.
Some people grew old not being able to take advantage of these developments. According to statistics, more than 42% of seniors have missing teeth and have dentures because of this. But now, dentures are not the only solution to tooth loss. Now people can turn to dental implants.
Removable dentures with all their benefits have their share of disadvantages. The most common is the fact that they could slip anytime causing you embarassment. They could also cause discomfort when you chew and talk. They could also cause strain to your jawbone. Dentures can be a good place for bacteria to hide. If they are not cleaned thoroughly, they can cause gum disease and consequently, tooth loss.
There are three key steps involved in dental implant procedures. First, your dentist surgically inserts the implant into your jawbone. Local anesthesia is used. Depending on the dental and health condition of the patient, the dentist may or may not advise hospital stay.
The implant is left to heal for a few months. During this healing period, the bone and implant metal fuses together. This is the key to strong implants. After the healing time, posts are attached to the implants. A part of the post protrudes through the gums. A fixed bridge or overdenture will then be placed on top of the posts.
The last step will be to mount the artificial teeth on top of the dental implants. In some cases, the patient’s dentures are placed permanently over the implants. This gives the patient comfort and security that they won’t fall off any minute.
Dental implants cost time and money. The patient must also have a strong jawbone and healthy bone tissues for the fusion of the bone and metal to be succesful. The patient should also be willing to be diligent in following the dentist’s instructions throughout the treatment period. You may not be able to restore your original tooth/teeth but dental implants are the closest you can get to natural teeth.
Modern dental implants have been around for more than twenty-five years. And ever since, they have been succesful in bringing back
