Understanding Dental Implants And Their Purpose

It is no fun to have missing teeth. Dental implants are a viable solution for those who have teeth that they wish to replace. Here we look at what this dental advancement is all about.

If you have missing teeth and are looking for the most natural, modern and advanced solution then dental implants are it. This is not a procedure that can be performed by your general dentist. Instead you would be referred to a specialist known as a periodontist.

A dental implant is basically an artificial tooth root that is placed into the jawbone. Its job is to hold either a replacement bridge or a replacement tooth. It is important to consider all that implants entail before you decide to go ahead with having them. It is a revolutionary dental procedure but it is not suitable for every person who has gaps in their teeth.

Everyone is not a good candidate for dental implants. Those who make good candidates for this procedure are people who are in good to excellent health and those who have gums that are healthy. It is also imperative that the would-be patient has an ample amount of bone in the jaw area to support the dental implant or implants.

The individual must be dedicated to seeing the specialist a number of times before all of the dental work is in place properly and completed to the dentist’s satisfaction. This may take a few visits. It is also important that you are committed to taking good care of your implant and that you follow the instructions regarding it that you are given by the dentist.

Dental implants can be thought of as being very high-tech. Many dentists feel that they help to preserve the other teeth more than traditional bridges do. The reason for this is because they do not depend upon other teeth in the same vicinity of the mouth to give them support.

Patients who have opted for implants find them to be comfortable and also very natural looking. For many people they are exactly what they need to give them back a winning smile! It is important to be aware however that implants may come with a higher price tag than other more conventional methods of replacing lost teeth.

It is a reality of the mouth that bone in the jaw tends to shrink if there are fewer teeth there to provide it with support. Once in position the implant will be attached to this bone. This means that there is less of a chance that the bone will fall victim to the shrinkage factor.

Be aware however that if you have had missing teeth for a lengthy period of time then there is a greater potential that bone loss has already taken place. An X-ray at the dental practitioner’s office should show whether bone has been lost yet or not. If it has been then a bone graft procedure can be undertaken in order to build up the bone and make it such that it would be strong and resilient enough to support an implant.

If the dentist feels that you are an eligible candidate for a bone graft then bone will be added to the section of the jawbone where it has shrunk. After you have recovered from this procedure and healing has occurred then the periodontist can move forward with the implant surgery.

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