All You Need to Know About Dental Implants

Have you experienced tooth loss? If so, you may be curious about options to replace your teeth. One such way to restore your smile is with dental implants. Dental implants are the next best thing to your original teeth to regain the functionality you once had that other methods and procedures cannot replicate.

DENTAL IMPLANTS

The dental implant procedure involves installing a prosthetic tooth in the patient’s mouth to replace a missing one. A first implants metal frames or posts into the jawbone beneath the gums. Once the frames or post are in place, then mounts prosthetic teeth on them.

SURGICAL PROCESS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS

Dental implants fuse to the jawbone, which provides a stable base of support for the implant to mimic natural teeth. This is a process known as osseointegration, in which the post fuses with living bone. The oral surgery for this process begins with the surgeon making an incision into the gums, then drilling to get to the bone of the jaw. The surgeon then screws in titanium posts or mounts and seals the gum tissue to maintain the health of the tissue.

BENEFITS OF DENTAL IMPLANTS

Bridges and dentures that a dental surgeon mounts to dental implants will not slip or shift, which normally impede everyday activities like eating and talking. Thanks to the secure fit, dental implants subsequently feel like an organic part of the body. An advantage of implants is that the surgeon does not usually need to prepare any adjacent teeth to hold the new replacement tooth/teeth in place.

PRECAUTIONS TO DENTAL IMPLANTS

However, not everyone can receive dental implants. Patients need to have healthy gums and adequate bone structure to create a strong base for dental implants. People who suffer from diabetes, use steroids, suffer from osteoporosis, or smoke regularly is at a greater risk of gum disease. These conditions or life choices may exclude people from the dental implant procedure. After installing the implants, regular dental visits and meticulous oral hygiene are a must to prevent complications, like peri-implantitis.