Dental implants are a long-lasting solution for replacing missing teeth. They provide a strong base for an artificial tooth and help preserve the bone. For more information, just visit the Boca Dental and Braces to proceed.
They also avoid requiring healthy adjacent teeth to be reduced to support a bridge. This makes them the preferred option for long-term oral health and aesthetics.
Dental implants are a popular tooth replacement solution for people with missing teeth. These prosthetic teeth fill empty gaps in the mouth and look natural to the untrained eye. But many patients want to know whether they will feel and function like their natural teeth, too.
The first time you eat with an implant, you may experience a metallic taste. This is normal and will pass as the treatment heals, and you get used to it. However, the sensation should never persist or interfere with your daily life and oral hygiene habits.
The feeling of an implant won’t be the same as a natural tooth because dental implants don’t have any nerves inside them. Any sense that you experience will come from the gums surrounding your implants. It will also differ from a traditional denture because an implant doesn’t sit on the gums but in the jawbone.
An experienced dentist will be able to work with your existing gums and teeth to ensure that your new implant looks as natural as possible. This is because they have worked on many clients and will be able to assess their individual smiles and teeth structure, creating a natural-looking full set of artificial teeth that will camouflage well with the rest of your smile.
Another advantage of an implant is that it can restore full chewing power, which will help you eat a varied diet once it heals. Unlike conventional dentures that often require the assistance of sticky adhesives to stay in place, an implant is permanent and won’t move around in your mouth as you eat or talk.
Dental implants can replace one or more missing teeth, depending on your needs and the condition of your jawbone. Generally, your dentist will recommend them for people with adequate bone density and healthy gums. If you don’t have enough bone or gum, your dentist can still provide alternative treatments to restore your smile, such as a bone grafting procedure. This will involve removing tissue from elsewhere in your body or from a tissue bank to replace the damaged area. Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime, but they’ll need to be maintained. Just like natural teeth, implants must be brushed and flossed regularly to prevent plaque buildup, which can lead to infection. It’s also important to visit the dentist for regular cleanings and examinations so the dentist can check that the implant is in good condition and that there are no signs of damage or decay.
Implants are made from titanium, a biocompatible material, meaning it attracts bone adherence, making them stronger and more durable than natural teeth. However, even though they’re extremely sturdy, dental implants can still break or crack if exposed to too much force. This is especially true if the force is applied after the post hasn’t fully bonded to the jawbone.
Titanium is strong enough to resist corrosion from acidic foods and drinks, and it can withstand heavy chewing, biting, and grinding. Zirconia is another dental implant material known for its durability but has a lower elasticity than titanium. This means that implants with zirconia are more likely to break or crack if they’re subjected to extreme forces.
The other thing that makes dental implants so durable is that they’re permanently anchored in your jaw. This isn’t something you can say about dentures, which are often loose and can slip out of place. It’s also not something you can say about dental bridges, which require adjacent teeth to support them and can cause problems if they’re misaligned.
Implants are a great option for people missing one or more teeth, but they aren’t right for everyone. They can be expensive, and they require a commitment of time and effort. In addition, if you have serious oral health issues, such as gum disease, these may interfere with your treatment and make it impossible to get implants. Fortunately, many dentists offer in-house or third-party financing options to make implants more affordable for patients who need them.
Unlike other tooth replacements, such as dentures, which rest on top of your gums, dental implants are fused into the jawbone. This makes them feel and look like your natural teeth. They also don’t slip around, shift, or come out of place. That’s what gives dental implants their sense of security and helps patients smile without having to hide or cover their mouths.
When dentists or oral surgeons place dental implant posts, they wait for the posts to heal in a process called osseointegration. During this time, the post and the bone form a strong bond. When the fusion is complete, dentists can place a restoration (like a crown or bridge) on the post.
The restoration will have a metal anchor that secures the artificial tooth to the post. This metal anchor called an abutment, prevents the restoration from moving or shifting. The dentist will open the gum tissue and expose the impact base to make an abutment. They will then place the short metal rod on the impact base, and it will hold the artificial tooth in place.
Dental implant systems follow international consensus standards for safety and quality. They are made of materials like titanium, zirconium oxide, and gold alloys that are safe for the body. These same systems are used in other types of medical implants, such as heart valves and hip replacements.
Although dental implants are safe, they are not right for everyone. Some pre-existing health conditions slow healing and could interfere with implant success. Uncontrolled chronic conditions, such as diabetes, cancer, long-term steroid use, and some neurological conditions like advanced Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis, can also interfere with successful implant integration.
Talk to your dentist about your health history and whether dental implants suit you. They can tell you if any other procedures besides dental implant placement might be helpful. Before your surgery, you should also give your dentist a list of any medications and supplements you take, including blood thinners.
Because dental implants fuse into the jawbone, they are a permanent tooth replacement option. However, like natural teeth, they must be properly cared for to last a lifetime. People should maintain an oral hygiene regimen that includes brushing twice daily for two minutes, flossing once daily, and using an alcohol-free antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria. Additionally, people should visit their dentist every six months for a routine dental exam and teeth cleaning.
Patients should also talk to their dentist about health conditions impacting their implant lifespan. For instance, some medications can interfere with the body’s healing ability. This can increase the risk of complications during surgery or lead to long-term failure. In addition, smoking can delay healing and reduce the life of dental implants. People who smoke should quit before having dental implant surgery and consider leaving at least during the healing process.
Fortunately, many patients can enjoy a lifetime of healthy and attractive dental implants if they follow a few simple tips. The first is ensuring sufficient bone density to support the implants and tooth replacements. The dentist can evaluate the quality of the bone with a panoramic radiograph or CBCT scan and determine if an implant is the best treatment option.
If the bone has a low density, it can be treated with bone grafting. Bone taken from another body area, such as the pelvis or lower jaw, can be added to the implant site to improve strength and stability. This is called a sinus lift or a free gingival graft.
Similarly, the dentist can use a bone graft to add height to the back of the upper jaw if the bone is too thin for an implant. If the gums recede, they can be corrected with a soft tissue graft or a hard tissue graft can be used to cover up any exposed metal.
