What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are ideal for those who need one or more teeth replaced. A dental implant is a titanium post that is surgically placed into the jawbone below the gum – it acts to replace the root of the tooth. Once healed your dentist can mount a replacement tooth/teeth onto that implant. The new tooth/teeth are custom made to match the bite and shade of your natural teeth.
The Benefits of a Dental Implant:
Dental implants provide the advantage of being able to replace one or more unrestorable teeth, without impacting your other remaining teeth. They are a fantastic long-term solution with a very high success rate.
Dental implants are firmly fixed in the jawbone, making them extremely long-lasting. They give a solid base that functions as the root of a tooth. They help to maintain a strong bone structure in your jaw, prevent other healthy teeth from moving and have the appearance and feel of real, functional teeth! Because the titanium in the implant fuses with your jawbone, the implant will not slip, make noise, or cause damage the way fixed bridgework or dentures might, and the materials cannot decay like your own teeth that support regular bridgework can.
What Is the Process?
A consultation is always the first step in the process of placing dental implants. It is critical that all the clinical data, dimensions, and needs for your procedure are taken into consideration. An examination, scans and X-Rays are performed during a consultation. Dentists utilise the range of scans and X-Rays to develop a plan to achieve the best possible results.
In some cases, there isn’t enough natural bone in the patient’s jaw to properly anchor a dental implant, necessitating bone grafting to secure the implant. This entails leaving a graft in place for a length of time so that it can connect to your jaw’s natural bone.
On the treatment day, the area is numbed with a local anaesthetic. The bone is exposed, and the implant is placed. In most cases, the implant must remain undisturbed for at least three months before the next step of placing teeth or dentures onto the implants.
Once the implant has integrated into the bone, the implant is uncovered, and an impression or scan is taken of the implant-abutment to send to the dental laboratory to make the final tooth/teeth. Sometimes a temporary tooth or bridge is made to fit on the abutments at that appointment.
Lastly, once the dental laboratory has made the final tooth or teeth your dentist can anchor them to the implant.
Aftercare:
It is critical to look after your new replacement teeth after your implant is completed. The patient must maintain a good oral hygiene routine and have regular check-ups with their dentist.
Our caring dentists at Champion Dental can help you through the procedure and determine whether a dental implant is the best solution for your smile. Make an appointment with us now.