Tooth loss is a growing problem in the UK. According to the Oral Health Foundation, around one in three adults in the UK has had at least one tooth extracted. Missing teeth not only create an aesthetic concern but can also lead to various oral and physical health-related complications. If you have one or more missing teeth that affect your self-confidence and oral health, then dental implants are the most reliable tooth replacement option for you.
But “What are dental implants and how do they work?” you may ask! Don’t worry, we will answer all your queries about dental implants in this blog. So, read on till the end to know how you can get your missing teeth replaced permanently with dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants And How Do They Work?
According to the British Association of Oral Surgeons, an implant is a screw- or cylinder-shaped fixture that is used as a substitute for a natural tooth root. Dental implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone. Over time, dental implants promote bone formation around them. As a result, they become firmly anchored and provide a solid foundation for any prosthesis attached to them for tooth replacement.
Are Dental Implants As Strong As Real Teeth?
Dental implants are made of titanium, an extremely strong and durable material. This is why dental implants are quite long-lasting. Research studies have shown that the 10-year success rate of dental implants is more than 90%. This success rate is the highest among the other tooth replacement options, such as bridges and removable dentures. So yes, dental implants are as strong and durable as natural teeth.
Dental Implants: What Is The Process?
The process of getting dental implants is straightforward. However, it is typically completed in various stages.
- Clinical Examination and Treatment Planning – During your first appointment, your dentist will perform a detailed clinical examination. They will also look at the X-ray images and digital models of your teeth. This will allow them to prepare a detailed treatment plan tailored to your dental needs.
- Implant Insertion – at the next appointment, your dentist will insert the implants. Since this is a surgical procedure, they will administer a local anaesthetic to make it pain-free. Next, they will make an incision over the soft tissues where implant placement has been planned and expose the underlying bone. Aftewars, they will surgically insert the implants at pre-determined locations while applying gentle forces. Once the implants are in place, your dentist will place healing collars over them to ensure uninterrupted healing.
- The Healing Phase – after implant insertion, your dentist will attach temporary prostheses over them to restore the aesthetics. However, these should not be used for chewing. Afterwards, the healing site will be left undisturbed to ensure optimal implant integration within the jawbone.
- Implant Loading – after a few months, your dentist will evaluate the X-ray images of the implant site to determine whether the implants have become firmly anchored within the jawbone. If they have become optimally anchored within the jawbone, your dentist will remove the temporary prostheses and replace them with the permanent ones.
That’s it. Congratulations on your brand-new smile powered by dental implants.
Do You Need Sedation For Dental Implants?
Dental implant placement is a surgical procedure. Therefore, it is typically performed under local anaesthesia to make the patient pain-free. However, general anaesthesia may also be needed in some cases. For example, when multiple procedures are to be performed in a single sitting. Similarly, dentists may consider conscious sedation for highly apprehensive or uncooperative patients.
Can You Get Dental Implants If You Have Gum Disease?
Dentists don’t plan implant surgeries in patients with gum disease. First, they treat the gum disease and then begin the implant procedure. This is because an underlying infection or inflammation can seriously affect the success of implant therapy. The chances of implant failure are very high if they are placed with underlying gum disease.
Can I Get A Dental Implant Years After Extraction?
The best time to get your missing teeth replaced with dental implants is immediately after they are lost. Here is the reason behind it: When a tooth is lost, the bone around it starts to degrade at a very fast rate. As we know that the success of dental implants is highly dependent on the quality and density of the jawbone that supports them. So, if there is insufficient bone tissue remaining due to the prolonged absence of natural teeth, it can make implant placement slightly more difficult.
However, this does not mean that you can’t get them years after losing your teeth. Your dentist will perform a procedure called bone grafting. In this procedure, the lost bone tissue is replenished with natural or artificial bone tissue. So, no matter how many years have passed since you lost your teeth, you can still get them replaced with dental implants.
Do Teeth Implants Need Maintenance?
Dental implant-supported teeth require the same care as natural teeth. All you need to do is brush your teeth twice a day and floss at least once daily, to keep your natural and implant-supported teeth problem-free.
Looking for the best implant surgery in the West Midlands? Look no further! Solihull Dental Centre & Implant Clinic is there to take care of all your general and implant dentistry needs. Book an appointment with us and let our specialist implant surgeons give you a lasting and healthy smile.