The benefits of dental implants
Overview
Dental Implants are a valuable alternative to an uncomfortable prosthesis like dentures. The implants themselves are small screws produced from titanium that serve a purpose similar to the roots of natural teeth. They are fused to the jawbone and support prosthesis and dental bridges, helping them perform as our natural teeth would. Once the implants are put in place, you’ll be able to replace anything from a missing tooth to a whole set of teeth.
Given the numerous benefits and aesthetic qualities Dental Implants offer, they have become the preferred method of tooth replacement today.
Dental Implants look and function like natural teeth.
Dental Implant treatment is much more than a simple cosmetic solution. The implant itself (the invisible screw-like structure below the gum line) provides the foundation or support for a dental crown that sits on top of the implant and is the visible portion of the tooth.
The implant replaces the root structure (i.e., support) for the tooth, providing a stable base and preventing the prosthesis from sliding or moving like dentures.
Once placed, replacement teeth are difficult to distinguish from your natural teeth. Dr Valauri, our prosthodontist, will adapt the color, shape, and contour of the new teeth to match your natural teeth. In effect, you'll feel like you have your smile back.
Dental Implants prevent bone loss and maintain your youthful appearance.
Every day you wear dentures or have missing teeth, you experience bone loss where the bone literally breaks down, and the material is reabsorbed back into the body (called “Bone resorption”). Significant bone loss can shrink the contours of the jawbone, causing wrinkled lips and a sunken mouth and chin, making you look much older than you have to. Maintaining your natural bone is one of the most important advantages of dental implants. Dental implants can help counteract that by preventing resorption of the jawbone, stimulating bone growth, and stopping bone loss almost entirely.
Dental implants enable you to eat and enjoy foods you love again.
Wearing an upper denture prevents you from really tasting food because the roof of your mouth is covered. With dental implants, it’s unnecessary to cover the roof of the mouth, so you can truly enjoy the taste of your favorite foods again. Further, since the implant replaces the entire tooth and the tooth root, it functions more like your natural teeth, with a strong, stable foundation that allows comfortable biting and chewing. Fresh vegetables, corn, fruits, and even steak are back on the menu.
Dental Implants can last a lifetime.
The implant screw itself won’t decay and is designed to last for the rest of your life, assuming you receive regular dental check-ups every 6 months.
While the exact material used will affect the overall life expectancy of crowns (the piece that sits atop the implant), patients can often enjoy them for a lifetime.
The basics of dental implants
Each dental implant has three parts:
1) Implant: A screw that acts as an artificial root for your new teeth. This appliance permanently fuses to your jaw, giving the tooth its stability.
2) Abutment: The small metal object, usually made of titanium or zirconia, that serves as a base for the crown and acts as the connection between the implant that supports and holds a tooth or set of teeth.
3) Crown: The realistic-looking artificial tooth. The crown is placed once your jawbone from the implant placement and is strong enough to support the use of the new tooth. It’s usually made of zirconium or porcelain.
