Losing a tooth can greatly disrupt your quality of life, creating difficulties in everyday activities like eating and talking. Although modern dental restoration procedures have resulted in a significant reduction in the number of teeth extracted each year, many people still have one or more natural teeth missing from their mouths.

According to one estimate, about 70% of Australian aged 35 to 44 have lost at least one of their natural teeth. If you are one of them and you are looking for a permanent and lifetime replacement option for a missing tooth then dental implants should be your first choice!

What is a dental implant?

A dental implant is an element incorporated into the bone of the jaw and replaces the natural teeth by supporting a prosthesis, such as a crown or a removable or fixed prosthesis. After placement of dental implants, bone formation occurs near the implant, resulting in firm anchorage and stability of the artificial tooth.

How do dental implants work?

The success and excellent durability of dental implants depend on their ability to form direct contact with the bone of the surrounding jaw. This process is known as osseointegration and ensures that any prosthesis that is placed on the implant remains retained and stable, thus restoring the optimal functioning of the artificial tooth.

Who should get an implant?

In general, anyone who has one or more missing natural teeth is a candidate for an implant. You should consider getting an implant if:

• You want a long-lasting and durable replacement of your missing natural teeth.
• You want to restore your facial aesthetics by having your missing teeth replaced.
• You want to eat and talk without difficulty.
• You want to get rid of your embarrassing and uncomfortable prostheses.

Why are implants better than other dental prosthetics?

Dental implants are gaining popularity as the most practical and durable replacement option for missing teeth. Let’s take a look at why you might prefer them to other tooth replacement options, such as dentures and bridges:

• Enjoy a beautiful smile – Loss of a tooth can spoil your smile and your facial aesthetics. Aesthetically pleasing dentures can be placed on the implants, making your beautiful smile and your appearance charming.
• Durability – Unlike dental prostheses and dental bridges, dental implants are designed to last forever. If you take care of your oral health and follow your dentist’s instructions regarding implants, you can expect them to work for a very long time
• The minimum requirement for tooth preparation – Dental bridge construction, even for single tooth replacement, requires a reduction of adjacent teeth. On the other hand, the placement of the dental implants does not require any preparation or reduction of the adjacent teeth, thus preserving the natural dental structure.
• Eat any food you like – People who wear removable or fixed dentures should avoid eating hard, sticky foods. This means they must miss a lot of their favourite foods. After replacing your teeth with dental implants, you can enjoy all your favourite foods without fear of breaking or dislodging your dentures.
• Improved Oral Hygiene – It may be difficult to maintain optimum hygiene around the dental bridges because the bristles of the brush are unable to remove food particles. Therefore, more oral hygiene measures may be required to get optimal dental health. Unlike dental prosthesis and bridges, you can clean your dental implants the same way you clean your natural teeth, allowing you to maintain excellent oral hygiene and physical health.
• Comfort – Dental implants are integrated into the jaw bone, just like your natural teeth. When you replace a missing tooth with a dental implant, you get the same level of comfort, convenience and natural feeling as your natural teeth.

How are they placed?

The placement of dental implants is usually done in several stages. However, one-step implant procedures are also gaining popularity. The following steps are involved in the placement of dental implants:

• Formulating a treatment plan – Before you place an implant, your dentist will thoroughly examine your medical and dental records and then conduct a thorough clinical examination of your oral cavity. This is done to make sure you are a suitable candidate to get an implant and to prepare a treatment plan that is tailored to your dental needs.
• Anesthesia Administration – Since implant placement is a surgical procedure, your dentist will anesthetize the area where the implant is to be placed so that you remain comfortable and painless throughout the procedure.
• Soft tissue reflection – In the next step, your dentist will make an incision on the soft oral tissue to expose the underlying jaw bone. • Implant Location – A hole is drilled into the jaw bone so that it is slightly narrower than the actual thickness of the implant. The implant is then carefully tapped or screwed into position by applying precise and controlled forces.
• Place a prosthesis on the implant – If a two-step implant procedure is planned, a healing abutment is placed on the implant and the overlying soft tissue is sutured to allowing the healing of the surgical site. After healing, the healing abutment is removed and a prosthesis is mounted on the implant. Otherwise, if an immediate loading of the implant has been planned, a prosthesis is immediately placed on the implant.

Dental implants are best for your natural teeth. So say goodbye to your dental prosthesis today and start enjoying the convenience and comfort of your dental implants by discussing with your dentist the possibility of getting dental implants.  To read more about Dental Implant procedure at Uplus Dental please click here.