An introduction to dental implants
Dental implants are very popular these days; these are basically dental appliances that are surgically implanted into your jawbone to provide a practical solution to the problem of a missing tooth or teeth. Unlike any other tooth loss solution, an implant offers results that are both aesthetically appealing and functionally pleasing.
In other words a dental implant is a synthetic or man-made replacement of the root of a lost or missing tooth. Usually it is made of titanium or any other metal that is biocompatible. This artificial tooth root is surgically inserted into your jawbone where there is the gap for the missing tooth. From the top you will see the appliance having an internal screw thread where the abutment tooth is screwed in. An implant is ready to support a dental crown, bridge or denture (depending you have a missing tooth or missing teeth) once the abutment is placed on it.
Why should I feel up the gap created by my lost tooth or teeth in the first place?
This is a highly valid question before one goes for this missing-tooth solution programme. However it is not possible to emphasise enough the importance of having a missing tooth or teeth replaced. Ofcourse you can decide to live with that gap but that invariably leads to some unpleasant changes to your overall facial anatomy in course of time. Presence of our teeth helps maintaining the shape of our jawbone. It also holds your adjacent as well as the opposite teeth in their position and the teeth do not sink into the gap to fill it up. Once a tooth is lost the jawbone slowly but surely starts receding and this is likely to cause changes to your overall facialappearance explains an oral health practitioner who deals in dental implants in Wimbledon over the years.
The teeth or rather each tooth is an anchor and supports each other all your life. When a tooth is lost the remaining teeth near to it try to fill up the empty space by tilting in. In easier words a tooth loss leads to misalignment of the remaining teeth in course of time. The misalignment may result in formation of gaps between the remaining natural teeth. In fact all these complications are likely to make your life difficult – it can be practically impossible to clean the teeth properly which in turn can lead to gum disease and tooth cavities.
What are the other options to solve the problem of lost teeth?
There are conventional options like a removable denture and a dental bridge to solve the problem of a missing (or lost) tooth or teeth. However none of those options provide a sustainable alternative to the root of the missing tooth or teeth. On the hand implants treatment provides both functional and aesthetic replacements of your missing tooth. Everyone is not a suitable candidate for this treatment. Only a dentist can decide whether you are an ideal patient to undergo this treatment after diagnosing your oral health condition, the condition of your jawbones and other such factors explains one of the best dental implants specialist in Wimbledon.
Who is an ideal candidate for dental implant treatment?
The prerequisites for this treatment are pretty simple and therefore the overwhelming majority of people are actually sound candidates for this procedure. However there is a customary initial consultation that everyone must attend. During this routine consultation the dentist will perform a thorough diagnosis of your mouth. Provided you have an overall sound oral health and sufficient mass in the jawbone you are selected for the treatment. Furthermore there will be dental x-rays and digital 3D imaging of your mouth based on which your unique treatment plan will be designed.
Am I too old to undergo the dental implant surgery?
This is another question that implant dentists have to answer frequently. The good news is there is no upper age limit for this treatment and thus you can never be too old for this procedure.
Is the procedure painful?
This is another question that patients ask frequently! It is important to set the record straight for once and for all. Dental implants treatment involves an invasive surgical procedure and so apparently it is supposed to be painful. However when truth is concerned you will not feel any pain while undergoing the procedure. Why? The procedure is carried out when a patient is under the impact of local anaesthesia and so there is no sensation of pain for you to feel.
However as the effect of anaesthesia wears off you may feel little discomfort explains a dentist with years of experience in handling cases of dental implants at the renowned SW19 Confidental Dental Clinic in Wimbledon, London. This happens in every other dental surgery and so there is nothing much to worry about. Your dentist will prescribe you pain medications to give your relief from post-surgical discomfort. Throughout the recovery period it is important that you follow the instructions of your dentist carefully to minimise your inconveniences.
How long the procedure usually lasts?
The duration of the procedure of dental implants varies from case to case depending on certain factors. The exact time required by the procedure depends upon factors like the level of complexity involved in a case, the location of implant placement in the mouth, the number of implants being placed and such other elements. Right from the initial customary consultation to the provision of the final teeth the entire procedure easily lingers over a few months at the least says a dentist renowned for offering some of the affordable dental implants in Wimbledon.
What is the standard life of implants?
The lifespan of a dental implant is affected by several factors but if you take proper care then your implanted tooth or teeth will easily last for decades together if not longer.
What are the chances of implants failure?
On an average dental implant treatments have a high rate of success. But in some cases the treatment also fails. Cases of failure are mostly associated with Dental Implants Tooting Wimbledon or for that matter anywhere else. Failure of dental implant is a situation where the implant could not integrate with the surrounding bones and soft tissues of a patient’s mouth. A patient may also experience severe complications that ultimately make it necessary to remove the implant from its place and this is also considered as failure of the treatment. Thankfully failure rate of dental implants is pretty low ranging between 2 to 5 out of every 100 cases in SW19 Confidental Dental Clinic, Wimbledon Dentist.