A Permanent Solution for Missing Teeth
Teeth can be lost through decay, gum disease, trauma and accidents. If you’ve lost a tooth, you won’t need telling just how unsightly it is, nor that it can affect your speech. Both of these situations can be remedied by a dental implant. What you may not be aware of, however, is the hidden damage caused by missing teeth. The chewing action of your teeth helps to keep the jawbone beneath strong. With the tooth missing, the bone will start to atrophy, which is to say, it will simply disappear. This can have a drastic effect on the appearance of your face, causing premature ageing and an unpleasant ‘sunken’ look. As well as restoring your smile, dental implants will protect the jawbone and prevent this from happening.
Dental implants can also be a viable alternative to root canal work since teeth which have been subject to root canal treatment are often more susceptible to decay. Implants, on the other hand, never decay and are extremely hard wearing.
How Do They Work?
The implant, which is made from surgical grade titanium steel, is attached to the jawbone by your dentist. As it grafts itself to the bone it becomes an artificial root, replacing the original root with something which is just as strong but impervious to decay. When this process is complete, your dentist will attach the crown to the tooth, forming a replacement which can be indistinguishable from your own teeth. Once the implant is in place, it can be the root for a single crown or multiple crowns. In the case of multiple missing teeth, dental implants are an excellent alternative to traditional crown and bridge treatments, as they don’t require any work to be done to the teeth on either side and they also halt bone loss in the jaw.