With modern dental technology, losing a tooth, or even all your teeth, need not mean a drastic change in your lifestyle. Dental implants can give you a replacement tooth that looks and functions like a natural tooth. You’ll be able to eat, speak, floss, and smile just as you did before losing a tooth. Dental implants also act as firm anchors for bridges and dentures.

What is A Dental Implant?

A dental implant is a titanium-based cylinder placed into the upper or lower jaw to anchor a prosthetic tooth, a bridge, or full or partial dentures. Implants may be an option for people who have lost a tooth or teeth due to periodontal disease, injury, or some other reason. When used to support dentures, implants dramatically improve retention and stability.Learn about the process of getting dental implants here.

Dental implants have become the referred method to replace missing teeth over alternatives for both dentists and patients. A long history with excellent success rates as well as a range of options to match patients’ individual circumstances make dental implants an extremely versatile treatment to replace lost teeth.

Types Of Dental Implants

The dentists at CITIDental High Street have many options available to maximize success based on the health of bone and gum tissue, and to make the process as comfortable as possible for the patient. Here are a couple options your dentist may mention to you.

  • Endosteal (in the bone): This includes most dental implants placed today. They constist of a strong post of various shapes placed directly in the jawbone. Over time they fuse with the bone, creating a strong bond and a stable anchor for a single prosthetic tooth, a bridge, or help support dentures.
  • Subperiosteal (on the bone): These are placed on top of the jaw and provide an option for people who have diminished bone structure or who are unable to wear conventional dentures. These implants use a metal framework that saddles the jawbone with posts protruding through the gum tissue to holds the prosthesis.
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Benefits Of Dental Implants

When compared to traditional bridges anchored on other teeth and removable dentures supported by gum tissue, implants offer numerous advantages. Here are a few:

1. A More Natural Appearance

Because implants are placed in the bone with a structure similar to a tooth root, they provide a more realistic and natural look than alternatives. This aesthetic benefit makes them a popular cosmetic dental option as well as being incredibly functional.

2. Reduction Of Bone Loss

When a tooth is lost, the bone structure that once supported it, recedes over time. Installing an implant in the missing tooth’s space significantly reduces the rate of bone resorption and provides stability for surrounding teeth.

3. Better Denture Retention

Patients who have used removable full or partial dentures know it can be a frustrating challenging to keep their dentures in place for everyday use. Dental implants improve on this by securely retaining dentures for everything you would use your natural teeth for. We can usually anchor a full set of dentures with only a few dental implants.

4. Preserving Healthy Tooth Structure

Traditionally, bridges have been used to replace a single missing tooth. Bridges consist of an artificial tooth anchored by crowns on either side. The problem this creates is that in order to place crowns on adjacent teeth, they may need to be filed down to create a suitable base. An implant is supported directly by the jaw like a natural tooth and therefore doesn’t require damaging healthy teeth to support it.

Who Qualifies For Dental Implants?

You are an ideal candidate for dental implants if you are in good general and oral health and are without severe periodontal disease. One of the dentists at CITIDental High Street will be happy to evaluate your gums and bone structure and let you know if you are a candidate for dental implants. Most patients with adequate bone structure can support dental implants, although it varies among individuals. We’ll typically use an x-ray and CT-scan to determine if you have enough bone to support the implant. Your dentist will also verify the size and kind of implant that should be placed.

Dental implants are intimately connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the jaw. A dentist and a periodontist (a specialist of the gum and supporting bone) at CITIDental High Street will consult with you to determine where and how your implant should be placed and they will create a treatment plan tailored to meet your needs. Schedule an appointment for a consultation to find out if dental implants are right for you.

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