Implants - Just What Are They?

If you have missing teeth, you might be curious about your restoration options. You might explore bridges and veneers for single missing teeth and dentures for multiple missing teeth.

While these treatments are effective, they don’t replicate the feeling of a natural tooth. Only dental implants can achieve this level of restoration. In this guide, we’re going to offer a comprehensive overview of dental implants and how they can help to restore your smile.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are small titanium screws that are placed in the jawbone. The jawbone heals around them and they become fused together. This helps to provide an artificial root for a restoration such as a crown, bridge or full denture.

There are many different treatments available, including single dental implants, dental implant bridges and All-On-4 dental implants. All-On-4 treatment can be used to replace an entire arch of teeth, allowing you to get rid of your dentures and enjoy a more natural-feeling restoration.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants work by creating an artificial tooth root. This allows the force of your bite to be absorbed by the jawbone, which is how natural teeth work. With dentures and bridges, the force of the bite is spread across surrounding teeth and the gums. The result is a very unnatural feeling that could make individuals nervous about chewing certain foods.

With dental implants, the restoration is permanently fixed in place and it feels just like a natural tooth. The implant is designed to last a lifetime and only the restoration will ever need to be replaced or repaired.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

Dental implants fuse to your jawbone, so they offer amazingly stable support for artificial teeth. Dentures and dental bridges mounted to implants won’t slip or move in your mouth. This is an especially important benefit when eating and speaking.

This secure fit helps the dentures and bridges – as well as individual crowns placed over implants – feel more natural than conventional bridges or dentures.

For many people, ordinary bridges and dentures are not very comfortable or even lead to sore spots, poor ridges or gagging. In addition, ordinary bridges must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. An advantage of dental implants is that no adjacent teeth need to be prepared or ground down to hold your new tooth or teeth in place.

Who is a good candidate for dental implants?

To receive an implant or multiple implants, you need to have healthy gums and adequate bone density to support the implant. You must also commit to keeping them clean and healthy. Meticulous oral hygiene and regular dental visits are critical to the long-term success of dental implants.

We also recommend that you quit smoking before treatment begins. Smoking can have an adverse effect on the success of placing implants.

Anyone who has a healthy mouth can have an implant fitted and we would recommend this as the best way to permanently solve your problems of loose or missing teeth.

If you have missing or loose teeth or you simply don't fancy dentures or you have dentures now and rather wouldn't we would seriously recommend that you consider having dental implants as a permanent solution to these problems.

How can Benfleet Dental Centre help?

Why don't you give us a call today and book your initial consultation? The consultation is your opportunity to ask questions about the treatment and learn more about how it can impact you. We can also share any special offers that are currently available.

Call us today on 01702 557766 or visit the website or email us at [email protected] and check out dental implants today.