A solution for missing teeth

A solution for missing teeth

There are quite a few things that can cause a tooth to be damaged. Teeth can commonly be damaged by being decayed and thus being broken down over time, but even healthy teeth are at risk of an accident. Accidents can always happen, whether that be from carrying out work, playing sport or simply tripping and falling, it is always possible to have a nasty injury, and sometimes this injury happens inside the mouth. There are some cases where a tooth can become so broken or chipped away, that it is eventually entirely missing or beyond repair. However, there is a treatment which can act as a solution to this problem, dental implants. This is a treatment which allows replacement teeth to be built into where a broken tooth used to be. This article will explore a bit more about the treatment, and give more information and detail about the different stages of it and how each of them work.

How does it work?

This treatment uses implants that are made of titanium. The titanium is inserted into the jawbone underneath the teeth and gums, where it can provide a stable base to support the new implanted tooth. The tooth itself is designed to be long lasting, and with proper care and maintenance can potentially last for a lifetime. Also, structurally and functionally they are nearly identical to natural teeth, meaning that you will be able to eat food and clean your teeth as a whole just as you always would have done. A dentist will also be able to place the new tooth onto the titanium base without damaging any of the other surrounding teeth.

There are many benefits of getting this treatment, some of which are benefits to your health. If you have a missing or badly damaged tooth then it may be more difficult to bite and chew, and could also affect the types of food you are comfortably able to eat. In addition to this, missing teeth can also sometimes cause problems with your jaw to arise. There are also cosmetic benefits as well, as they are designed to look like regular teeth, and many find the new look of a full mouth of teeth to be more aesthetically pleasing.

How is treatment performed?

dental patient

This procedure is performed under local anaesthetic. This allows the dentist to make a small cut in the gum, so that the titanium screw can be inserted into the bone underneath. After this procedure is completed, it then takes some time, usually around 8 to 12 weeks, before the next stage of treatment takes place, as the titanium needs this much time to integrate with the bone. Not long after this point though, a post is attached to the implant using a screw. A crown can then be made to attach to the post. This crown will be based on a mould of your mouth that will have been taken earlier during treatment. It will usually be made of a durable material such as metal or porcelain, with both being made to closely replicate the look and feel of a natural tooth.