Dental implants are becoming ever more talked about in the public as more and more people opt for them as a solution to their tooth loss. But many people still don’t understand what they are and how they actually work. Your Bath dentist will be able to tell you all about them as they have probably carried out a number of the procedures. For the basics, read on.
Humans have long sought to replicate teeth when they have been lost, in recognition of the fact that eating, drinking and talking are a lot easier with a full set of teeth, even if some of them are not natural. Dental implants are the latest stage in this evolution and they represent a leap forward because they are concerned with replicating the actual root of the tooth which holds it in place.
False teeth themselves have come a long way and modern pontics (as they are sometimes known) are realistic, lightweight and durable. But dental implants represent a new way of holding false teeth in place in the mouth. Instead of being removable like dentures or secured to surrounding teeth, dental implants are attached to the actual jaw bone itself.
In an operation at the dental surgery, your dentist will place an implant beneath the gum and against the jaw bone. In time the titanium implant will fuse with the bone, giving it an incredible secure foundation, into which a false tooth can be screwed. The surgery is invasive and dental implants are not a cheap option but they are a permanent solution to tooth loss. It is this permanence that is making more and more people choose dental implants if they have lost a tooth or teeth.
A lot of people would consider the loss of teeth a tragedy of Shakespearian proportions and that might well have been true. The only alternative used to be, often, badly made dentures, which used to be seen as the onset of old age. That was until the Swedes invented the dental implant and my, how things have changed since those days too. It was all scalpels and drills to fit a small, titanium little rod into the jaw in those days- damned expensive as well; now, it’s all lasers and computers, and boy, how this has affected peoples lives today. You can virtually walk into most dentists around Gloucester and have the treatment done. It’s amazing how easy it is to fit one, due to the accuracy of planting the implant into the bone by the use of a laser- which by its very nature does little damage to the gums around it, making healing afterwards so much cleaner and faster. It’s also because of how streamlined the treatment has become, that more and more dentists want ‘in’ on the action, meaning good news for the everybody- prices have fallen, making it available to all. There’s no need to feel worried about tooth loss anymore; having an implant gives so much more youth and freedom to the mouth and to the patients self esteem. So go on, treat yourself and turn back the years- we’ve missed your smile!
Losing teeth through whatever causes, can be extremely tragic and terminal to some of us in Bath; when our teeth go, it’s followed quickly by our beauty, our self esteem and our quality of life- next stop, a home for the elderly. Though dentures have come a long way, for some of us, they signal the end of that youthfulness that we have desperately hung on to. But it really, truly isn’t the case anymore and we have the wonders of modern dentistry to thank for that and it’s all thanks to dental implants. This technology has improved so much, that it’s become the more preferred answer to tooth loss and sets you free in a way that dentures simply, can’t. New laser based surgery delivers the implant with complete accuracy and less damage is done to the gums, which makes the treatment more efficient and more widespread; meaning the cost of having it done has dropped dramatically. Having an implant fitted allows you to have a new tooth fitted- it’s as strong as the original, less prone to disease and once they’ve been fitted into the jaw bone, they are in for ever; even if the tooth breaks down, or is damaged, you simply have another one popped onto the implant. Essentially, you have a brand new mouth full of new teeth that allow you to live life to the full, just as you did when you were carefree and young!
Getting an implant in Weston-super-mare these days has become as common as having a check-up. Implants were once a very specialist treatment used to replace individual teeth. The gum would be cut with a scalpel and a hole drilled to take the titanium implant. The gum would then be resealed and a lengthy healing process would have to take place before the new tooth could be attached. Of course, the treatment was exclusive and hence, expensive then. But with the invention of the computer and the laser, procedures have become so much more precise with micro surgery and plasma healing treatments, less damage is done to the gums, healing times have come down, and prices for the treatments have dropped dramatically because implant availability has become widespread- once you have paid for an implant, it’s there for life. This has also lead to other uses for implants in dental procedures. The dream of implants is to confine the use of dentures to history and it’s almost there- an implant offers complete restoration to tooth loss, but they also used to give extra strength to the fitting of bridges and crowns. Mini-implants are also used for anchoring dentures, they can be fitted and used in a day; the dentures click onto the implant into place. What with falling prices and payment plans, implants are no longer exclusive to the rich minority, they are available to everyone.
Having a missing tooth replaced in Weston-super-mare has never been easier thanks to the development in implant technology and with it, gone is the worry of losing teeth. Tooth loss can be terribly damaging psychologically when your teeth go, so does your youthfulness- you can literally age mentally overnight. Physically too- the cheeks can start to look withdrawn and the face will sag. Retaining teeth in the mouth, prevents this; even though the thought of wearing dentures may be terrifying, they do retain the shape of the face and even though you are always conscious you are wearing them, they can be used with mini implants, that can be fitted in a day, to hold them true in the mouth. But if implant technology keeps getting better, dentures may become buried in the past. Once implants have been fitted, they are there for life, as are the teeth that are attached to them. Laser surgery has replaced the scalpel, therefore damage to the gum tissue and nerves has been greatly reduced when the implant is located into the bone, which also aids the healing process and reduces the time of implant treatment. Having implants can restore the beauty to mouth- they are as good as the original and less suceptible to disease and as techniques become easier and more refined, so do the success rates and the prices- having an implant can cost as little as £2000
Losing a tooth or teeth can be a painful business in itself but you ought to get it or them replaced as soon as possible so that complications don’t ensue. Remaining teeth can begin to shift into gaps left behind by missing teeth and your cheeks can sag inwards, making you look older than you are. There are a number of options for replacing lost teeth but dental implants are becoming increasingly popular because of their durability and effectiveness.
A dental implant is essentially a substitute for the root part of the lost tooth. It is a bit like a socket, into which a replacement tooth can be secured. Dental implants need to be placed beneath the gum and local anaesthetic will be required. In order for the titanium implant to ‘osseointegrate’ or fuse with the bone, it must be placed against the jaw bone.
The osseointegration means that dental implants represent an incredibly stable housing for your replacement tooth. So stable in fact that a replacement tooth using a dental implant can actually support further replacement teeth using dental bridge work. Therefore dental implants are not just a solution for those who have lost just one tooth.
Often dentures are chosen if a number of teeth have been lost. These can come loose while eating and talking and have a tendency to get rather messy. Dental implants are preferable because of their permanence. The realistic replacement teeth can be treated just like your natural teeth and should last a life time providing you maintain good oral hygiene.
If you have lost a tooth or some teeth, talk to your Weston-Super-Mare dentist today about what dental implants can do for you and your mouth.
If you’ve had the bad luck of losing a tooth recently in Bristol, you may like to replace it. If you’ve had extremely bad luck and lost all your teeth, for whatever reason, the thought of having dentures could mentally age you by twenty years. But if you’ve got a few quid hidden in the mattress at home or can set up a dental payment plan, you maybe seriously wise to consider having implants. Implant prices, traditionally high, are staring to fall as the technology improves- prices can start from as little as £1000 per implant. The basic theory behind an implant hasn’t changed since it was first developed- a titanium fixing, screwed into the bone, to which a new tooth, denture or bridge can be attached to. But implant surgery has become precise and refined, utilising computer technology and modern healing processes, and these combinations are making the choice of implants very attractive. The whole procedure of having an implant can take as little as 4 months to complete, depending on how quickly you heal and with mini implants that are used to anchor bridges and dentures, the treatment can be completed in the same day; once the implant is in and healed, they are considered as strong as the original root and the overall finish is one of Hollywood proportions.
Weston-super-Mare dentists are now offering the most effective, sturdy and realistic way of replacing missing teeth. Dental implants are rapidly becoming the most popular way of filling that unsightly hole in your dental arc caused by a missing tooth. But just what is about dental implants that makes them so special?
Unlike other dental restorations such as dental bridges and partial dentures, the dental implant replaces the whole of the tooth from root to crown. This means that it provides a solid and lifelike substitute for a real tooth and is also very strong. This is very good news for patients who have previously experienced the fragility of other restorations. This can include broken dental bridges because food of a certain consistency has proven too tough or hard for the repair. The other major advantage of dental implants is that they are permanent and will not need replacing after about ten years, so once it has been fitted it will last a lifetime.
Dental implants come in the form of small metal screws, usually titanium, that are fitted directly into the jaw. They are then given a certain amount of time to settle in and become solid with the other tissue. Once this has happened they cam then be used as a base for the remainder of the treatment that involves a post and then artificial tooth, carefully chosen to match the colour, shape and size of the other teeth.
It is also possible for patients who wear dentures to have a series of small implants fitted to act as a secure base. This eliminates the worry of loose dentures and also means patients can eat what they want when they want.
Imagine if it were possible to replace a tooth when it had been lost due to decay or injury. For many years, the closest dentists have come is with partial dentures, often known as plates, or dental bridges. Both of these restored the cosmetic appearance of the teeth but they never felt like real teeth and they certainly didn’t behave like them. Patients often have had to watch what they ate to avoid causing any damage to the more fragile replacements. Then there was the question of replacing the dental substitute every eight to ten years when it began to fall apart. Well, now there is a genuine alternative for a real tooth that lasts a lifetime and feels solid, and allows you to eat what you want, when you want.
Dental implants are the only type of dental restoration that replaces the whole part of the tooth from root to crown. The implant itself replaces the root, as it is a small metal screw that is placed directly into the jawbone, just like a real root. This provides a solid base for the artificial tooth, which is attached via a post. The artificial tooth, chosen and designed to match the existing teeth, will then be held firmly in place with no fragile bonding of attachments in danger of breaking. This is because all the support mechanism is held within and beneath the tooth. Apples, nuts and other hard foods will no longer be a problem and the implant will last for the rest of your life.
Dental implants are available from Swindon dentists and are implanted over the course of several appointments over several weeks. This is because the implant will need time to fuse with the other tissue and bone in the mouth.
A Dental implant is an artificial tooth made from porcelain that is uniquely fixed to the jaw bone, for all intent and purposes it is the next best thing to a real and natural tooth. A Bristol dentist says that they have completely revolutionised the dental industry. Invented through many years of research and tests, the Implant was first researched in the 50s and 60s and since then they have been improved on to the present day. To someone who loses a tooth and can`t get on with dentures, they are a really good alternative as an artificial tooth. The process isn’t a quick fix though and the whole procedure can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months. There is a lot of science involved and the method consists of the jaw bone integrating with the new tooth. A plate made of Titanium is the key start to the procedure, it is slide under the gum and screwed to the jaw bone, it is pre-drilled with holes to accept poles later on that will be the anchors for the actual tooth. The plate is left to integrate with the jaw bone by agitating the blood system into producing new bone cells, these grow around the plate to make it part of the jaw. The poles are then screwed in and glued, then the new tooth or teeth is slide on and cemented in, the tooth is now usable after a few days of sensitivity. It needs no special care and can be regarded as a natural tooth.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
