There is nothing that is as good as your natural tooth. However, people can lose their teeth due to many reasons – decay, trauma, gum disease, bone disease, etc. In order to eat, chew and talk, we need our teeth. So, to restore a person’s missing tooth, dentistry provides a few options – dentures, crown and bridge and implants!
While traditional reconstructive solutions like dentures and bridges have been around for many years, patients often find themselves dissatisfied with their look and feel, wishing more than anything that they could just have their original tooth back.
Implants provide the necessary support for artificial teeth to prevent dentures and bridges from slipping or shifting in your mouth while speaking or eating. The fusion of dental implants with your jaw bone is what makes that possible. Further, individual crowns over implants, dentures, and implants, will feel more natural.
Conventional bridges, on the other hand, may require grinding or preparation of adjacent teeth, to hold the new replacement tooth or teeth in place. They must be attached to teeth on either side of the space left by the missing tooth. For that reason, such bridges may be uncomfortable or even impossible, as a result of gagging, sore spots, or poor ridges.
Adequate bones to support the implant and healthy gums are a necessity when considering implants. Besides, regular dental visits and meticulous oral hygiene will promote the long-term success of implants.
Dental implant surgery is considered safe and predictable, as long as a skilled and experienced dental implant dentist is engaged in the process. It is the recommended procedure for teeth replacement since once replaced, your teeth will feel, look, and work naturally. Also, implants are preferred because they stimulate the bone beneath the missing tooth. .
Some of the reasons why individuals choose dental implants include, convenience because you do not need to remove them, a high success rate, they fit perfectly since they are embedded in the bone, they resemble your natural teeth, the probability of lasting a lifetime with proper care, among others.
Ascertaining whether dental implants are right for you is as a result of evaluating your medical condition and lifestyle, which will affect the success of your dental implant and healing too. Advise your dentist if you have had radiation to your jaws, been drinking alcohol or smoking excessively, if you have a current or a history of periodontal disease, or if you have diabetes or cancer.
The success rate of dental implants is set at 95% though it will vary depending on where the implants are placed in the jaw.