subject: Are You A Potential Candidate For Dental Implants? [print this page] Dental implants are perfect for those patients who want tooth replacement that is as close as possible to natural teeth. Since they are anchored to the bone, dental implants look and feel like the real thing and usually outlast dentures and dental bridges.
Good candidates for dental implants are those who have healthy gums and enough healthy bone tissue to support the anchor that forms the base of the implant. Those who smoke or have certain diseases, including uncontrolled diabetes, may not be good candidates, since bone tissue may not heal sufficiently to properly support the anchors. Dentures or dental bridges may be more appropriate for those patients.
Being attached to the bone is what makes dental implants special. Your dentist or oral surgeon will drill a hole in the bone and place a metal anchor. After the gum and bone tissue has healed around the anchor, holding it firmly in place, the replacement tooth will be attached to the anchor, making it as sturdy as a natural tooth, and just as comfortable. Bite force strength will be the same as for a natural tooth.
Dental implants can be a replacement for a single missing tooth or several adjacent teeth. When replacing three or more teeth, it may be practical to create a row of attached replacements and implant only two anchors, one under each end.
Since oral surgery is required, the process of installing dental implants takes longer and is more expensive than dentures or dental bridges. Many people consider the end result well worth the time and expense. Dentures may have to be replaced as gums shrink. The metal connectors that secure removable bridges to adjacent healthy teeth can damage those teeth over time. But, with proper care, your implant should last a lifetime.
Cosmetically, dental implants look more natural than dentures or dental bridges, so make the patient more confident in his or her smile. Since caring for implants is virtually the same as caring for natural teeth, patients sometimes forget theyve had tooth replacement.
If you want the most natural tooth replacement possible, ask your dentist about dental implants.
