subject: Give Yourself A Reason To Smile By Replacing Missing Teeth With Dental Implants [print this page] As children it is normal to experience tooth loss, as baby teeth begin to fall out at about the age of six to make way for permanent teeth. If all goes well, adult teeth will grow in without a hitch, remaining there for the rest of our lives. Unfortunately, in some instances keeping your teeth for a lifetime isn't always the case.
Unlike dentures, dental implants do not rest along the gum line, nor do they use adjacent teeth as anchors like a dental bridge. Instead, dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone where they act as an anchor for replacement teeth, filling the hole left in your smile by a missing tooth. With a dental implant, your restored tooth will look and feel like a natural tooth, allowing you to chew and speak just like you did before you lost your tooth.
How are Dental Implants Placed?
Prior to the placement of your dental implants, your bone density needs to be measured in order to ensure that you have sufficient quality and quantity of bone tissue available around the area in which the implant will be placed. If you have insufficient bone density then you may need bone grafting before the implant can be placed.
Once you have had a consultation with your dentist in regards to the appropriateness of dental implants for your tooth replacement, your treatment process can begin. Your implants can generally be placed in one sitting, but do require a period of osseointegration, which is the process by which direct anchorage of the implant root and the bone of the jaw occur. Your dentist will complete the process with the placement of a crown.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Since implants are securely attached, you gain confidence to eat what you like, speak clearly and freedom from embarrassment. Other benefits of implants include:
*Improved Appearance: Dental implants look and feel just like your own teeth.
*Improved Comfort: Implants are securely anchored, so there is no slipping as there is with dentures. This eliminates some of the key inconveniences of dentures, including poor fit, gum irritation, and pain.
*Improved Health: Dental implants can help prevent deterioration of the jawbone caused by loss of teeth, so your face retains its natural shape.
*Durability: Implants are strong and can last a lifetime with proper care.
*Convenience: Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanent, eliminating the inconvenience of removing your dentures. With implants, you can brush and care for your teeth just as you would your natural teeth.
Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. Patients must have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. The patient must also be committed to good oral hygiene, including exceptional oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist.
If you've lost one or more of your natural teeth, it's possible to continue to live confidently with dental implants from your dentist in Naples.
