A set of healthy and beautiful teeth are a great boost to how you feel about yourself and gives others a positive impression about you. However, Dental Implants such as tooth loss may arise as you age or due to accidents and advanced periodontitis. This problem is common in the United States as it affects millions of people.
Missing one or several teeth in your dental formula can affect your speech, face contour, choice of foods, and self-esteem. Thanks to the advancements in dentistry, people with missing teeth may benefit from fixtures such as implants. It is best to work with professionals like your Hilliard implant dentist to avoid complications during and after treatment.
What is a dental implant?
Dental implants are surgical fixtures placed into the jawbone in place of natural tooth roots and offer support to prosthetics, including bridges. The common material used in their fabrication is titanium, as it is not recognized with the body as a foreign object. Dental implants fuse with the jaw bone with time; a process called osseointegration.
Their use has grown over the years because they closely mimic a natural tooth, are stable, and last a lifetime with proper care. The success rate of implants is up to 98% depending on the jaw location where it was placed.
Can anyone get a dental implant?
Although a healthy person viable for tooth extraction can be considered for an implant, other factors like oral health are considered before getting a go-ahead. To know whether you can get an implant, you need to consult with your specialist. Your doctor evaluates your medical records to check if you have chronic conditions such as hypertension and diabetes.
Patients with these medical conditions and heavy smokers may need to be evaluated and closely monitored before, during, and after treatment. During a consultation, your dental surgeon will examine the site of the mouth in need of an implant and may use dental imaging studies such as x-rays and panoramic films. Here, your specialist will assess the quality and quantity of the jawbone to determine if a bone graft is needed.
Benefits of dental implants
Choosing dental implants as a tooth restoration over other options comes with different benefits that include:
- Better speech. Tooth loss can affect how you pronounce certain words and generally how you talk. While dentures are beneficial for patients with tooth loss, they can easily slip within your mouth, causing you to slur or mumble your words. With dental implants, you have the ease of speaking without the worry that teeth might slip.
- Comfortable. With time, dental implants fuse with the surrounding bone and become part of your body. This is one of the advantages that give implants an upper hand to dentures since they are removable.
- Improved facial outlook. Missing one or multiple teeth can alter the way you look negatively. Implants act like your natural teeth and help you restore your beautiful smile.
If you have lost one or several of your teeth due to periodontitis or an injury, consult with your dental surgeon at Innovative Dental Ideas to determine whether you are an ideal candidate for dental implants.
