Dental Implants
Are you considering dental implants after tooth loss? Dental implants are both aesthetically pleasing and practical, a great choice for cosmetic dentistry. They look and act like natural teeth, allowing you to smile confidently and eat without worry or discomfort. This type of cosmetic dental treatment is frequently chosen for its long-term benefits creating strong, stable feeling teeth which look and feel as natural as your own.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are type of cosmetic dentistry provided after a patient has suffered a loss of one or more of their teeth, the implant itself is a small cylinder which is added to the jawbone to act as a permanent replacement for the tooth and its root, acting as a base for any and all replacement teeth added as either a dental crown, a fixed bridge or denture.
The Oral Care Centre and American Dental Association provide information on the main two types of implants, which are:
- endosteal implants:
- Implanted directly into the jawbone and after the surrounding gum has healed after a period of time, a second dental surgeon will connect the post to the implant, Concluding in the addition of an artificial tooth or teeth being attached individually or grouped together by a denture or bridge.
- subperiosteal implants
- A metal frame, connected to the jawbone surgically just below the gum. After a period of time, once the surrounding gum has healed, the frame is fixed to the jawbone. posts will extend out of the gum-like with the endosteal implants an artificial tooth or teeth are then added.
The implant procedure
We add the implant via a simple surgical procedure, here our dental surgeon will raise the jawbone and fuse a metal frame or small metal posts, usually made from biocompatible titanium.
The main benefits of dental implants are that they are used to help preserve the jawbone after tooth loss, as well as this, they also help to preserve the patient’s facial structure. This can be lost typically after a patient loses a tooth or teeth, the jawbone tends to shrink away, this often tends to create that ‘sunken’ look that some denture wearers have. simply this means dental implants help to hold the patient’s jawbone in place.
Due to the low maintenance benefits of dental implants, dentists and their patients actively choose this option, providing permanent tooth-loss replacements that look and act like normal natural teeth although they are artificial. As to the implant is fused to the patient’s jawbone, this solution means it won’t need to be replaced or need to be repaired although if any damage or trauma occurs we recommend you seek emergency dental treatment.
Aftercare
After the surgery is complete, your dental practitioner will recommend you care for your new implants as you would care for your regular teeth by brushing and flossing regularly by practising a good oral care routine. We follow the recommended practices of The American Dental Association via their educational website Mouth Healthy.
After the implant surgery, your aftercare protocol we recommend will be;
- Try to only intake cold drinks and
- Don’t eat until the general anaesthetic has worn off.
- Avoid any hot food or drinks for the first day or so.
- Do not ‘swill’ liquid around your mouth area.
- Try not to agitate the sensitive area with your fingers tongue, this could lead to infection due to the transfer of bacteria.
- Avoid undertaking any serious exercise for the first two days after the dental surgery.
