Dental Implant Procedures Making Your Smile Great Again
Are you ashamed to smile because you have missing teeth? Do you find yourself covering your mouth when talking? It is understandable why some people would feel this way. If you feel ashamed, self-conscious, or unattractive because of your teeth, do not lose hope just yet. Advanced dental technology has made it possible to transform your smile using dental implants. With just a few procedures, you can restore your missing teeth and enhance your smile permanently.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a procedure where surgical components are directly implanted in the bone of the jaw. The implant is a titanium pole or screw attached to the jawbone to hold an artificial tooth that will replace the missing tooth. A dental specialist will perform a scan of your jawbone to see its strength and if it can support the implants. After the scan, the specialist will recommend the best kind of implant for you. Dental implants are placed to support other dental prosthesis like dentures, crowns, bridges, and facial prosthetics.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Natural looking. You will not notice the difference between natural teeth and artificial teeth. Implants feel and look just like your normal teeth so your smile can be natural.
- Stable. Unlike dentures, implants are fixed into your jawbone so they will not move around. Artificial teeth fastened to the jawbone allow you to smile without worry.
- Easy to clean. They are cleaned the same way you would clean your natural teeth, so they do not require any special cleaning procedures.
- Long-lasting. Dental implants will transform your smile for a long time. With proper oral care, they can even last a lifetime.
- Do not affect other teeth. Because they are fitted on the jawbone, dental implants will not impact surrounding teeth. They also perfectly align with the other teeth for a more natural smile.
- Protect the jawbone. Implants help maintain the jawbone by preventing it from melting or sinking, which maintains the smile and helps achieve a more youthful look.
- Help prevent gum disease. Missing teeth increase the risk of developing gum disease or periodontal disease because of the piling up of bacteria in the gums.
- Allow you to chew food with ease. Implants are strong and can be used to chew food like natural teeth.
Dental Implant Procedure
- Tooth and tooth fragment removal. The natural tooth and tooth shards are removed before the procedure is started. Once they are fully healed, the patient can proceed to the next step.
- Bone grafting. Patients who do not have enough jaw bone will have to go through a bone grafting process. This means the surgeon will graft the jawbone or take a piece of bone from another part of the body.
- Incision and drilling into the gums. The dentist will make small incisions in the gums and drill a hole into the jaw bone. Once the hole is drilled, the implant base is installed.
- Abutment installation. After the implant base is installed, the patient is given time to rest and heal. The dentist will then make another incision to expose the base where a pole is inserted into the plant bases.
- Tooth installation. The false tooth is securely screwed into the abutment. A crown is made and cemented into place, which will rest on top of the tooth implant.
Studies have shown that almost all adults suffer from tooth decay. Tooth decay causes unpleasant smells, and pain and leads to cavities. It requires professional dental care and, in severe cases, tooth removal. With tooth removal, however, your beautiful smile takes a significant blow. The good news is that dental implants can solve this issue.
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