What are dental implants?

Teeth can be lost for a number of reasons, ranging from disease, accidents or a natural part of the aging process. When teeth are lost, it’s important to find some way of replacing them, as not replacing missing teeth can be damaging in a number of ways. As well as making it more difficult to eat and speak as normal, missing teeth can eventually lead to loss of the jawbone (atrophy). This can change the shape of your jaw, making you look older. A dental implant is a way of replacing a missing tooth that works by inserting titanium studs directly into the jawbone. Titanium is used as it fuses well with the surrounding bone, meaning that it becomes like a natural part of the mouth – even stimulating bone growth. These studs are attached to natural-looking porcelain dental crowns, which can then function just like normal teeth.

Who can benefit from dental implants?

Since they work to work to replace natural teeth, dental implants make a good alternative to other methods such as dentures and bridges. This means that dental implants can be a good solution for people who have lost their teeth due to accidents, decay, or older patients who might usually need dentures. Implants can prove to be a better option for many people, due to the fact that they are anchored to the jaw and so preserve bone structure, as well as being easier to clean – they can be looked after just like natural teeth. They also do not cause some of the problems of irritation that can come with dentures. There is no need to change your diet thanks to implants, as they function like natural teeth. However, implants may not be suitable for heavy smokers or those with certain gum diseases, so please consult your dentist.