Tooth Replacement - The Advantages of Dental Implants

Dental implants are artificial titanium posts or rods that are used to replace one or more missing teeth in adults and children who cannot chew their own tooth normally. A dental implant is usually a small titanium screw that is implanted in the jawbone. These implants are attached surgically to make permanent artificial teeth. There are many advantages of using dental implants including but not limited to the following according to Canberra dentist:

Immediate replacement of teeth is possible with dental implants. Missing teeth can be difficult to replace especially in adults where the chewing function of the lower jaw has been compromised. Patients will need to undergo dental surgery to replace missing teeth. This surgery involves implanting a metal screw into the jawbone to which the replacement teeth will be permanently fixed post-operatively. Missing teeth, which are replaced with dental implants can also be fixed by bridges in patients who do not have complete dentures.

An important advantage of dental implants over other dental procedures is that a dental implant requires no surgical preparation for the patient. The healing and the fitting of the implant will take place between two visits. The first visit is the fitting or the restoration fitting. The second visit will involve the actual installation of the dental implant. During the fitting, the oral surgeon who will be conducting the procedure, needs to assess whether the replacement tooth root is in proper position. If the tooth root is out of place, the dentist will need to correct the positioning before he starts the installation process.

There are some conditions that should be considered when selecting dental implants over other procedures. The most common condition is that of missing teeth and for this, there is only one procedure called single tooth replacement. In this type of dentistry, the replacement tooth is secured to the gum tissue by a single dental screw.

Dental implants are very useful in cases where a patient has lost one, both, or both of his/her teeth. A patient in this case will require a suitable jaw abutment to be fitted after the completion of the implant surgery. The abutment will be used as the supporting structure for the new teeth that will be placed in its center. The crown will be placed on the abutment and held securely by means of the dental implants. The crown will then be bonded to the gum tissue using a special cement that will hold the entire process together.

Another important reason why one would require dental implants is due to the fact that several of his/her natural teeth have been removed for some reason. The replacement that is required will be of a higher quality and higher in size than those that have been removed. The size and quality of the replacement will depend on the patient's requirements and the nature of his/her occupation. In the case of missing teeth, the dentist may also request for an artificial covering called a cap to be placed on the teeth so as to resemble the appearance of real teeth.

The main advantages of dental implants are the ease with which they can be attached to the jaw bone and the ease with which they can be replaced if ever the original tooth is damaged. Unlike dentures, which will have to be replaced periodically as the bones of the lower jaw are broken down and dissolved by the saliva of the patient, dental implants will stay intact until they are surgically removed by a qualified surgeon. Another main advantage of replacing one's missing teeth with these artificial teeth is that they give the appearance of being more complete than the original ones. This is made possible by the use of bonding agents and dental cement that are applied on the teeth once their natural counterparts have been removed by the dentist.

Before undergoing a tooth replacement surgery, it is advisable that you consult a dentist who is well trained in the techniques of gum disease and bone loss. This is because the techniques for a successful tooth replacement will differ depending on the factors mentioned above. This is why it is important that you check out with your dentist whether he uses an extractor or a drill. Moreover, it is also necessary to see how many times a patient has gone through the procedure before you opt for one. After all, you do not want to end up paying thousands more than what you should for a simple tooth replacement procedure.