Dental Implants Information
Are your dentures causing discomfort? Have you ever wished you could eat your favourite foods again? Do you cover your mouth while smiling? If yes, then dental implant treatment could be the right option for you. Missing teeth is more common than you think, with statistics showing that 70 percent of people between the ages of 35-45 years have lost at least one permanent tooth. In addition to this, about 26 percent of people above 74 years have lost all of their permanent teeth.
Individuals may lose their teeth for a variety of reasons. Teeth may fall out due to an injury, accident or old age. Teeth may also need to be extracted due to gum disease, tooth decay, failed root canals and so on. Whatever the reason for losing your teeth, it is only once they are gone that you begin to realise just how important they were to your appearance and lifestyle. About twenty years ago, patients would only have had the options of fixed bridges or removable dentures, to regain the functionality of their missing teeth. However today, advancements in dentistry have given patients a valuable tooth restoration option in dental implant treatment.
Commonly referred to as teeth implants, dental implants do not rest on the jaw line like removable dentures, nor do they require adjacent teeth for support like fixed bridges. Teeth implants generally consist of small inserts that are surgically fitted into the jawbone, to which abutments and prosthetic teeth are later attached. There are different types of teeth implant systems available today for different patient requirements. Some of them are root-form implants, blade-form implants, subperiosteal implants and transosseous implants.
Implants for supporting prosthetic teeth are manufactured from a wide range of materials that include pure titanium, zirconia, titanium alloy and surgical stainless steel. These materials are biologically inert in nature, meaning they are usually accepted by the immune system of the body in most cases, without risk of allergic reactions. Pure titanium is usually preferred by dental implantologists because of its high durability, resistance to corrosion and biocompatibility. According to various studies, they do not react with the immunological system of the human body in 98 percent of cases.
Additionally, the surface of each tooth implant is anodised, etched, or sandblasted to create tiny pits. During the process of osseointegration, the bone grows closely around the implants, filling these tiny pits and grooves, such that it seems that the implant has adhered to the bone. This gives the implant more stability, especially when it comes to chewing hard foods. After a teeth implant successfully integrates with the jawbone, it constantly stimulates the bone, whenever food is chewed. This helps prevent bone resorption, and maintains the structure of the face. If maintained properly, teeth implants are known to last for a lifetime.
If you wish to know if teeth implant treatment is right for you, consult with a highly experienced dental implantologist, who will advise you about your suitability after conducting a thorough assessment.