Dental Implants Cure And Improve Appearance

Historically, the way that missing or damaged teeth were treated varied widely. Some would work to save the existing structure by performing a root canal. Others would seek to fill in the lost area with bridges or different types of dentures. Unfortunately, the statistics showed that a large number of root canals failed. Installing bridges meant harming healthy and structurally sound parts of the body in order to create anchors for the new parts. Dentures are fraught with problems, including the need for strong adhesive and regular cleansing. Fortunately there is a solution that eliminates these other options -- having dental implants to replace any gaps that may have resulted from decay or damage. By installing one of these units, all of the other problems above are eliminated, and so are natural concerns like decay and discoloration.

Dental implants often take the form of a single anchor on which a crown is mounted. Simply put, the dentist opens a spot in the jaw and installs a sort of titanium screw into the void. This is allowed to heal and be incorporated into the surrounding bone. Once this has happened, the crown is attached to this artificial root and it is just like having a real tooth crowned. This is a good choice for those missing one or two individual teeth because it allows the dentist to craft a realistic looking replacement.

Having dental implants requires a relatively high level of oral health. A patient should not have a generally unhealthy mouth or else this is not a good option. Because such a large amount of blood vessels are involved and there is bone involvement, it is not good to allow the possibility of infection, which could cause far more serious problems down the line. Also, there should not be bone degradation or weakness or else having this treatment could both exacerbate the problem and cause the anchor to fail.

Some people want to have dental implants because they are embarrassed by the space caused by a missing tooth. Others find that the void causes their speech to be disrupted and it is an embarrassment. Still other find a functional defect when they attempt to eat, although the lack may not be apparent simply when they smile. For all of these reasons, a dentist is available to do the work necessary to replace and remedy the problem. He too wants his patients to have all of the functional parts of the mouth because of the numerous increased problems caused by their absence. Jaw joints suffer added stress from the change in pressure distribution. Alignment changes as the remaining teeth migrate to fill the gap. There is a potential for harmful pockets of bacteria to hide out in the socket. Over time all of these problems can compound and cause the loss of further teeth and diseases of the gums and mouth.

Dental implants are more than an aesthetic remedy. It can cure oral problems and prevent further disease and infection.