In the past, you may have seen people with missing teeth and wondered why on earth they didn’t get their missing teeth replaced. However, if you’re now missing one or more of your teeth, you may have found that taking the plunge to do something about it is harder than you thought. Your reasons may be personal to you, or it could be that you don’t fancy having removable replacement teeth – you’ve seen enough of Granny’s teeth in a glass on her bedside as a child to last you a lifetime. However, there is another way. Dental implants in Bromley are a permanent solution that can replace missing teeth and restore your smile without the need to remove your replacement teeth at night.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are small, titanium posts that can be surgically placed into your jawbone. Once the implants have healed, crowns, bridges, or dentures can be attached to them. The type of replacement will depend on how many teeth you need to have replaced. Crowns are normally used to replace a single tooth, whereas bridges are used for several teeth. Dentures are used to replace a whole set. Attaching your replacement teeth option to the titanium posts means that your teeth will be firmly fixed in place and shouldn’t go anywhere, regardless of what you eat or how much you talk; they will be just like your natural teeth.
How long does treatment take?
The wonderful thing about dental implants is that it only takes a couple of appointments for your dental implants to be fitted by a dentist who offers this treatment. The entire treatment process for dental implants will take several months because your gums need to heal around the posts before your permanent replacement teeth can be attached. However, the actual appointment to place the implants is typically between 1 to 2 hours per screw, and this can be done with just local anaesthetic, so you won’t need to worry about recovering from a general anaesthetic.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
There are many benefits to choosing dental implants over other options for replacing missing teeth. Firstly, dental implants offer the advantage of durability. Dental implants can last for many years as long as you take care of them properly. All you need to do to maintain them is brush and floss regularly and see your dentist frequently for routine dental check-ups. A further benefit of dental implants is that they function just like natural teeth. You can chew, speak, and smile naturally with them, so you could soon forget that you don’t have a full set of natural teeth anymore. Dental implants can give you your quality of life back, where you won’t have to worry about how your smile functions when you’re eating or chatting in public. No matter what you do, your teeth shouldn’t loosen and embarrass you. Plus, nobody else should realise that you don’t have a full set of natural teeth because dental implants are made to look and feel like natural teeth. They should not cause your gums to recede or change the shape of your face, although they could add structure to your face and make you look younger! Sometimes, when people have missing teeth, their faces can become shrunken, and by having dental implants fitted, you can support your skin again so it doesn’t look as drawn. While enjoying having a potentially younger-looking face, you should also find that your dental implants are very comfortable. You should not feel them when you wear them as they will become part of your jawbone, just like artificial teeth roots.
How are dental implants fitted?
The first step in getting dental implants is to have an initial consultation with your dentist. During the consultation, your dentist will assess your oral health and will be able to tell you whether or not dental implants are the right treatment for your specific needs. If they are, your dentist will then take a mould of your jawbone and send it to a laboratory. The laboratory will create the implants to your specific measurements and send them back to your dentist.
Once the implants have been created, you will need to have them surgically placed in your jawbone. Having the implant surgery only requires local anaesthesia, so you will be awake but comfortable, and you can have this treatment at the dental clinic. Temporary replacement teeth will be attached to your implants while your gums are healing around them; this process can take several months. Once the implants have healed, your dentist will attach the permanent crowns, bridges, or dentures to them.
Don’t delay!
If you are considering dental implants, all you need to do is talk to your dentist to learn more about them and whether they are right for you. Don’t leave your mouth wanting more – you can have it all and smile your best smile!
