November 22, 2021
Overview
Having lost teeth due to dental disease or trauma, living with gaps, or dealing with dentures need not be the only options as Conventional bridges and dentures may help fill the gap, but they’re not right for everyone and can lead to discomfort, pain, poor mouth structure.
Dental implants offer a strong, practical & attractive alternative for missing teeth restoring the look, feel, and health of your mouth.
One may wonder how long these implants will last. The good news is that proper Flossing, brushing and visiting the dentist can help your implants last a lifetime and let your mouth stay healthy.
Dental implants are being chosen by more and more people to replace missing teeth and are considered the best choice.
Replacing the function, look, and structure of missing teeth, a Dental implant consists of a titanium “root” implanted into the jawbone.
A metal abutment and porcelain crown are attached to the implant. The replaced tooth looks, feels, and functions just like your natural tooth.
Dental implants are even better than natural teeth since they can’t develop cavities.
Moreover, Dental implants do not affect neighboring healthy teeth like fixed bridges or removable dentures do, or lead to bone loss in the jaw.
Dental implants last a lifetime if proper care is taken.
Parts of a Dental Implant
A better understanding of dental implants can help one to understand why the implant can last for so long. The implant is made up of three main parts:
Titanium Implant or Base
The part that the dentist attaches to the jawbone is the base made of titanium, a metal whose impressive biocompatibility makes it non-toxic and harmless to living tissues.
A hole is drilled in the patient’s jaw, followed by placing the base and waiting for the bone to fuse around the base.
This makes the implant strong enough to withstand strong force.
Abutment
The abutment is the part that connects the base and the implant.
After the patient’s gum has recovered and healed from getting the base, the dentist attaches the abutment to the base.
Crown
The crown is the part of the dental implant that is visible. The crown is attached to the abutment making the dental implant complete.
Made out of a ceramic material, the crown is custom-designed to look like the rest of the teeth in the patient’s mouth
Being the part that is most exposed, it gets the most wear and tear but can still last at least 25 years with the right care and maintenance and is generally less painful to replace than the base.
Nonetheless, the base lasts for even longer than the crown.
Related Article: Teeth Straightening: 6 Reasons Adults Should Get Orthodontic Treatments
Benefits of Dental Implants:
Maintain the Health of Surrounding Teeth
The surrounding healthy teeth have to be filed down when one receives a bridge to attach it. But an implant doesn’t threaten the goodness of other teeth.
Look Like Natural Teeth
More natural look and feel wise, with implants one is not able to tell the difference between a natural tooth and an implanted one.
The chewing power is restored by the Dental Implant, and one can brush and floss normally without any additional care.
The confident smile is restored with Implants and you can eat just about anything.
Bone Preservation
The resorption of the bone that can occur when a natural tooth is lost can be avoided with the implants.
The remaining teeth don’t slide into the space left by a lost tooth or the shape of the jaw doesn’t change due to the bone loss as dental implants replace the root as well as the tooth and hence promote the preservation of the bone.
Implants are Long-Lasting
Dental Implants are a permanent solution to missing teeth unlike dentures, bridgework, or other similar restorations.
As long as good care is taken of the teeth and the implant, they can last a lifetime. However, bridges and dentures need to be replaced every 7 to 15 years.
Caring for Dental Implants
The right oral care practices can go a long way to extend the life of the dental implant.
Brushing the implant at least twice a day along with the rest of the teeth using a soft toothbrush is important. Brushing the crown all around and underneath is very vital too.
Flossing at least once a day with an interdental floss that is coated in nylon can help patients remove bits of food from underneath the implant.
A regular visit to the dentist can help keep the implants and mouth healthy.
Role of The Oral Surgeon
The dental implant is a surgery best done by a trained dental surgeon.
The oral and maxillofacial surgeons have specialized education and training in the complexities of the bone, skin, muscles and nerves and can ensure the best possible results.
According to studies, the implant success rates are higher when the procedure is performed by a dental specialist.
At Kirkland Premier Dentistry Dr. Gaurav Sharma offers dental implants to patients who need a successful tooth replacement with lasting function and looks and can help restore smiles.
Dr. Gaurav Sharma has more than 400 hours of continuing education credits for dental implant training, so you can be sure of being in safe hands.
Call for an appointment to learn if you’re a suitable candidate for a dental implant.
If you are suffering from severe tooth pain then you can also contact us for emergency dentistry services
