Having a missing tooth can sometimes feel disconcerting. It can hinder your chewing abilities, deteriorate your jawbone, and even affect your self-confidence. Thankfully, there are a number of dental solutions out there to replace missing teeth and one of those is dental implants. Dental implants are arguably the best method of replacing missing teeth because it mimics the function and aesthetics of a natural tooth. In fact, a dental implant provides a more natural feel compared to other tooth loss solutions like dentures and bridges.
A dental implant is an artificial tooth that is implanted onto a patient’s jawbone. The implant is done via surgery with the help of a professional periodontist. If you’re looking for a permanent solution to missing teeth, then dental implants are the way to go. Here’s how dental implants can help restore your lost smile and improve your quality of life.
Studies on dental implants
There’s been a growing body of research on the benefits of dental implants. One such study was conducted in 2017 by a hospital in Japan that had 800 participants. Half of them had no prior experience on prosthodontic treatment while the other half had undergone dental implant surgery. The participants answered a survey that’s based around the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI), a questionnaire that targets the many aspects of living with dental implants like speaking, eating, etc.
The results found a correlation between a high GOHAI score and participants with previous prosthodontic treatment. This meant that the latter group with dental implants found that the surgery significantly improved their quality of life compared to the former pre-dental implant group. A similar study was conducted in 2018 with around 647 participants, all of which had dental implants for at least 3 months before taking the GOHAI survey. Again, the results were quite positive and the average score amongst the participants exceeded that of the score from their age bracket that had no dental implants.
Part of the reason why dental implants are so successful is because they behave exactly like natural teeth. It restores full chewing power, it looks and feels like regular teeth, and prevents bone loss from occurring. When you lose a tooth, bone loss is bound to happen because there’s no longer chewing pressure that preserves the bone. Dental implants can help preserve your jaw structure by limiting atrophy and keeping your jaw bone stimulated.
General procedure for getting dental implants
The first step in getting dental implants is to visit a dental clinic and have your teeth examined. The dentist will conduct a visual examination of your teeth and use an X-ray to give them a good idea of what they’re working with. Thanks to modern technology such as a digital imaging tool, dentists can create an accurate 3D model of your teeth. This allows them to select the right implant and position it correctly during surgery. After assessing your teeth, the dentist will get to work and provide you with a comprehensive treatment plan. This will vary from patient to patient and it all depends on the condition of your remaining teeth and your overall jaw bone structure.
When everything checks out, an anesthesia is administered to manage pain during the entire procedure. An oral surgeon will make an incision on your gum to expose the jawbone and from there, a metal post made of titanium is inserted into the hole and screwed into place. After installing the metal post, you will be advised to let the area heal for several months in order for osseointegration to take place. Osseointegration is a process wherein your healing jawbone grows around the metal post and holds it firmly in place.
A temporary crown is installed to protect the exposed end of the metal post. After the osseointegration process is complete, the dentist will replace the temporary crown with a permanent one. This permanent crown is made of porcelain and is shaped to resemble natural teeth. The colour is carefully chosen to match with the rest of your teeth as well.
Long-term outlook on dental implants
When properly maintained, the dental implant itself will last for a lifetime. The only thing that needs replacing is the crown, which usually has a lifespan of 10-25 years depending on how you care for it. Like with natural teeth, proper brushing and flossing is essential to maintaining the condition of your dental implant. While dental implants are more expensive than other forms of tooth replacement, the long-term benefits are certainly worth the extra cost.
There’s more to dental implants than just replacing missing teeth as it can significantly improve your quality of life. Dental implants have the ability to not only restore your tooth function, but also your self-confidence as well. If you suffer from tooth loss and want to get it fixed, consider having a dental implant today.