Dental Implants – The Realistic Method For Tooth Replacement
A person can lose a tooth through decay, gum disease, a failed procedure, or it may be accidentally knocked out. Whatever the reason, the loss of a tooth may affect your self-confidence and lead to more serious oral health problems.
If you’ve lost a tooth or several teeth, dental implants are a permanent way to replace your teeth and prevent issues with your jaw and remaining teeth.
Why Dental Implants?
Dental implants are an excellent choice for replacing a missing tooth or teeth. While they are not as affordable as dentures or a dental bridge, they are the most innovative and realistic method available for replacing teeth.
Dental implants are tiny, titanium screws that are surgically inserted directly into the jawbone to serve as the root for your new tooth. Once the implant fuses with the jawbone and heals, an abutment is attached to connect the implant to a dental crown. The result is a healthy, fully functional natural-looking tooth that blends seamlessly with your smile.
There are various options when a tooth is lost, but dental implants offer many advantages over the alternatives:
Dental Implants Are Long-Lasting
Over time, your jaw naturally changes shape. This can be due to diet or ageing. Dentures usually have to be refitted and replaced as the variations occur. Dental implants do not have this issue.
With proper oral care and hygiene, dental implants may last a lifetime. The dental crowns may have to be replaced every 20-25 years, but the titanium implants fused into the jawbone are built to last.
Bone Tissue Is Stimulated by Dental Implants
The loss of a tooth can mean that the area of the jaw is not receiving the stimulation it needs. Bone tissue is the same as many other parts of the body; without use, it becomes weak and eventually decreases in strength and volume.
Dentures and dental bridges do not provide enough biting pressure in the jawbone to stimulate new bone growth.
With dentures, patients will see a continual shifting in their jaw structure over time and they will need to be refitted for their dentures every 5-7 years.
Dental implants ensure the tooth makes contact with food when chewing. In turn, the bone and surrounding tissues are working. If a person chooses not to replace a missing tooth, this stimulation may not occur.
Bone density can decrease and lead to a weaker jaw and a shrunken, protruding chin. This can make a person look much older than they actually are.
Convenience of Dental Implants
Unlike dentures and a dental bridge, dental implants can be treated just like your natural teeth. You do not have to take them out and put them into a special soaking solution or use special tools to clean them. You can eat, drink, chew, brush, and floss as normal.
Dental implants do not slip out while you talk or eat as dentures do. Additionally, while dentures may seem more affordable in the short-term, they are not durable. In addition to shifting jawbone changes and adjustments, dentures will need to be replaced every 5-7 years. Dental bridges also need to be replaced every few years due to wear and tear.
Dental Implants Bring Confidence
A patient who loses a tooth can feel self-conscious when smiling, eating, and speaking. Dental implants offer a natural-looking restoration, which can help restore a patient’s confidence and enjoyment of everyday activities both professionally and socially.
How Dental Implants Are Done
How dental implants are done has progressed considerably with the advent of new technology. Dentistry on Solent offers both conventional dental procedures and the more advanced DIO implant technique. Get a free consultation near you today!
DIO Dental Implants
New DIO implant methods allow dentists to view the area the implant will be inserted digitally.
An implant can then be placed into the jawbone with greater accuracy, and crucially, without opening the gum. It is sometimes called flapless surgery.
There will be less blood, reduced discomfort, and significantly shorter recovery time.
In some cases, the abutments, which are usually placed 4-6 months after the implants, can be affixed to the implant on the same day.
We can also place same-day dental implants with an All-on-4 treatment. This reduces the number of visits a patient needs to make to the practice and the number of procedures a patient must undergo.
Dentistry on Solent uses the latest technology to carry out a dental implant procedure to reduce any risks to the patient during the process. We use state-of-the-art methods to achieve a better outcome for our patients.
Dental Implants Cost
While there are options that may seem cheaper initially, there are other factors to consider. Dental implant costs may seem to be expensive, but the advantages they carry can make the price worth paying. Dental implants are extremely durable and may never need to be replaced.
A patient should book a free consultation with one of our dentists before deciding on a particular course of treatment. Your dental implant cost will be determined by a number of factors, including:
- The number and location of the tooth or teeth to be replaced
- Additional extractions
- Bone grafting and sinus lifting, if necessary
Bone grafting and sinus lifts are performed in-house by Dr Rai and her highly trained team.
At Dentistry on Solent, we don’t want cost to be the determining factor in your dissatisfaction with your smile. We offer a number of ways to make flexible payments, which are affordable for most budgets. We accept MiFund, which allows patients to finance up to $30,000 for treatments using Zero- or Low-Deposit options.
Final Thoughts
Dental implants are an excellent option following the loss of a tooth or multiple teeth. A patient can sometimes be put off by the initial cost. However, there are significant benefits to having dental implants, and these should be discussed with your dentist before you make your final decision.
Don’t let a missing tooth affect your confidence. Contact us at Dentistry On Solent today on (02) 9158 6137 or at info@dentistryonsolent.com.au. Our friendly, professional dentists will be happy to discuss your options during a free consultation and provide impartial advice to ensure you can make an informed decision.
