Basically, dental implants are replacement teeth roots that provide strong and stable foundation comparable to your natural teeth's roots. Implants have a variety of advantages and disadvantages that you can consider if you are planning to have one yourself.
The following are some advantages of dental implants that you can enjoy if you have one or are planning to have one:
- Better appearance. Since dental implants appear and feel like your own natural teeth, your appearance will improve and you don’t have to worry about changes in the shape of your face due to missing teeth. Since titanium (material used in implants) fuses with bone, they become permanent just like natural teeth.
- Better speech. Dentures that are poorly fitted are troublesome when you speak. They may slip as you speak and may cause you to slur or mispronounce words. If you have implants, it will save you the trouble of anything slipping out while you talk.
- Comfort. Since implants become a part of your body, particularly your mouth, they save you the burden of removable teeth.
- Eating comfort. The main problem among people using artificial removable dentures happens when they eat. Sliding dentures make it hard to chew your food. Since implants function like natural teeth, you won't have to worry about slipping teeth and all you can do is to enjoy your favorite food as before you even lost a tooth.
- onfidence. Nothing makes a person smile more confidently than a complete set of teeth.
- Toughness and durability. Dental implants are designed to last for many years. This tough design, coupled with good care from the person wearing it, makes implants last longer than expected.
- Fewer burdens. Since implants are fixed, you won’t have the inconvenience of removing dentures, which may also require some adhesives to keep them attached.
The procedure for dental implants may involve two processes. The first one involves placing the implants into the jawbone. A few months after being placed, the implant slowly bonds with the jawbone. At this time, you may be able to wear removable dentures and eat soft foods. It is also at this time that your dental specialist starts forming your replacement permanent teeth. When the implant completely bonds with the jawbone, the second process of the implant procedure begins.
The second part of the implant procedure involves uncovering of the implants and attaching small post that will protrude through your gums. These posts will become the anchors for the new teeth. The posts will not anymore be seen when the teeth are placed. The entire implant procedure usually takes at least 6 months but in some cases 8 months depending on some conditions such as the patient's health, or the time when the implant finally bonds with the jawbone.
Recent advances regarding implant procedures allowed doctors to be able to perform an entire procedure with minimal sessions. Unlike the original procedure which consists of 2 sessions, the new procedure may consist of only one major procedure, and a few months of healing period. In some situations, implants can be placed at the very same time as the tooth extraction. This minimizes the length of the implant procedure even more.
Dental implants are usually done through the effort of a team of dental specialists and not by only one dentist. While one doctor performs the surgery, another doctor works at the same time by fitting and making the permanent teeth to be placed on your implant.