A natural tooth is anchored into the jawbone
by its tooth root. Tooth roots attach firmly to the
jawbone and keep your teeth stable when chewing solid
foods.
Traditionally, if you were missing a tooth
(or one needed to be extracted), the healthy teeth on
either side of the missing tooth would be cut down and
the whole thing replaced with a three-crown “bridge”.
Dental implants are the modern alternative.
Instead of cutting down two perfectly good teeth,
a dental post (called a "dental implant") is inserted
into the jawbone to replace your missing tooth root.
This post becomes solidly fixed in your jaw just like
the natural tooth root was. Your general dentist
then places a crown onto this artificial tooth root
that looks, feels, and functions like your natural
teeth.
Quite simply, dental implants are the
most natural replacement for missing teeth.
Traditionally, several missing teeth would
have been replaced with a removable partial or full
denture.
Dentures have to be taken out and soaked
at night. During the day, they can also look unnatural
and rub painfully. Dentures and partials also make
it difficult or impossible to eat certain foods.
Dental implants can now be used to anchor
partial and full dentures. This prevents the slipping,
irritation, and pain associated with “floating”
partials and dentures. It also prevents the tedious
removal of dentures for overnight soaking and cleaning.
With dental implants, these restorations are anchored
firmly into the jawbone becoming much more like natural
teeth.
Natural tooth roots and dental implant
posts are fixed firmly in your jawbone. When you chew,
these tooth roots and posts stimulate the jawbone
and prevent it from shrinking. You may have seen a
person who looked prematurely old because their jawbone
had shrunk after wearing floating dentures. Dental
implants help preserve your jawbone and appearance.
After their healing period, the success
rate of dental implants is between 94% and 98%. If
you are a non-smoker with good oral hygiene, the percentage
is closer to 98%.
Placing a dental implant is usually like
getting a cavity filled. It is often done under local
anesthesia and patients generally experience little
discomfort after the procedure.
Dental implants become fixed to the jawbone.
Dental implants have been in patient’s mouths
for over 30 years. With good oral hygiene and regular
cleanings, Dental implants should last a lifetime.
In contrast, the average life span of a traditional
fixed bridge is between 10-15 years.
Dental implant treatment begins with
an evaluation by your general dentist who will determine
if you are a good candidate for this procedure. If
he feels dental implants might be possible, he will
send you to a periodontist for a placement evaluation.
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