Need to fill a gap? If you’re missing a tooth as a result of trauma or decay, dental implants are your best option when it comes to comfort, appearance and overall dental health.
Dental implants are designed to look natural in terms of shape and colour and are customised to fit your mouth. In fact, opt dental implants are fast gaining popularity for their ability to restore proper dental function and their aesthetic benefits. Here’s what you need to know about implants: how they work, what the procedure involves, and why it’s so important to fill gaps left by a missing or extracted tooth.
Why opt for an dental implant?
When you lose a tooth, you may suffer some unpleasant side-effects, including loss of jawbone density, changes to some of your soft tissues, difficulty chewing as well as aesthetic changes. For these reasons, you should consider filling in gaps left by missing or extracted teeth. Not only do implants prevent further gaps and crookedness in your remaining teeth, they also provide stability and help to restore dental function. They are very helpful in maintaining bone structure and decrease the risk of damage to your remaining teeth.
Thanks to advances in dentistry, implants look and feel just like natural teeth, and are designed to fuse with your jawbone, giving them a virtually natural look without causing major discomfort. Losing a tooth can have an impact and implants are a great way to restore your beautiful smile. Since they are permanent, you don’t need to worry about the inconvenience of removing them as you would a denture. They are highly resilient, and with the proper care, can last a lifetime.
How does the procedure work?
A titanium implant is placed into the jawbone (in the bone socket of your missing tooth) and left to heal and fuse with the bone. This process, which is known as osseontegration, typically takes around six months. When the root has fused with the bone, the replacement tooth (known as a crown) is attached. The root acts as a supporting structure to the crown and provides stability to the crown.
The crown, also known as the restoration, is made with the use of a model created from impressions of your teeth, ensuring that the fit and shape is correct. The colour of your crown will be matched to your natural teeth. You may feel some discomfort after the procedure, which can be treated with medications prescribed by your oral surgeon. It is also completely normal to experience some swelling and minor bleeding at the site of the implant.
To find out more about the dental implant procedure, watch our video here.
How do I take care of my implant?
Once the procedure is complete, your implants will require the same level of care. This means that you should continue to stick to a healthy regime by brushing regularly (at least twice daily and for two minutes each time), flossing every day, and visiting your dentist for check-ups on a regular basis. It’s a good idea to limit your sugar intake and avoid smoking for optimal dental health.
What is the cost?
At City Smiles, we pride ourselves on offering affordable opt dental care however, the price of the procedure will depend on your particular needs and the number of implants you require.
For more information on the cost of dental implants, please have a look here.
