Despite advances in dental care and greater awareness surrounding the importance of good oral health, tooth loss remains a common problem. In days gone by, the only options to replace missing teeth were dentures or a dental bridge. Thankfully, dental implants in Milton Keynes have transformed the lives of many people suffering from tooth loss. This is a guide for anyone considering the treatment, covering what implants are and how they are used and the advantages of choosing this option.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are a means of replacing the roots of missing teeth. They are made of titanium which is a very durable metal that is highly compatible with human tissue. The implants are placed into the patient’s jawbone, providing a base onto which artificial teeth can be secured. 

What happens?

If the patient and dentist decide that implants are the best option, then the dentist will place the implant into the space where the root for the missing tooth or teeth used to be. There is then a healing period of several weeks, during which the implant will become enmeshed with the jawbone and a more ‘natural’ part of the mouth. 

Once the healing time has been completed, the dentist will then place a piece of hardware known as an abutment on top of the implant. This will be used to help secure the new artificial tooth or teeth. They will then take impressions of the teeth and to enable the dentist to create the new teeth to match the original ones exactly, taking into account the person’s bite, the shape of the teeth and even the colour. The new teeth are known as crowns, and these are securely attached to the abutments.

Advantages

Implants look just like the patient’s natural teeth, so they are a very discreet option for replacing missing teeth. Because they become fused with the jawbone, they last for many years, often for the lifetime of the patient. Having missing teeth replaced with dental implants means that the patient can talk and eat without any fear of the artificial teeth moving around. This is often an issue when wearing dentures and can have a significant impact on a person’s confidence.

Implants can help the patient to achieve better oral health. This is because this is a treatment that does not require other teeth to be reduced in any way, unlike when missing teeth are replaced using a bridge.

The natural teeth are left as they are, and it is easy to clean them as well as in between the implants. This allows the patient not only to keep their teeth looking good for longer but can also help to reduce the risk of gum disease. Gum disease can cause further tooth loss. 

In addition, it can also contribute to the decline of a person’s health in general. Periodontal disease has been shown to be a contributory factor in a number of conditions, including disease of the heart and lungs, arthritis, dementia and more. Therefore, it is not an underestimation that a treatment that helps to protect the oral health of the patient can literally help them to live longer.

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