Millions of people worldwide suffer from some form of oral issue, for the most part, it is their teeth that take the brunt of it. Some of the most common issues to do with oral health include tooth decay, bad breath, gum disease or periodontal disease, tooth erosion, mouth sores and more. The full list can be found here.

Amongst all the above problems, that of missing teeth has seen dentists keep themselves busy with, day in and day out. Missing teeth is something that affects people of all ages and for many years this problem has had very minimal solutions, until now. 

Enter – Dental Implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

In its simplest explanation, dental implants are one of the best solutions for missing teeth in people. They provide a strong foundation and can replace teeth effortless and permanently. The plus point is, they can be customized to match your teeth so no one can tell the difference. You can also get temporary or removable ones.

The rate of success for these is dependent on where in the mouth the implants are placed. Usually fitted inside the jaw, if cared for properly they can last a lifetime and have a success rate of over 97%.

There are several advantages to getting these done when you have missing teeth either by them falling out naturally or due to injury. We look at a few below.

Other things you should know

If you’re wondering if you need to be of a certain age to get the procedure done by your dentist, in the majority of the cases, any healthy individual can undergo this procedure of getting a dental implant. As long as your gums are healthy, as they need to hold the tooth or teeth, and you are disciplined with your oral hygiene, then you can be a perfect candidate for this.

Those who may not be able to get it done include people who smoke heavily or are undergoing radiation therapy or have some type of chronic diseases such as heart disease or diabetes, however, the dental practitioner will need to do an evaluation first, to see if you are eligible for the procedure or not.

Secondly, if you are wondering if it is a painful process, take it from those who have completed the treatment, they say it is a painless and completely harmless one https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-implants Dentists almost always give you local anesthesia before they start unless your allergic, in which case they will find a different way or numbing your mouth. The consensus is it is less painful than getting something like a tooth extraction done.

The steps are also simple:

First, the dentist will assess your mouth and develop a simple plan

Then they create the titanium tooth implant which is placed between the gaps of the jaw bone or socket where the tooth is missing

Once the socket is in place a connector is placed inside it, almost like screwing a screw to its back-end. This is known as an ‘abutment’. This will hold it securely in place. And it’s done. 

Everything is meticulously created during the initial stages when the dentist takes the complete impression of your mouth, to make sure it fits in the right place correctly. 

It may take a couple of weeks to heal depending on how well you look after it. Generally, you should give it up to 12 weeks to fully heal.

Advantages of Dental Implants

There are many things this type of procedure can improve for you. We look at 7 of these below.

• Improvement in speech. Missing teeth or poor-fitting dentures can have an uncomfortable effect on your mouth. It can result in blurred speech or discomfort while eating. These implants stay put inside your mouth so you can speak properly without being fearful of them slipping out or talking funny.
• Improvement in appearance. There is no doubt that when people have missing teeth, their facial structure changes in some way. With these, your teeth look and feel like your own as they are permanent so you look like you have a fuller mouth and thus a healthier appearance.
• Improved eating. Sometimes when people have teeth missing they can struggle to chew their food properly, however when you get implants placed in those gaps, it can improve the way you eat without any pain.
• Overall improved self-esteem. They can help improve your smile, and as a result have a positive impact on your confidence and self-esteem, helping you to smile as big and wide as you want to.
• Improvements in oral health. By adding a supported bridge between your teeth, there is no need to remove or alter anything else in your mouth. Whether they are individual teeth being inserted into your gum or a row of them, you can be sure of better oral health by being able to brush better and not missing any gaps. Thus improving your oral health as well.
• They are convenient and durable. These solutions are highly durable and last a very long time, and if you care for them properly they may last a lifetime too. They remove the embarrassment of showing gaps in your teeth when you open your mouth as well as the convenience of not having to remove them and clean them like you would dentures, make them easy to care for.
• They are a good investment. Once you get them placed and the procedure is over, you don’t need to go back to the dentist unless it is for teeth cleaning or some other issue in your mouth. Investing in your teeth is important to not just oral health but overall health too. 

The above 7 benefits of dental implants are only touching the tip of the iceberg, there are many other aspects that it can improve in including improving the bone density of your gums, restoring the natural movement of the jaw, minimizing cavities, supporting your other teeth and act as a permanent solution for teeth loss. 

If you are ever unsure about any of the above, book a consultation with your dentist to get the answers to any confusion or queries, before you decide to jump into it.