Many people suffer tooth loss due to injury, periodontal disease, and even tooth decay despite the various improvements in oral health care. Many years ago, the only available treatment option for people with missing teeth were dentures and bridges. But with modern technological advancement, dental implants are now available.
In this article, we will be discussing what you stand to gain from using them.
What Are Dental Implants?
In the year 1952, a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Per-Ingvar Brånemark, invented the dental implants as we have them today. In dentistry, they are the customary prosthetic replacement of missing teeth.
The fixtures are surgically placed in the jawbone. They are left for some months to fuse properly. In other words, they replace the roots of missing teeth. When this happens, the artificial roots tend to hold the bridge also known as the replacement tooth.
Thus, this process of fusing an implant to the bone in the jaw is a way of mimicking the natural teeth. This is because it stays stable and does not affect any nearby tooth. This fusion process between the bone and the implant is medically called osseointegration.
The majority of them are composed of titanium. It enables them to fuse into a bone and the body will not see them as foreign bodies.
Over time, a success rate of around 98% has been recorded for implantation procedures. This is due to the impact of science and technology. Plus, they can last for many years. And with good care, they can even last you for a lifetime; they are durable!
Types of Dental Implants
Judging from history, there have been two proven types of implants. They are endosteal and subperiosteal fixtures.
Endosteal Fixture: this refers to a kind of implant that is in the bone.
Subperiosteal Fixture: this type rests on the jawbone under the gum tissue. In comparison to the endosteal fixture, it has poor long-term results. As a result, it is no more in use today.
Uses of Dental Implants
The primary function of every dental implant is to replace a missing tooth; it can either be a single tooth, a double tooth, or all the teeth. But there are other areas in which the implant can assist in dental procedures.
In dentistry, the goal of fixtures is to restore physical function as well as aesthetics. Other uses include:
1. To Provide Comfort
Because of how stable they are, implants can support a set of artificial teeth. They also provide a comfortable and secure fit.
2. For Anchor
Mini-implant serves as a temporary anchorage device (TAD) to aid the movement of a tooth to its desired position. Because it is small, it attaches to a bone temporarily to anchor tooth movement. Afterward, you can remove it because by then, its function would be complete.
3. As a Replacement for Lost Tooth/Teeth
There is also a provision made for those who have lost all their teeth in the upper and/or lower arch. This may be due to decay or gum disease. They will need a minimal number of fixtures during the orthodontics procedure. This option is to make for a comfortable and stable prosthesis.
An example is the “All-On-4” technique that was named by Nobel Biocare, a renowned implant manufacturer. This technique is named so from the idea that four implants can replace all the teeth in the lower or upper single arch.
The implantation is done in strategic places of good and strong bones, and a denture prosthesis that is quite thin will be fixed. This technique provides a stable but non-removable replacement for the teeth.
You can go to https://freedomdental.ie/dental-implants/ to get more information on the purposes of dental implants.
Advantages of Dental Implants
There are many advantages of implants in oral healthcare. And among many other things, they make provision for replacement of missing tooth and improvement of the aesthetic value of one’s dental appearance. Other advantages include:
1. Improved Self-esteem
It is said that a smile increases the value of your face. So, fixtures help you smile very well and make you feel good about yourself, thereby increasing your self-esteem.
2. Durability
They are known for durability; they have the ability to last you for many years and with good care, they may last you for a lifetime.
3. Convenience
This is one reason dental fixtures are called non-removable dentures. They eliminate embarrassing inconvenience as well as messy adhesives to keep them in place.
4. Better Eating
People with sliding dentures experience chewing difficulties. But with fixtures, you can function like it is your own teeth and eat any delicacy of your choice without pain and with all confidence.
5. Improved Speech
Poor-fitting dentures can make your teeth slip within your mouth and cause you to mumble, speak unusually slow, and cause fright when speaking. But with implants, you can speak without being bothered that the teeth would slip off.
6. Improved Comfort
They eliminate the discomfort removable dentures cause. This is because they become part of you when planted.
7. Improved Oral Health
Unlike a tooth-supported bridge, fixtures don’t require the reduction of any tooth. More of your own teeth are left intact because the nearby teeth are not changed to assist the implant. In this way, oral hygiene is ensured and improved. Another way of improving oral hygiene is the easier access between teeth that individual fixtures make for.
8. Improved Appearance
They are designed to fuse with your teeth, so they become part of you. In this way, they make you look and feel like your own natural teeth.
Dental fixtures should be taken care of the same way you do your natural teeth This includes brushing, rinsing with an antibacterial mouth wash, and regular checkups.
You can watch this video to see how to care for your implant.
Conclusion
Most people who have received dental implants in time past complained of minor discomfort and pain during the procedure. However, that can be subdued by the use of local anesthesia. However, it’s still preferable to tooth extraction.
