The Increasing Popularity of Dental Implants
Dental implants Melbourne are one of the most popular methods of replacing missing teeth across the world. Dental implants are preferred over other tooth replacement procedures by dentists and patients alike. Although they are sometimes the more expensive option for replacing missing teeth, they are designed to ideally last for the rest of your life.
How do dental implants work?
If you are looking for permanent fixed tooth replacement in comparison to temporary removable tooth replacement, then you need to speak to your dentist and find out whether or not oral implants are suitable for you. If you have lost a tooth recently or you have undergone a tooth extraction then it is likely that your dentist will want to wait approximately 3 months to allow the area to heal before replacing the missing tooth. They will carry out an examination to make sure that your teeth and gums are healthy and at this time any underlying dental issues can be resolved.
Once you are ready to replace your missing teeth you will be booked in for dental implant surgery. The surgery itself involves inserting a small titanium screw into the bone socket of the missing tooth. This is then left to heal for the next 3 to 6 months. The healing process is a natural one. Bone cells will form around the implant and it will be fixed firmly into the jaw. If the implant can be moved then it is not fixed properly and it will be left to heal for a little longer. Natural teeth move slightly, however dental implants are fixed firmly in place. After 3 to 6 months you will be ready to replace your missing tooth. Some patients have 1 dental implant for a single tooth or up to 3 missing teeth, whilst others may require more depending on how many teeth you are replacing and the position of the missing teeth. All of your teeth can also be replaced using dental implants.
Looking after your dental implants
It is vital that after replacing your teeth with dental implants that you maintain an excellent dental hygiene routine, look after your dental implants like you would your natural teeth and visit the dentist on a regular basis so that the implants can last for as long as possible. With poor dental hygiene practices you can develop gum disease. This is the most common cause of dental implant failure. Although implants cannot develop tooth decay, they are still susceptible to gum disease. Smoking can also be responsible for dental implant failure and therefore it is important that if you are a smoker you quit smoking before dental implant surgery, so speak to your dentist or other healthcare professional and find out about smoking cessation as soon as possible.
The development of systemic health conditions later on in life can also affect your dental implants, for example if you develop diabetes. Therefore it is important that you maintain a healthy lifestyle for good dental health as well as overall health and wellbeing.
Speak to your dentist today and find out more about replacing your missing teeth with implantation, how to look after implants and the many advantages that they bring by replacing your missing teeth.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
