Implant Functionality: A Brief Overview
Implants play an important role in supporting various dental restorations, including crowns, bridges, and dentures.
Explaining Implants
A wide range of implant types are now available, each serving a unique purpose. However, a common characteristic is that they provide a foundation for restorations, enabling artificial teeth to fulfill their function effectively. Additionally, dental implants serve as a preventive measure against the negative effect of tooth loss.
Understanding Osseointegration
The design of a dental implant resembles that of a threaded screw, assisting not only in its precise insertion but also in encouraging bone growth, effectively securing the implant within the jawbone.
This essential process is known as Osseointegration, typically taking place over 3 to 6 months.
Osseointegration creates a strong structural and functional bond between the bone and the implant. Crucially, there is no formation of soft tissue at the joint between bone cells and the implant's titanium.
The bone's bony tissue, including osteoblasts and supporting connective tissue, migrates into the dental implant's surface, creating a direct connection with titanium, without of other tissues like scar tissue.
This living tissue connection with an inert artificial material marks a truly ground-breaking advancement in medical science.
Once the dental implant has seamlessly integrated into the bone, it becomes a stable foundation for various restorative options, including crowns, bridges, and dentures.
In essence, Osseointegration acts as the anchor, firmly fixing the implant "root" into the bone.
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Preserving Bone Structure
Once embedded in the jawbone, the dental implant actively stimulates and preserves the surrounding bone, copying the natural role of roots within the bone structure – an important advantage of implants.
Once tooth loss occurs, the bone undergoes a functional reduction, leading to gradual bone loss in the jaws and contributing to an aged appearance as the jaws shrink in thickness.
This bone loss is the main reason for the loosening of dentures over time.
With the absence of teeth, the bone loses its functional purpose.
Consequently, we strongly recommend considering implant replacement soon after a tooth extraction to stop this form of bone deterioration.
Before and after gallery
Dental Implant Questions
- Lifespan of Dental Implants:
- Can Dental Implants last Indefinitely? Once the implant integrates with your jawbone and tissues, the titanium implant functions like a natural root. The lifespan of your implant also relies on the care and maintenance of your oral health.
- Pain and Discomfort: Is Pain Associated with Dental Implant Placement? When we place the implant, we are careful to carry out a pain-free procedure and if required various sedation methods suitable for nervous patients.
- Age Requirement for Dental Implants: Is There a Minimum Age for Dental Implant Treatment? While there is no specific age limit, our dentists recommend individuals to be over 18 for the dental implant procedure.
- Safety of Dental Implant Treatment: We employ Computer Guided implant placement techniques. We also employ comprehensive planning systems to ensure the success and safety of the implant treatment.
- Value of Dental Implants: Assessing the Benefits of Dental Implants: A dental implant offers numerous oral health advantages, including smile enhancement, stabilisation of adjacent teeth, and protection against gum disease.
- Pain in the Implant Process: Managing Discomfort in the Implant Process: Some slight discomfort may following the placement of a new implant, which minimized through modern anaesthetics. Post-procedure, swelling and slight aching may occur for 1-2 days. Many patients undergo multiple implants in a single day with minimal pain or distress. Existing patient have described this discomfort as no worse than that experienced after a tooth removal.
Implant Guide
Implants undergo colour matching and meticulous shaping to seamlessly harmonize with your natural teeth. Implant teeth are virtually indistinguishable from real teeth.
Long-Lasting Dental Implants
Once the implant integrates with your jawbone and surrounding tissues, the artificial titanium structure functions just like a natural root.
When we insert a titanium implant into the jawbone, it becomes an integral part of your oral structure.
This provides numerous health advantages, such as slowing or stopping bone loss, reinforcing the jawbone's structure, and diminishing the likelihood of gum disease due to better cleaning when compared to dentures.[Learn More.]
Longevity of Dental Implants
When appropriately cared for, dental implants boast a lifespan ranging from ten to twenty-five years or even longer.
Dental implants are beneficial for:
- Tooth loss due to trauma, accidents, or injuries
- Missing teeth resulting from gum disease or insufficient bone
- Substituting old, worn, or fractured dentures
- Integrated treatments like Implant-Retained Dentures
- Offering both removable and fixed options
- Addressing individual tooth loss or entire arches in a single session
The long term success of your implant depends on your commitment to your oral health. [Discover more.]