Dental Implants are what Your Oral Health Needs If You’re Missing a Tooth
There is no question about it. Dental implants are the most effective restorative dental treatment for a missing tooth. Unlike other restorative dental treatments, dental implants offer a comprehensive solution to tooth loss. While bridges or dentures may replace missing teeth, they do notreplace the tooth root. How many times have you seen people with dentures look awkward or embarrassed when their dentures slip and slide around? If you’re missing teeth what you need are dental implants. Dental implants replace the tooth root which is beneficial for the health of your teeth, gum and jaws. Yes, your teeth. If you don’t replace a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth will start to twist in an attempt to close the gap which can cause, among other issues, bite problems. Then there’s the health of your jaw and how it affects the health of the rest of your mouth. When dentists talk about your smile, it means more than your teeth and gums.Your Smile and What It Actually Means…
Your smile is the health of your teeth, gums, jaw and bite alignment. If there is a problem with any one of these aspects it can cause problems for the others. If you’ve lost a tooth, the bone that is responsible for ‘holding’ the tooth root starts to slowly dissolve. This does not grow back. Without adequate jawbone density, it is very difficult to get implants. If you don’t have adequate jawbone density you may need a bone graft. But believe us when we say it’s a procedure you want to avoid if at all possible. Loss of jawbone density can also cause further tooth loss. Tooth loss, apart from causing loss of jawbone density can also cause gum disease, and not the mildly annoying gingivitis either. Tooth loss can cause periodontal disease, which is the advanced form of gum disease.Did You Know That Periodontal Disease Is The Leading Cause Of Tooth Loss In Adults?
It’s cyclical. Tooth loss can cause problems and those problems can cause other problems and those problems can cause tooth loss. That is, of course, if the oral health issue is left untreated.Another Important Point To Consider Is That Your Oral Health Can Impact Your Overall Health…
The reality is that by looking after your oral health you are in fact looking after your overall health. How? Here’s an example: periodontal disease, all the latest research points to periodontal disease being linked with a variety of health issues. For some time now doctors and scientists have known tentatively that there was some link between periodontal disease a wide range of illnesses and conditions; however they were not sure exactly what caused the linked. Now they have a better idea. Periodontal disease has been linked to:- Stroke
- Diabetes
- Cancer
- Heart attack
- Heart disease
- Chronic kidney disease
- Alzheimer’s
Missing Teeth and Implant Dentistry…
Some people have argued that implant dentistry is too expensive, but a ten-year study has shown that they are in fact the most long-term cost-effective treatment available for replacing a missing tooth. Not only that but the study also showed that as far as treatments for missing teeth go, dental implants are the most requested treatment. Unlike other restorative treatments, a dental implant is permanent. Once the biocompatible titanium alloy has been surgically inserted into your jaw and your jaw has healed around the implant it is there for life. Nothing short of gum disease or injury is going to dislodge a dental implant.Why It’s Called Implant Dentistry…
The dental implant itself is the artificial tooth root. That is why at Curtis Couch D.D.S. in Thousand Oaks we call it Implant Dentistry. Because once the implant has been inserted into the jaw, small posts are attached to the implant. These small posts protrude through the gums and act as stable anchors for the artificial tooth.The Placement of Dental Implants Takes Two Procedures:
- The first procedure is when the implants are inserted into the jaw. For the first three-six months the implant is beneath the surface of the gums, slowly bonding with your jawbone. During this time you’ll be able to wear temporary dentures. You’ll also need to stick to a soft diet.
- The surgeon will uncover the implants and posts or attachments can be connected to the implants. The replacement teeth are then made over the posts or attachments.