Dental implants, why would I need them?
At various stages of a person’s life they will experience dental problems, some earlier than others, some more severe than others, but eventually it will happen. Humans can only regrow their teeth once, after they lose their baby teeth and that’s it. During our lifetime we have accidents and break a tooth or lose a tooth here and there and as we get older our teeth wear down causing tooth decay and yellowing. Poor oral hygiene is unfortunately the primary cause of gum disease and dental cavities. When our teeth are not at their best we tend to be affected physically and mentally especially when it comes to our front teeth. Our self-esteem takes a knock and we feel very self-conscious when we smile, often resorting to covering our mouth with our hand to hide any imperfections in our teeth. Our ability to chew properly is also affected and this can lead to indigestion trouble. Our teeth therefore have a very deep effect on our entire state of health which emphasises the need to exercise very good oral hygiene.
Dental implants and other treatments
All is not lost and dental science has progressed at a phenomenal rate allowing our dental practitioners to provide us with the best treatments to correct our dental problems. There are a variety of procedures to replace missing or broken teeth. There is the flipper which is an artificial device which fits either on the roof of the mouth or the lower jaw creating the appearance of a full set of teeth. Two types of bridge which have been around for many years, either tooth supported or implant supported, which use the teeth or an implant on either side as a support. We are also all familiar with the removable dentures, but nowadays the dental implant is by far the most recommended treatment to replace a tooth or teeth where possible. Many dental practices now offer dental implants St Albans provided by highly experienced teams who make the treatment a pleasant, rewarding experience.
What will dental implant treatment entail?
A thorough oral examination will be conducted at which stage X-rays and a 3D scan will be taken. At the next stage a member of the dental team will go through a questionnaire to establish the patient’s state of health and if they are a smoker or not. If all the criteria for health are met they will go through the various phases of the treatment and discuss the plan of action. In some cases sedation is recommended and the patient is then advised to ensure that there is someone to take them home. A date and time is then arranged for the first and subsequent procedures. Dental implant procedures are normally carried out at the dental practice and recovery is done at home. It is normal for the diet to have to change for a while and advice will be to eat soft and or cold foods and warm soup to aid gum healing. Everyone heals at a different rate and it can take up to six months to heal completely. Once everything has settled down a return to normal with a new tooth or teeth will help lift self-confidence and aid chewing, providing health in body and mind.
Oral care and practice
Dental implants can be treated much the same as normal teeth so regular brushing twice a day with flossing is essential to maintain a healthy mouth.