Gain Confidence With Dental Implants

Lost teeth and loose dentures can be a thing of the past….

We all hope to keep our own teeth for as long as possible, and certainly during our more active years. A gap in the teeth, where visible, is not really socially acceptable these days and tooth loss in this area often means that we resort to that best known tooth replacement method, dentures.

Nowadays, dentures are certainly better than they used to be and can look reasonably realistic. Some are even made to be flexible and move with the mouth. Ask anyone who wears dentures though and most will tell you something about the downsides, ranging from how they sometimes fall out to those who can live with them but admit they are less stable than they would like them to be.

As we can’t yet regrow teeth that have been lost and are unlikely to be able to do so at least for the foreseeable future, this leaves anyone with missing teeth, in a bit of a dilemma. Leaving a gap is not an option but dentures don’t seem that great either. So what to do?

Bridges

A dental bridge is one option available to our Ashby, Swadlincote and Burton patients and these do offer better stability than most types of dentures. They do, however, mean that healthy teeth have to be shaped so that replacement teeth can be secured in place. It is understandable that many people don’t want anything done to their healthy teeth and so shun this method.

So what other options does this leave for patients of Alexandra Dental Care?

Dental implants

It is now widely accepted that the most practical and realistic alternative to natural teeth are dental implants. The key reason for this is the fact that, unlike other options, it not only replaces the visible tooth but also the roots of the tooth. This then means that the crown part of the tooth is secured and supported from below and not simply attached by some other means and left ‘floating’ on the gums. Implants have been placed for over 50 years now and have naturally advanced during that time to become a sophisticated and successful tooth replacement method.

Tooth implant placement does require some invasive dentistry and a period following it that allows the implant to fuse with the bone, providing a very strong ‘anchor’ for the dental crown. This period lasts around 3 months and may be a little inconvenient but then provides you with a strong and secure artificial tooth that will last for a long time if you take care of it.

How will you benefit from dental implants?

The most obvious answer here is that, instead of having a gap in your teeth, or a denture that feels insecure, you will have a strong replacement tooth that both looks and feels natural.

The benefits go further though. Soon after your implant placement has been completed, you will start to realise that there is now no need to wonder if you can choose a certain food on a menu that you were previously uncertain if you could chew properly. You will also find that you no longer worry that your dentures will start to move when you speak to others. However gradually it happens, you will eventually realise that you can treat your new replacement tooth exactly as you would if it were a healthy natural one. Your smile will be a confident one again.

These realisations extend to the way that you look after the implant. Dentures can be quite fiddly to clean and have to be done outside of the mouth. They also have a tendency to break if you drop them in the sink whilst cleaning them.

Dental implants are a different story altogether in that you can treat them exactly as you should already do your natural teeth. This means regular brushing and using floss to clean in the gaps between your teeth, and implant. As with natural teeth, there is a risk from gum disease and in addition diligent oral care at home, it is strongly recommended that you keep regular six monthly appointments to see the dentist and hygienist. Of course this is not unique to implant wearers though and should apply to everyone who wants to keep their teeth healthy.

Booking your dental implant consultation

If you like what you have read so far and would like to find out more about this treatment and your suitability for it, we have dates available for free (with a small refundable deposit) consultations with our implant coordinator. You can book yours online via the tooth implant consultation page of our website. You will be able to ask any questions here and also discuss a payment plan with us, should you wish to do so.

If you live in the Burton, Swadlincote or Ashby area and are a dentures wearer or suffer with lost teeth, and are interested in finding out more, you can either book online as above or, if you prefer, call Alexandra Dental Care on 01283 216347 and speak to our friendly reception team.

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