If you’re missing any of your teeth, your dentist can discuss a number of treatments to fill the gap and restore your smile, including dental implants.
Compared to a dental bridge or dentures, implants are a more permanent solution for replacing one or more missing teeth. Find out some of the benefits of implants here, to get an idea of whether they might be the right choice for you.
Natural look and feel
The dental implant itself is a titanium screw that’s placed in your jaw, where it takes on the role of the missing tooth root. Once it’s had time to fuse with your jaw bone, your dentist will place a crown (artificial tooth) over the top.
This crown is custom-made in a dental laboratory to fit in with the rest of your teeth. Held securely in place by an implant, it also feels like a natural tooth when you’re eating, speaking and brushing.
2. Strong and long-lasting
Dental implants are made from strong titanium, while implant crowns are usually made from ceramic or porcelain bonded to metal, which has a similar strength to tooth enamel. This means your replacement tooth should be just as strong as the rest of your teeth, while also being as prone to chips and cracks.
As long as you follow good oral hygiene and your dentist’s advice, your implant could last for 20 years or more.
3. Supporting your jaw
As well as being strong, titanium is a biocompatible material, which means it can integrate with your bone, gum and other hard and soft tissues in your mouth, similar to a natural tooth root.
This helps to keep your jaw healthy by encouraging the growth of new bone tissue, preventing the bone loss and jaw shrinking that sometimes follows the loss of a tooth. Other tooth replacement options such as bridges and dentures are anchored in the mouth, so they can’t support your jaw in the same way.
4. Stopping your teeth from shifting
Gaps from missing teeth don’t just affect your appearance. Your teeth rely on each other for support, so when one is absent, neighbouring teeth may start to shift into the gap. Over time, this can lead to a crooked smile that can make brushing more difficult, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
Plugging the gap with a dental implant gives your healthy teeth the support they need.
5. Easy to care for
Once your dental implant is placed and a crown fitted over the top, it won’t need any special maintenance. You just need to follow your normal oral hygiene routine, brushing and flossing your teeth and your crown to remove plaque and leftover food.
Your dentist will advise you on any foods or activities that should be avoided to prevent your implant and crown from getting damaged or stained. They’ll also check its condition when they examine your mouth during your regular dental check-ups.
Thinking about dental implants in Brisbane?
If you want to know more about dental implants, contact Swish Dental to make an appointment with our dentists today. We’ll explain what’s involved in the treatment and answer all your questions, so you can make a decision you’re happy with.
Call us on (07) 3485 0895 for our Everton Park branch or (07) 3485 0875 for our Mitchelton clinic. You can also contact us online.