24 Feb 4 Things You May Not Know About Dental Implants
While dental implants have been used to replace missing teeth for some time now, they are a relatively new concept to many people. To help educate members of our community on this tooth replacement option, we have compiled a list of four things people might not know about dental implants. If this tooth replacement method interests you, we recommend scheduling a consultation with our oral surgeon.
Biocompatibility
The titanium structure of dental implants makes them a biocompatible alternative to the roots of missing teeth. Bone surrounding an implant will literally fuse around its titanium components, thus securing it in place and allowing the implant to function like natural mineralized tissue.
Full Restoration of Missing Teeth
Conventional prosthetics only address the loss of a tooth’s crown (its visible structure). Overlooking the roots of teeth, prosthetics like bridges and dentures increase a patient’s risk for rapid bone atrophy and an aged appearance. Dental implants replace a tooth’s missing root and provide a stable base for securing custom restorations like crowns and bridges.
Long Lasting
When bone integrates and fuses to titanium implants and when patients care for their oral health properly, dental implants can easily last for decades and even the rest of a person’s life. If a person with dental implants takes a proactive approach to oral health by preventing the onset or progression of oral conditions like periodontal disease, dental implants will remain stable.
Low Maintenance
Caring for dental implants is very easy. This is because the restorations attached to dental implants are treated like biological teeth; meaning, that people will floss and brush as normal. Implants are not removed for overnight soaking as dentures are and do not require special tools like water irrigators to clean beneath them. While the materials used to make dental implants and their restorations are resistant to cavity causing bacteria, a person can still incur damage to soft and hard oral structures if neighboring teeth become diseased or if bone atrophy occurs.
Determining if dental implants are right for your needs involves consulting with an oral surgeon. At your appointment, a physical examination will reveal if you are a candidate for this treatment.
Call us today at Charlottesville Oral Surgery & Dental Implant Center to schedule an appointment.