Some people just find that they have difficulties with their teeth all of their life. Not everyone is blessed with a genetic makeup that supports straight, strong and white teeth. Sadly, nearly 100% of adults suffer from dental decay and this isn’t always attributed to poor oral hygiene or care.
So it isn’t uncommon to lose a tooth or two as one gets older. Again, looking at some figures, almost three-quarters of British adults are missing at least one tooth, with 6% of those having no teeth at all. That’s a lot of lost teeth!
Something needs to be done about it. It is all well and good to discuss oral hygiene and to encourage good and healthy practices to maintain oral health to extend the shelf life of teeth that each individual can enjoy. However, addressing the concerns that individuals have right now, the ones who have lost teeth or are losing them is also a critical step in ensuring that quality of life is upheld.
This is where dental implants in Richmond come in. This treatment is a diverse and successful means in which people from all ages and with many complications can achieve a smile that not only looks better, but is functional and feels comfortable as well.
Although relatively costly, the longevity of this treatment makes it an investment for many that is extremely worthwhile. Patients can enjoy several decades of wear and can treat their implant as they would a natural tooth. It should be said that some professional care in the form of regular checkups and attention when cleaning needs to be taken to ensure that infection is unlikely, although this generally goes without saying.
When the treatment is completed and the patient has healed, they should not particularly notice a difference between their original tooth and their new, replacement version. Crowns or bridges are matched in shape, size, and colour to natural teeth so that they look and feel like the real thing.
Because they do not need to remove the tooth to clean and that it is fully functional, a healthy and happy smile can again be celebrated.
Let’s discuss how they work
Firstly, a dentist needs to determine whether their patient is suitable for this treatment. Most people are and if there are complications, such as jaw bone recession, then further treatment can be done to prepare the patient for the implant surgery.
For those in good health, they can progress on to establishing a plan with their dentist and going ahead with the minor surgical procedure that needs to take place to insert the implant.
The implant is in the form of a titanium metal rod. Titanium is used as it is a material that naturally bonds with bone, making for a stable and secure base for the crown or bridge to be attached to. It will take several weeks to heal before this attachment is permanently secured and it will take a further few months to ensure that this fusion has taken place in order to call this treatment a success.
With a success rate of around 98%, there isn’t much to lose by contacting a dentist about filling the gaps with teeth implants.