With the right aftercare, dental implants can last a lifetime. It’s for this reason they are rising in popularity over traditional options, such as removable dentures and bridges. They look natural and feel like natural teeth. With a dental implant, you have the same strength and bite as you would with your natural teeth. They are a sound financial investment in your oral health, which is why you must know how to look after them.
What Are Dental Implants?
Your teeth don’t just affect your smile; they also impact how you speak and eat. If you want a long-term solution for a missing tooth, then a dental implant is your most likely match. This titanium screw is placed into the jawbone to replace the root. Once it is fitted, the bone will fuse to it and hold the implant in place. This allows your dentist to fit a false tooth to the implant. It’s an effective solution if you are missing teeth or have crumbling teeth. Your implant(s) will be matched to the colour, shape, and size of your existing teeth, to ensure it blends naturally.
There are two stages to having dental implants fitted. In the first procedure, you will visit the denture clinic for the jawbone implant. In the second procedure, you will visit the denture clinic several months later for the tooth fitting.
Contrary to opinion, dental implants are for adults of all ages. Provides you are in good health, discuss this as an option with your dentist. However, individuals with gum disease or who smoke may not be suitable for the procedure. The process begins with X-rays and medical history to ensure it’s the right option for you. Your jawbone needs to hold the implant, and not everyone has sufficient bone density.
How To Look After Them
The good news is dental implants are low-maintenance. However, you still need to take care of them, just as you would your natural teeth. This means regular brushing, flossing, and overall hygiene. The better you care for your implants, the longer the lifespan of the implant. It will also lower the risk of infection. With implants, plaque can build up and lead to peri-implant disease. This can damage surrounding teeth and, if left untreated, cause jawbone loss. One of the greatest benefits of dental implants is that it can prevent bone loss because it stimulates your jaw the same way natural teeth do. However, stay on top of their care to ensure this is the case.
So, ensure you brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Floss at least once a day using dental tape or a nylon-coated interdental brush. You can take it a step further by reducing your sugar intake, particularly sweets that are coated with sugar. If you have several implants or a full arch, you can speak to your dentist about further care.
When You Should See A Dentist
You should make an annual visit to your dentist to stay on top of your oral hygiene. If you want to learn more about dental implants, you should make an appointment. If you have issues with existing implants, you should seek treatment immediately. If there is redness or swelling around the implant, you are having difficulty chewing around this area, or it feels loose, make an emergency appointment immediately.
At Aesthetic Dental & Denture Clinic, we provide a range of services from partial dentures and denture repair to dental implants and teeth whitening. We are happy to discuss the cost of dentures with you, but we offer a variety of procedures on Afterpay Dental to help you cover the denture cost. Whether you need emergency denture repairs or you’d like to inquire about immediate dentures, we are happy to help.
