Dental Implants
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is an artificial root made of titanium that is placed carefully and accurately in to your natural bone, on to which an artificial tooth, often made from porcelain is then fixed. The dental implant itself can be used to hold a single tooth or multiple teeth depending on your needs. They look and feel like a natural tooth, and unlike some of the alternatives that may need replacing after 10 – 15 years, a dental implant if properly looked after and maintained can last for a lot longer.
What are the different types of dental implants?
Single Dental Implants
If you are missing a single tooth, then a dental implant is the closest thing to the original tooth that you can get. It offers a natural look and will not move whilst you eat allowing you to chew and eat the foods you always have enjoyed. A single titanium screw is placed in your jaw bone on to which a false tooth is then placed.
Multiple Dental Implants
Dental implants are not only used to replace single teeth and can also be used to replace multiple missing teeth, and in some instances be used to retain a full set of dentures.
Dental implant bridge:
Unlike a traditional bridge a dental implant bridge uses two or more implants to hold 3 or more teeth in place, and means that surrounding healthy teeth are not sacrificed to retain the bridge in place.
Dental implant dentures:
A number of factors such as receding bone and gums or the ineffectiveness of denture adhesive means that dentures can slip making chewing hard or in some cases dentures may even fall out. Fixed teeth function much better and give you the confidence to eat, chew, laugh and smile. That is why more and more people are moving to implants as a way of securing their dentures.
All on four Implants (same day teeth):
All on four implants, sometimes referred to as same day teeth, involves four implants being placed to hold a full arch of teeth, which can be attached the same day. The result is achieved by placing two straight implants at the front of the mouth and two implants in the back placed at an angle up to 45°. Not all people would be suitable for this treatment, so if you are interested why not contact one of our highly experienced Advanced Oral Health Centres and find out more.