Are you looking to get your loose tooth replaced? Wondering if dental implants might be an expensive option? This article will give you all the information you should know about this dental procedure.

Are you worried about your loose tooth affecting your look and personality? Not anymore, dental implants would give you natural and healthy-looking teeth. With these permanent implants in place, you won’t stop smiling, be able eat your favourite food, laugh without fear of your implants falling out and enjoy life without having to worry about your looks.

Here are the basics and some key points regarding Dental Implants -

What are Dental Implants?

Dental Implants refer to a surgical procedure where a screw-like metal piece is infused into the jawbone. The bone around the dental implant metal piece will grow gradually to bind it together. Tooth made from synthetic material is fixed on the metal tip to resemble an actual tooth. This ensures that the synthetic replacement from your natural tooth is not easily differentiated.

How are dental implants different from dentures?

Dental implants are more permanent than dentures. When we say permanent, these are infused into your jawbone through minor surgeries, and hence it will not come out easily.

Dental Implants can be slightly more expensive than dentures. However, if you consider the long-lasting nature, fewer visits to the clinic, and ease of maintenance the benefits far outweigh the costs involved.

There is always a fear with Dentures potentially falling out while you chew onto something hard or when you laugh out loud. However , Dental Implants eliminates this risk completely!

Types of Dental Implants

Two types of dental implants are commonly recommended. They are Sub Periosteal and Endosteal implants.

Subperiosteal Implants –In this type of implant, a metal frame is fixed onto the jawbone just below the gum tissue. The frame gets fixed to the jawbone as the jaw begins to heal. It consists of posts that protrude through the gums. The synthetic tooth is then fixed on these posts.

Endosteal Implants –This is the most common type of dental implant method where the implants are surgically placed in the jawbone. It can hold one or more synthetic teeth. These fixtures are screw-shaped and are also referred to as root-form implants. Depending on the healing process and its results, your dental surgeon would indicate whether additional surgerymay be required to fix the post to the implant. After this, the synthetic tooth is fixed onto the post.

The Procedure

A dental implant is not a one-day procedure. They are a series of minor surgeries that are carried out ,which could typically take a few months to complete the whole process.

• Your dental surgeon would conduct oral examinations to ensure you are fit to undergosurgery.
• Be prepared to go through some scans/x-rays, etc., to identify where the implant can be done.
• Since this procedure is invasive, you will be administered anaesthesia to assist with pain management during the surgery.
• Once the implant is placed, you will need to allow a few months for the bone to grow around the metal implant.
• The dental surgeon examines the implant to make sure it is stable. He then goes aheadwith creating a foundation for the new tooth.
• Your dental surgeon will make a mould of your mouth to design the synthetic teeth.
• Once the synthetic tooth is ready, it will be screwed onto the metal tip or cemented.

Final Thoughts

In summary, although dental implants are a time-consuming process they really are a short term pain for a long term gain. Once you have the Dental Implants completed, you do not have to worry about replacing them often. It is mostly a one-time procedure that gives you healthy-looking teeth.