Whether you like it or not, dental implants are quickly amazing popularity in the 21st century. Part of the reason is that more people are getting interested in dental restorations that can help them regain confidence in their smiles. When you have one or more missing teeth, there is no doubt that your confidence may not be at its optimal level. Thankfully, you can rely on our dentists in Tuscaloosa to work on your smile and restore your teeth.
What Are Dental Implants?
They are tooth replacement appliances in restorative dentistry that replace both the roots and crowns of teeth. The metallic surgical component of a tooth implant typically interfaces with the bone tissue in your tooth socket to support a different prosthetic, in many cases, a dental crown. The goal of implantation procedures is to create a strong foundation that can permanently replace your teeth for a long time to come.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Oral implants are typically used for replacing single missing teeth. The dentist will replace the root of the lost teeth with an implant, then use a dental crown to cover the implant.
However, patients with multiple missing teeth who still want dental implants are not left stranded. Modern dentistry has a provision for strategically using a few implants to replace multiple missing teeth. The technique is called the all-on-4 implant treatment. It involves using between 4 to 10 tooth implants for replacing many teeth. Depending on the number of teeth you have lost, the crowning of the implants will differ. Denture implants comprise full-mouth dental restorations or partial permanent dentures. In contrast, fixed dental bridges work better for crowning between one and three missing teeth in a row.
5 Reasons Why Dental Implants Are So Popular
As a first-time patient with tooth implants, it is okay to worry about what you are getting yourself into, even if just to replace one tooth. Since you need to undergo surgery and be in recovery for about three months, it makes all the difference to know why dental implants could be worth the risk. Some of the top five factors that make tooth implants popular are:
- They are bio-compatible – although dental implants feature a metallic material, they are unique from other metallic oral appliances in dentistry. The metal for dental implants is called titanium, a bio-compatible type of metal. It means that the metal integrates perfectly with your bone tissue, with few to no complications like allergic reactions. As your implantation wound heals, the dental implant becomes one with your jawbone.
- They are permanent – once you get dental implants, there is no going back. The implant is installed in your jawbone and supported by your gums. Even the crowning of the implant is installed permanently in your mouth, which is why you’ll hear of permanent dentures or bridges. Should you need to remove your tooth implants, you would require another surgery. Otherwise, rest assured that you’ll have your teeth intact for the remaining part of your life. This should also assure you of durability.
- They are natural-looking – whether you get full mouth dental implants or have one of your teeth replaced, implants will look like natural teeth. For one, they replace the roots of your teeth before the crown. At the end of your procedure, you’ll have both the root and crown of your replaced tooth, which closely matches natural teeth.
- Better functionality – once you lose your natural teeth, it is hard to imagine how a porcelain tooth-shaped material placed in your mouth will function as normally as your natural teeth. With dental implants, this will not be your concern. The restored tooth will function almost as naturally as your natural teeth since it is properly secured and stabilized by your jawbone and gums.
- They are sturdy – no dental appliance can match the strength of natural teeth, but dental implants come pretty close. The technique of installing them and the material used to manufacture tooth implants gives them an upper hand regarding sturdiness. Even when you get denture implants, they will be very different from the standard removable dentures.