Dental Implants: The Whole Tooth and More

15 / 12 / 2017

Dental Implants: The Whole Tooth and More

Although Well Known As A Tooth Replacement System, Implants Are Much More Than That

If we lose a tooth, whether through accident or neglect, we tend to think of the visible part that we have lost.

Understandably, from an aesthetic viewpoint, that is likely to be our major concern. Less focus is often given to the root of the tooth which has also been lost, but which plays an important part too.

The root of a tooth, although unseen, not only provides the stability for the visible part of the tooth but also affects other factors, including our facial shape. When a tooth, including the root, is lost, the bone in that area will start to reduce in density and cause minor changes in our facial shape. These changes, and the fact that a gap now exists between our teeth, allow for the movement of nearby teeth. These movements, in turn, leave spaces for other teeth to move, and so on. The end result of this is that our teeth can easily become crooked.

Tooth Replacement

If we take a look at two of the most common tooth replacement methods; dentures and a bridge, these do offer an acceptable aesthetic replacement for a missing tooth. They also go some way to prevent other teeth from moving. Neither is without drawbacks though. Dentures can have a tendency to move around in the mouth, a factor made worse by bone loss.

Bridges offer more stability but require work to be done on otherwise healthy teeth in order to secure the crowns which hold the bridge in position. Understandably, some patients of the Lighthouse Dental Practice are reluctant to have this done.

Dental implants

Dental implants differ from other tooth-replacement methods in that they include a replacement for the root of the tooth, as well as the visible part. In fact, the titanium implant itself IS an artificial tooth root. The final visible part of this procedure is actually a crown which is attached to the implant via a support collar called an abutment.

So, why is having an artificial tooth root important?

It provides a strong and stable base for the new tooth and allows patients to eat as they wish, without fear of the replacement tooth becoming unstable.

Inserting an artificial root means that jaw bone degradation is minimised. The body recognises the titanium implant as it does a natural tooth root, and maintains strong bone structure in that area. The prevention of bone loss means that the remaining teeth should remain stable and not become crooked, providing that your general oral health is good too, of course.

Having an implant means that keeping your new artificial tooth clean is straightforward, with routine regular brushing, flossing and professional care. The alternatives, dentures and a bridge, require extra care and can be more difficult to keep clean.

Dental implants can be used to replace individual teeth, or even a larger number, for example using several implants to support a bridge. Our Ipswich cosmetic dentists have many years of experience in placing implants and will be pleased to discuss this revolutionary tooth replacement system with you.

To arrange an initial dental implant consultation at the Lighthouse Dental Practice, please call us on 01473 257379.

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If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.