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Modern dentistry enables us to have a healthy, unblemished, and stunning smile. The moment we regain our naturally beautiful teeth, many insecurities we have previously struggled with remain where they belong - in the past. It’s no rumor that a dazzling smile can boost our confidence to the maximum, enhance our professional and personal performance, and play a part in all the remarkable milestones that happen in every stage of our lives. Gaps in our teeth are often one of the biggest concerns not only in the appearance realm but, most importantly, how they affect the general health of our oral cavity and their essential functions. Nowadays, missing teeth can be efficiently supplemented by utilizing one of dentistry’s most prominent achievements - dental implants. Dental implants are characterized by high strength, which translates into their durability. What are dental implants, and are they worth the buzz?
The history of dental implants began in the 1960s when Swedish professor Branemark introduced the first implant made of titanium, which he had previously tested for bone fusion. The initiative was groundbreaking - the implant perfectly integrated into the patient’s oral cavity, marking the beginning of implantology as standard practice.
Tooth, or dental, implants are an effective and excellent method to replace lost teeth. Not only do they allow Nova Dental patients to enjoy a beautiful smile again - the effect that can be obtained after the procedure is the closest to our natural teeth, unlike conventional solutions, such as bridges, dentures, or even veneers.
Dental implants are long-lasting, artificial substitutes for tooth roots. Their task is to recreate the function of your natural, missing teeth.
Dental implants are placed in order to fill the absent teeth in the patient’s mouth, whether it is due to injury or otherwise medically necessary tooth extraction. The implant resembles a cone-shaped screw of several millimeters, which acts as a root and is most often made of titanium - a metal that extremely rarely causes any allergic reactions in humans. It is an element entirely safe for your buddy and has no adverse effects on your health. Dental implants can come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and coatings. Among their most noteworthy advantages is the protection against gradual bone loss in the missing tooth’s vicinity and subsequent loosening of the remaining teeth or even their loss.
The term “dental implant” might stir some confusion among patients, so it is vital to understand all of the necessary parts that constitute the entire procedure:
When we refer to the actual implant, we often talk about the titanium screw-like structure that is embedded in the patient’s jawbone. The fusion of the bone and the implant happens through the biological process known as osseointegration. In case of severe bone loss in the upper jaw, implantologists might recommend zygomatic implants that are slightly longer and are inserted in the cheekbone (Zygoma).
A titanium screw embedded into the bone is not enough to recreate the missing teeth. In order for the patient to fully enjoy a beautiful smile for many years, another element is also necessary - the abutment. It plays the role of an anatomical tooth neck, connecting the implant screw with a fixed prosthetic restoration, such as a crown. The latest generation abutments are made of titanium, gold, or zirconium, which are materials that virtually cause no allergic reactions. In addition, some of the prosthetics currently offered support post-operative wound healing and prevent possible infections.
The final step towards a full, dazzling smile is the placement of an artificial tooth, or “prosthesis,” professionally called a crown. Porcelain crowns are designed to mimic the shape, structure, and color of your natural teeth and are lab-tailored to your specific oral requirements. Depending on the implant procedure, you may require a single crown or a full arch for a complete set of teeth.
Missing teeth can occur for a variety of reasons. Untreated diseases of the hard tissues, specifically tooth decay, have inevitable consequences: disorders of the pulp and the tissues surrounding the roots will eventually lead to irreversible inflammations. Their only solution might be tooth extraction. Another culprit of missing teeth is mechanical injuries in the area of the patient’s jaw, where it might be impossible to save your natural tooth.
The absence of even one tooth may result in excessive overloading of the remaining adjacent and opposing teeth, which might subsequently contribute not only to the deterioration of their condition and displacement but also to serious problems with the proper functioning of the temporomandibular joints - joints connecting the jaw and mandible. Compromising the integrity of the jawbone can have detrimental effects on your overall health, which is why dental implants play an enormous role in reinforcing the structure of your jawbone.
Contrary to popular belief, the lack of teeth can cause changes not only in the overall appearance of your inner mouth but also in the cheeks and lips, altering the entire facial structure. The loss of teeth can sometimes contribute to serious digestive problems that result from inaccurate chewing of food and other abnormal functions of your oral cavity.
After the treatment is completed, Dr. Guldalian at Nova Dental will provide you with all the necessary information on how to proceed in the upcoming weeks. You should pay attention to the proper hygiene of your new implants so that they fit well and last for a long time. Good oral hygiene means:
Even though implants cannot be affected by decay, you should never neglect their proper hygiene. Many years of inadequate hygiene may even lead to the implant falling out altogether. Dental implants do not require specialized care and sanitation treatments, but the daily ritual will ensure they will serve us for as long as possible.