Dental implants are a highly successful, long-term replacement for missing teeth.
Dr Raghed Bashour at Nundah Village Dental has seen an increase in enquiries in dental implants, as more people consider permanent fixtures that can be better for your oral health in the long term. But there are a few things to consider before deciding on what option you’d like to consider.
How do dental implants compare with other treatments for replacing missing teeth?
Dental implants are generally superior to many of their counterparts. Dentures often make a person look and feel older than they are, cause embarrassment in social situations when they slip and click, and restrict the everyday pleasure of eating comfortably.
Dental implants on the other hand are permanent fixtures. They are surgically placed under the gum and fuse with the jaw bone providing the strength and durability of a natural tooth. This can’t be found in removable dentures which simply rest on the gum and don’t stimulate the bone, resulting in increased bone loss. Dental implants keep the bone stimulated, healthy and strong.
Does the implant surgery hurt?
As with any surgical procedure, there may be some discomfort that is experienced during and after the procedure. Every patient will heal differently and we always work before, during, and after surgery to help keep our patients as comfortable as possible.
How long do dental implants last and are they safe?
With proper care, dental implants are designed to last many years, and for some, a lifetime. Dentists have been using dental implants to replace missing teeth for decades, and the technology continues to improve each year. When performed by a trained and experienced dental implant dentist, dental implant surgery is one of the safest and most predictable procedures in dentistry.
What if I decide not to replace my tooth?
When a tooth is lost and not replaced, the bone that was supporting the tooth no longer has a reason to be there, so it will begin to erode away. This can cause bone loss around the surrounding teeth and can lead to damaging teeth, which may ultimately lead to the eventual loss of other teeth.
Can my body reject a dental implant?
Strictly speaking, implants can’t be rejected because they contain no living cells or genetically coded material. The titanium of which they are made is completely biocompatible, and allergies are extremely rare. But an implant can fail to integrate with the jawbone if an infection develops in the absence of good oral hygiene, or if it is subjected to biting forces too soon. However, this is rare; implants regularly achieve success rates in excess of 95%.
If you have any further questions about dental implants, speak to the friendly team at Nundah Village Dental today.
47 Nundah Street, Nundah | Ph: 3260 6200
nundahdental.com.au | facebook.com/nundahvillagedental | instagram.com/nundah_village_dental
