At Docklands Dental Studio, we treat a lot of patients who have lost teeth due to decay, gum disease, or facial trauma. Many of these patients choose to replace their natural teeth with dental crowns, bridges, or dentures. Some of them come back to us with horror stories about knocking out their crown when biting into something, or loose, wobbly dentures that slip when they talk, and sometimes even fall out.
When talking to these patients, our doctors will often discuss the benefits of dental implants. These tiny posts, placed in the jawbone, help provide stability and security for dental restorations.
To learn more about the benefits of dental implants, call our Docklands dental office today at (03) 9021-9487 and schedule a consultation with one of our great dentists.
What Are Dental Implants?
We use dental implants, tiny posts made of titanium surgically implanted in your jaw, to replace the roots of missing teeth. The implants stimulate the bone in your jaw, preventing it from deteriorating and shrinking. The biocompatible implants actually fuse with the bone in your jaw as they heal, providing a strong anchor for your chosen restoration. Many denture wearers prefer implant supported appliances because they provide a more stable, secure fit over traditional dentures, and prevent them from slipping or falling out.
Strong, Stable Restorations
Dental implants support restorations that many consider the next best alternative to natural teeth. They retain the feel, look, and function of the patient’s natural teeth. Implant-supported restorations are stable and strong, allowing patients to eat the foods they love without the worry of damage or accidental dislodging.
Studies show that implant-supported restorations last longer than conventional options. For instance, a traditional dental bridge has a projected life of seven to ten years with proper care. Implant-supported dental bridges, while needing adjustments periodically, should last the patient’s lifetime with proper care.
Retain Correct Facial Shape
When a patient loses a tooth, the body senses the loss of stimulation in the jaw and diverts calcium and other nutrients needed to retain a healthy jawbone to other parts of the body. Over time, this leads to a deterioration of the jaw and hollowing of the cheeks.
Dental implants replace the roots of missing teeth, stimulating the bone of the patient’s jaw. This stimulation keeps the body sending necessary nutrients to the jaw, preventing deterioration and the appearance of a sunken face.
Maintain Healthy Tooth Structure
When a patient has a dental bridge placed, he has the option of choosing between a traditional bridge and an implant-supported bridge. To place a traditional bridge, the dentist places the crowns over healthy teeth on either side of the gap created by the missing tooth or teeth, requiring the removal of part of the enamel layer on each tooth receiving a crown. An implant-supported dental bridge requires no crowns, eliminating the need to alter the structure of surrounding teeth.
More Secure Dentures
Many of our patients wear traditional dentures, and they tell us about how difficult the appliances make it to eat and talk. These patients worry about their dentures slipping or wobbling when they talk or eat, and occasionally have issues with them falling out of their mouth.
Many complain of a clicking noise when they talk. They have to come in occasionally to have their appliances re-lined, because the slow degradation of the jawbone causes the dentures to lose their snug fit against the gums.
Implant-supported dentures securely snap onto implants that have fused with the bone of the jaw, providing a sturdy, stable hold that keeps the dentures from wobbling, clicking, or falling out. The fit of the denture remains secure because the jaw experiences no deterioration.
Call Us Today
If you would like to learn more about the benefits provided by dental implants, schedule an appointment with one of our doctors today by calling our Docklands dental office at (03) 9021-9487.