Have you been considering dental implants but don’t fancy the hassle of actually receiving them? Are you frightened that having dental implants means you won’t be able to eat what you want for months on end? Well, fear no more! Because, you may be able to eat a lot quicker than you think.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants come in the form of small titanium rods, which are placed through the gum, and directly into the jawbone. A small attachment found at the head of the implant, known as an abutment is then left outside the jawbone. This means that a tooth restoration can be firmly fastened onto the implant.
The tooth restorations come in the form of dentures, dental crowns and bridges and are designed to mimic the surrounding, natural teeth. Dental implants are an amazing advancement in modern dentistry, as they have proven to last a number of years. Many implants have lasted a life time with the correct amount of care and attention they are given.
What does the process entail?
- The patient is placed under a general anaesthetic. This just acts as a precaution against any pain and aims to reduce discomfort to an absolute minimum.
- The implant is placed through the gum and directly into the jawbone, which is then stitched up. The implant is left to integrate with the jawbone, in a process known as osseointegration, which takes around 5-6 months to complete.
- After the jawbone is fully healed and the implant is strong, the tooth restoration is attached via the abutment. The tooth restoration comes in the form of a crown, denture or dental bridge, depending upon the patient’s personal needs.
How will dental implants improve how I eat?
At first, it may take you a couple of weeks to get used to the restoration, following the attachment to the implant. But, you will then find you can eat tougher and harder foods that you may have missed when having missing teeth. It is still imperative that you maintain great oral hygiene, however! The new implant works in the exact same way as a natural tooth. So there’s no embarrassing denture slips during public outings, and no need to pick the softest foods you can find on the menu. You can eat anything you like once more!
You’ll find you can eat much tougher foods completely pain free, without any worry, including: corn on the cob, steak, apples, popcorn, lobster. You can basically eat any food you found difficult to eat when using dentures.
Furthermore, receiving dental implants will also fill any gaps within the mouth (which food may become trapped in) and will increase your overall oral hygiene. Dental implants are great for reducing the effects of bad breath, gum disease and can even improve how you speak.
If you require any more information, it would be advisable to speak to your local cosmetic dentist who can talk you through all of the plausible options.