If you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, it could be due to any number of reasons. Poor oral hygiene, medications, smoking or even an accident can all be causes of having gaps in your smile. And while some people may choose to gallantly soldier on, for many, it is a source of anxiety and can contribute to lower self-esteem. Replacing your missing teeth may traditionally render images of false teeth in glasses of water on the bedside table, but implants offer a far more functional and natural-looking solution. Moreover, they also prevent any remaining natural teeth that you have from being overexposed to bacteria and risking further problems.
What are dental implants?
Implants can be used to replace missing teeth for a single tooth or more; they can even be used for a whole set. Depending on how many teeth you need to replace, you can have crowns, bridges or dentures that are attached to metal screws and fixed to your jawbone in your mouth. These screws are made with titanium metal, which is a fantastic metal for fusing with your body’s tissue. This means that the screws will be firmly fixed in place and won’t go anywhere. The replacement teeth are attached to the screws and made to look like any remaining natural teeth that you have, so nobody would realise that you don’t have a full set of natural teeth.
What are the advantages of implants?
There are so many benefits to opting for dental implants Nottingham. Once fitted, implants can be used just like your normal teeth. This means that you won’t have to change your diet and eliminate hard or chewy foods, for example. You can eat whatever you like! Also, you can brush and floss as normal afterwards, so caring for your implants is the same as caring for your natural teeth. There is no need to worry about special visits to the dentist either unless you have any concerns; a normal regular dental checkup is all that is required.
Another plus point with implants is that with the aesthetic improvement to your smile, you should hopefully feel more confident about your appearance and not have to worry about smiling freely. You also won’t have to worry about your teeth loosening while you talk, so there will be no clacking teeth on your watch! Implants should also be more comfortable as there will be no friction on your gums with the implants being attached to your jawbone.
Do dental implants require major surgery?
Dental implants only need a local anaesthetic to be fitted, and many patients find that there is very little discomfort as a result. While you will need to have a couple of appointments to fit temporary replacement teeth, while the screws fuse with your tissue before the permanent replacement teeth can be attached to them, they are arguably worth the wait!
What to do next
If you are interested in finding out more about dental implants, speak to your dentist to find out whether this could be the right treatment for you to get that smile you deserve.