Patients with missing teeth are more likely to suffer from poor self-esteem. Even worse, their oral health may be seriously compromised. For many years, the only solution to missing and badly decayed teeth were dentures and bridges. Now, dental implants can restore missing teeth from the root, providing a natural and aesthetically pleasing alternative to bulky and uncomfortable restorations.
Thanks to dental implantsin Richmond, patients can have their teeth replaced and their quality of life improved more easily than ever. These small titanium posts are surgically embedded into the jawbone by an experienced dentist, such as Sheen Dental Implants.
How do dental implants in Richmond work?
In a nutshell, dental implants, which look like small screws or cylinders,are made of medical-grade titanium and are replacements for missing teeth roots.
These prosthetics are designed to look like the rest of the teeth and this is achieved with the addition of natural-looking crowns, dentures and bridges.
The main part of a dental implant is the fixture. Once embedded and fused into a patient’s jawbone, it is as strong as a real tooth root and can perform the exact same function. This is possible because of a process known as ‘osseointegration’, meaning the formation of a direct border between an implant and bone.
Protecting other teeth from shifting
Tooth loss has many side-effects, all of which are harmful to the oral and overall health of a patient. One of the least expected but dangerous ones is tooth shifting. As gaps are created in a patient’s smile caused by missing teeth, healthy teeth start moving towards this gap and this can cause various issues from misalignment to complete tooth loss and bone loss. This problem can be resolved by filling the gaps with dental implants.
Better chewing
Unlike dentures, dental implants do not move around when patients eat, allowing them to chew and digest food properly. Digesting food properly is really important for absorbing vitamins, minerals and other nutrients which are important for health and wellbeing.
Considerations and warnings
Although dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth, they are not a good option for everyone. Patients considering dental implants, should talk to their dentist well in advance.
