Advantages and Disadvantages of Dental Implants

By Rachel Spohn

Despite many advances in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss, usually through gum disease (gingivitis), injury, or tooth decay. In the past, people with missing teeth have had few options, such as bridges or dentures. Today, dental implants offer an alternative cosmetic solution. Dental implants are replacement tooth roots, and provide a strong base for either permanent or removable replacement teeth. Here is a quick look at some of their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages

• They offer longevity. Implants are very durable and designed to last many years. If taken care of properly, they will last a lifetime.

• They improve speech and appearance. Removable bridges and dentures are usually unstable and loose, causing you to mumble and slur your words. But dental implants are very natural looking and functional. Permanent ones not only look and feel like your own teeth, but they also give you the freedom to speak without fear your teeth will slip.

• They make eating easier. Chewing is difficult with dentures that slide. Since implants are designed to fuse with bone, they function like your own teeth and make eating your favorite foods enjoyable again.

• They support good oral health. Because an implant doesn't require altering nearby teeth to support it, more of your own teeth are left intact. This has a significant effect on your oral health in the long run. Oral hygiene is easier too, since individual implants grant easier access between teeth.

Disadvantages

• They are the most expensive dental surgery available. To achieve a great result, this type of cosmetic dentistry can cost upwards of tens of thousands of dollars.

• They involve a very time-consuming procedure if many implants are placed.

• They are not a good solution for people who don't recover quickly or are unable to deal with varying degrees of pain.

If you decide to overlook some of the disadvantages and decide to go with the procedure, keep in mind the importance of finding an expert, licensed dentist to perform the surgery for you. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rachel_Spohn

Eliminate Your Dental Woes With Dental Implants

By Brad Taylor

Every one loves to smile and it can be with a reason or without a reason. But not many people are lucky to have that perfect smile as they suffer from various dental conditions and periodontal diseases. However, this state reflects not only the prevalence of the disease, but also the need and availability of adequate professional services. In fact, the answers to all these dental woes are dental implants. With the help of dental implants, one can achieve good oral health, but this is possibly only if diagnosed and rectified earlier.

A frequent and regular dental check up and through awareness can lead to a good dental hygiene. In fact, tooth loss can actually affect a person's psychological, social, and physical health. But with the help of dental implants, the problems like limitations in speech and chewing can be rectified. Moreover missing teeth are also associated with old age, and edentulism can make one look older than he or she actually is. Well, implants can dramatically improve a smile and even the appearance and shape of the face. Thus these implants enhance the dental hygiene and also boosts one’s self esteem by tons. Or one can say that they are essential for the health of gum and jaw tissues so that they can prevent further damage to the teeth. Well one can also add that dental care has become the need of the day.

With the introduction of dental implants, the pain of going through the uncomfortable restoration service has been eliminated to a great extent. The implants are permanent solutions and are considered as permanent replacements with natural look and perfect functionality. These implants are aesthetic and provide relief to the wearer, as he or she feels confident all the time. And if these are taken good care of with regular oral hygiene habits, then they tend to last longer and in some cases even for a lifetime. The dental implants are a major investment; and the procedure can be time consuming. If one has to compare them with dentures, then implants will win hands down because of their functionality. One can say that they are the ideal solution for replacing teeth without the disadvantages of fixed bridges or removable dentures. In fact, they do not even affect the adjacent teeth. That means one does not have to go through grinding or crowning and even no clasps are required for removable partial dentures.

Dental implants stimulate the jawbone with each bite and also preserve them. They are easy to clean unlike a bridge, and cannot be affected by dental caries at all. Moreover, the other advantages are support to the full upper or lower dentures. However, there are varieties of implants available in the market today, such as titanium and zinc dental implants with regular and small diameters. Titanium implants are an instant hit and are accepted by the patients and orthodontists. Hence, do not wait and seek an appointment with a dentist who can help you fix your dental woes and you become a new person with that engaging smile. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brad_Taylor

What are Dental Implants and When Are They Used?

By Dr. Scott Watkins

Imagine that you are thirty years old and have lost all of your teeth. You could get dentures, but dentures always seem to have that fake look to them. You want something that looks and feels natural; the perfect answer here is dental implants. Most people who lose their teeth, whether it is one tooth or twenty teeth, would prefer not to wear dentures, especially the younger generations, and since dental implants are natural looking and do not fall out they are the perfect solution to maintain the natural look of your teeth.

Dental implants are a type of cosmetic dentistry. Dental implants are an artificial tooth root that is surgically screwed into your jawbone to hold a replacement tooth. Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth or broken teeth, but in order to have an implant you have to have enough bone left to be able to screw the implant in. You can have one dental implant or an entire mouthful depending on the situation.

What dental implants can do?

• Without affecting neighboring teeth a dental implant can replace one or more teeth

• Can eliminate the need for a removable partial denture because it can support a bridge

• Can make dentures more secure and comfortable because it can provide support

Types of implants:

• Endosteal: This type of implant is in the bone and is the most common type of implant used. Screws, cylinders or blades are surgically placed into the bone to hold the replacement tooth.

• Subperiosteal. This type of implant is placed on top of the jaw bone with the metal framework’s posts coming out of the gums to hold the replacement tooth. These implants are not as common and are used on patients who can not wear conventional dentures or who have minimal bone height.

The procedure to receive dental implants is a multiple step process. The first part of the process is to place metal anchors into the jaw bone and to allow the bone to fuse to the anchor. The next step is to place an extension in the anchor. The third and final step of the process is to attach a prosthetic tooth, also known as a crown, on the extension.

Despite the steps involved many people use dental implants because they find that implants look more natural than dentures or bridges. People also prefer dental implants because they are a more stable solution than dentures or bridges which can become loose over time or slip out of place while talking or chewing. Implants are screwed into your bone which allows them to act just like normal teeth. They can wear out after a period of years, but tend to last longer than dentures or bridges.

The dental implant procedure is like any other dental surgery, except you are going to have more than one period of recovery. The first part of the procedure is to expose the jaw bone so that the implants can be placed. Once the implant is placed the dentist will put in a cover screw and the area is closed with stitches. Placements in the lower jaw can need about three months to heal, while placements in the upper jaw need about six months to heal. The second part of the procedure is uncovering the implant, removing the cover screw and place a temporary crown into the implant. This allows the tissue around the implant to be trained to grow around the final tooth. The healing process from this surgery takes about two months. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Scott_Watkins