If you need to replace a number of teeth, you no longer have to dread the idea of dentures or fight with an ill-fitting bridge. With the new advancements in dental implants, you can have replacements that look and work just like the real thing. Imagine no fighting with moving dental work, no icky pastes, or wafers. All you need is a good dental hygiene plan and regular visits to your dentist.

Dental implants were great before, but advancements in the materials used and the techniques for implantation have made them even better. Once everything has healed, there should be no worries about anything coming loose, sores, discomfort, or the embarrassment that comes with other orthodontic treatments.

The Implant Process

A specialized titanium post is added in along the jaw where the bone will eventually grow around it and fuse onto the metal. This hygienic metal leaves a screw-like appendage above the gums. After approximately six months of healing time, the dentist will screw a crown-like top made of porcelain that resembles a natural tooth.

While it can take a year or more to do an entire mouth, they are long lasting, look natural, and don’t stop you from eating your favorite foods. The porcelain not only looks great, but also is resilient when it comes to pressure and chipping while resisting staining better than many traditional materials.

New Materials, Better Implants

Older dental implants used stainless steel. However, after some experimentation, doctors turned to titanium because it has the same hypoallergenic qualities and fuses to the bone faster. (This discovery goes to Per-Ingvar Branemark and a rabbit’s broken leg.)

Several other benefits to dental implants make them a superior choice as well. As we grow older, our jawbones begin to wear away. However, researchers have found titanium implantations actually prevent the bone from wearing away.

Staying Healthy

A degradation of nutrition is also common in people as they age because of the restrictions and difficulties they have with other treatments such as bridges and dentures. With the improvements to implantation technique and materials, there are no restrictions. This keeps patients eating more variety and maintaining a balanced diet. Also, because they are not attached to adjacent teeth, there is no wearing way of the enamel on healthy teeth, and therefore, less risk of decay.

Even with all of the advancements in this area, they still require good quality care. Without the proper cleaning and checkups, you leave your gums open to gingivitis and disease.

If you are interested in getting dental implants, you must meet a few requirements. First, you cannot smoke. This restricts the blood vessels and inhibits healing making it impossible for the bone to fuse to the metal. You need to have a healthy bite pattern to prevent an excessive amount of force from being placed on a single tooth. Finally, you need to have good oral health with enough bone to support the titanium.

With all of the advantages over traditional treatments, dental implants are quickly becoming the preferred treatment for replacing missing teeth and maintaining that healthy smile.