Having missing teeth can affect people’s self-esteem; there’s no getting away from the fact that it isn’t aesthetically pleasing and having missing teeth can also cause further problems for your gums and remaining natural teeth. Finding the right solution can be a daunting prospect and it may feel as though there’s a mountain to climb, but thankfully it doesn’t need to be all Bear Grylls survival tactics to replace missing teeth. Simply seeking dental implants in Melbourne may be the answer fixing your missing teeth.
Implants
If you haven’t heard of implants, it might be surprising to learn that they are titanium screws which act as artificial roots for your replacement teeth and they are attached to your jaw bone. Once these metal posts are in place, you can have crowns, bridges or dentures attached to them and they are securely fitted in place as a result. There are many reasons why implants could be a great choice.
Advantages of Implants
An Implant dentist will be able to advise you on what would work best for you, however, there are a few options with implants: you can have all-on-four which is where you can have a whole set of teeth replaced using just 4 implants. You can also have same day teeth, which means that you can have your teeth removed and implants fitted on the same day – it isn’t major surgery and only requires local anaesthetic!
Other benefits of having implants are the fact that once you have the implants, your teeth will look natural and nobody will know that they aren’t your real teeth. You will also be able to care for them easily by maintaining good oral hygiene, flossing and brushing regularly, and visiting your dentist for regular checkups. Replacing missing teeth also protects your remaining natural teeth from further bacteria, decay and helps to protect your gums as well.
You will also find that you can eat and drink normally after having implants and there’s no need to worry about them loosening as you talk in the way that they may do if you have dentures that aren’t attached to implants, for example. They should also provide comfort and convenience. A further bonus is that when you have missing teeth, it is common for people to experience speech difficulties and a shrunken face; with implants, you may find that they add structure to your face once more, giving you a more youthful appearance – hello, fresh face!
What do I need to do?
If you are interested in finding out more about implants, it is worth having a consultation to find out if this is the right treatment for you. An Implant dentist will be able to x-ray your mouth and check to see if this is the right course of treatment for you. They will also check to see if there is enough bone density in your jaw to attach the titanium posts to. If there isn’t, they may advise that you have a bone graft first.
Dental implants offer convenience, practicality and comfort; if you’re wondering what to do about missing teeth, why not see if they could work for you?
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
