If you’re suffering from a painful, decayed tooth that needs to be permanently removed, you may wish to consider dental implants. At Suncoast Dental, our Maroochydore team can assess your dental condition and insert an artificial tooth that looks and works just like your natural teeth! Whether it was due to an accident, lack of maintenance or tooth decay, unfortunately adult tooth cannot grow back once removed. The gap left by your natural tooth not only affects the appearance of your teeth, but it can also cause further damage, as the lack of support can cause the teeth on either side of the gap to shift and move.
To prevent this issue, you can choose to implant an artificial tooth root within the missing gap. Unlike dentures, the root is surgically implanted which means it is not removable and won’t fall off or slip out of your mouth. Interested to learn more on dental implants? Contact our team today for a consultation.
Generally made from titanium, which is a strong, biocompatible material, dental implants require few replacements once its installed and are tailor designed to ensure they fit perfectly within your jaw. Your dentist will first take imprints and analyse x-rays in order to carefully plan out your procedure and determine whether an implant is suitable for you. Depending on how many implants you need, some patients may require additional bone tissue or bone grafts, which means you may need to wait several months for your implant. If not, you’ll be able to proceed to the next step within a few weeks.
From there, the titanium screw is implanted by drilling a hole within your jawbone. To ensure a smooth and relatively painless procedure, we’re able to provide IV sedation to help you relax. Once the implant is installed, it needs time to fuse into your bone tissue, which can take roughly three months.
Once the implant and your bone tissue have fused, we will then install the healing abutment that is to be attached to the crown. This procedure will require the gum to be reopened and you will be provided with local anaesthesia to minimise discomfort. After two weeks of healing, the abutment is removed, and impressions are taken for your permanent crown. Your dentist will then install your permanent, custom crown a week later, ensuring it fits comfortably in your jaw and against your natural teeth.
Whilst dental implants can be a time consuming process, the results are incomparable. Your crown will look just like your natural teeth and is fitted securely so that it doesn’t impact your speech or chewing ability. By regularly flossing and brushing twice a day, you can avoid food and plaque buildup, which will ensure the longevity of your dental implant. Regularly scheduling dentist checkups can also give you the peace of mind that your implants are working the way they should, as well as checking up on the health of your natural teeth. If you’ve got more questions on dental implants, don’t hesitate to contact our Maroochydore team today.
Dental implants are designed to be a permanent dental solution to tooth loss and they can last between 20 and 30 years. However, their lifespan depends entirely on how well you look after your teeth and your oral hygiene.
Titanium is a material that is biocompatible and integrates well with bone tissue. Through a process called osseointegration, the tissue in your jaw combines with the titanium implant and holds it firmly in place.
Depending upon the condition of the person’s gums and jawbone, a single implant can sometimes be placed to support two adjacent teeth. More commonly, multiple implants are used to anchor fixed bridges or removable partials.
As you heal from getting dental implants, your gums will gradually grow around the dental implants to provide support like they do for your natural teeth. However, your dentist will also monitor your gum growth during your healing and recovery process to make sure the gums do not grow over the implant completely.
Flossing around a dental implant is nearly identical to flossing an anatomical tooth. You want to wrap the floss in a “C” shape against the side of the implant, then rub it up and down a few times to thoroughly clean the side. Lift the floss up and over your gums, then move to the next tooth or implant.
Over time, the bone near your implant will grow around it, eventually securing it tightly and locking it in place permanently. This is why dental implants last so much longer than other types of replacement teeth.