If you suffer from missing teeth and would like to restore your smile then speak to your dentist and find out about the different options that are available for replacing missing teeth. You may be looking for a fixed permanent solution or a removable solution and thanks to advances in dental technology and dental prosthetics, replacement teeth are more comfortable, discreet and natural than ever before. Speak to your dentist and find out about dental implants Sydney. Dental implants are the closest thing to natural teeth. They have been recognised worldwide as the gold standard in tooth replacement therapy. They restore the appearance of your mouth and they improve your dental health. The first modern dental implant (1965) in a patient lasted the whole of the patient’s life. With good dental hygiene and visiting the dentist on a regular basis you can also have an implant for the majority if not the rest of your life.
Bone grafting
To begin with you need to undergo a thorough examination of your teeth and gums where your dentist will look for any underlying health issues or any signs of gum disease or bone decay. Tooth loss can cause bone decay if it is not addressed soon enough. This is known as disuse atrophy. If this is the case then you will need to undergo bone grafting. A significant percentage of dental implant surgeries require bone grafting to begin with because a successful dental implant requires a healthy jawbone of dimensions that are 10mm in height and 3 to 4 mm in diameter. Once you undergo bone grafting it can take 2 weeks to 3 months to heal depending on the size of the graft. Bone grafting and dental implant surgery should be carried out sooner rather than later. However, if you have had missing teeth for a long period of time then do not let this discourage you. Even if you have had a missing tooth for many years, you can still replace it.
Dental implant surgery
Dental implant surgery is carried out in 3 steps. Firstly the implant is placed into the bone socket of the missing tooth. To do this the dentist will make a cut to open the gum and expose the bone socket of your missing tooth. A hole is drilled into the bone socket and the implant is placed deep into the bone. You will be given a local anaesthetic or you can ask your dentist about sedation, the extent of which is up to you and your comfort levels.
Once the implant is inserted it initiates a process known as osseointegration which will secure the implant firmly into place. This will take several months and the dentist will make sure the process is coming along successfully. After the implant has healed, an abutment will be attached to the implant and a crown or set of dentures is fitted to replace your missing teeth. The entire process including bone grafting can take approximately 6 months. Speak to your dentist to find out more about dental implants to replace your missing teeth and find out how it can benefit your dental health and restore the appearance and function of your mouth at the same time.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
