Benefits of Dental Implant-Based Restorations
If you have been involved in an accident that resulted in multiple missing teeth, you may be seeking a way to restore your lost teeth. There are many tooth-replacement options, including dental implants, fixed bridges, and dentures, Regardless of the type of tooth-replacement device that is selected, it is best to have an implant-based restoration.
Dental implants can be applied as standalone devices. However, they can also be used in conjunction with other appliances. To provide stabilizing support, the crowns of a dental bridge can be secured to dental implants. Likewise, dentures can be supported by dental implants. The support secures the dentures in place so that they do not slip out of place as the mouth is moved.
A dental implant is actually a rod or screw that is fashioned from titanium. Titanium is a special metal that is biocompatible, so the body is unlikely to reject it as a foreign material.
The titanium device is placed in the bone of the jaw, where it heals into position. After the implant's placement, the cells of the jawbone grow around the rod or screw, integrating with the device. This integration is called osseointegration and causes the implant to stabilize fully within the bone.
In addition to the stabilization offered by a dental implant-based restoration, there are additional benefits that the implant provides. Here are a few of them:
Encourages Dense Bones
The dental implant promotes the healthy thickness of the jawbone. In order to maintain its mass, the jawbone requires regular stimulation. This stimulation occurs when the teeth bite or chew. Each tooth transfers the received bite pressure to the jawbone. There, the pressure stimulates the production of additional bone cells to help the jawbone maintain its density. If enough pressure is not received on a consistent basis, the bone of the jaw begins to shrink.
Like a natural tooth, a dental implant is positioned in the bone of the jaw and can relate the bite force to the bone material.
Is Unlikely to Need a Replacement
A dental implant should last for the lifetime of the patient. The device should never require replacement.
Dental implants have a low rate of failure and are designed to remain in place indefinitely. Thus, the implant can be treated as a natural tooth. If the implant is used to support another device and the other device requires replacement, the dental implant should not.
For more information about dental implants and their benefits, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area.