TEETH IN A DAY WITH DENTAL IMPLANTS
For most of us, the thought of losing our teeth conjures up one single image: dentures floating in a glass. It can be a traumatic and debilitating experience. Dental implants offer simple and affordable solutions for replacing your missing teeth.
What are implants? In the early 1950s a Swedish scientist observed that titanium could actually bond to bone – a process called osseointegration. This discovery led to the use of implants. An implant is a permanent tooth replacement, made from titanium, that bonds to the jaw much like the root of the natural tooth. Once in place, it looks, feels and functions like the tooth. For the first time, teeth could be replaced permanently and comfortably. Three decades after the first dental implants were placed in patients, they still function perfectly. And since then, hundreds of thousands of patients have had missing teeth replaced by implants.
Implants offer an excellent solution for people who have loose, poorly fitting dentures. With implants there is no longer a need for fixadants and denture adhesives. Foods like apples and corn on the cob can be eaten with confidence. Implants are also an excellent option to consider when replacing a single tooth. They restore function and appearance without compromising the other healthy teeth in the patient’s mouth. The vast majority of the population are good candidates for implants. And age does not seem to be a factor; in fact, implants offer a welcome alternative for elderly patients who have suffered with ill-fitting dentures for years.
Traditional permanent dental implant procedures potentially can require up to a year to complete, and often involve numerous visits to your dentist or specialist. Today’s advanced technology allows most patients to get dental implants quickly and painlessly. In some cases the transition from missing teeth to new permanent teeth can be accomplished in one day; sometimes in just 1 hour. New procedures are less invasive and therefore less painful. These new procedures have considerably shorter recovery times. Patients are often able to eat and smile soon after completing the procedure with very little interruption to their normal lives.
