When are dental implants the right solution?
A brief overview of tooth loss
Have you or one of your loved ones been affected by tooth loss? It is a more common condition than you would think! It affects people of any age, however children go through a process of natural tooth loss starting approximately between the ages of 6-7 and lasting until about the age of 13. In this process the milk teeth are replaced by permanent teeth.
Adult tooth loss is different however, and always pathological, as we do not grow new teeth. The main causes of tooth loss at an adult age are tooth decay, gum disease (periodontal disease) and injuries. These conditions are often avoidable by maintaining appropriate oral hygiene and having an oral health care routine. Make sure that you brush your teeth at least twice a day, use tooth floss and sometimes use antimicrobial mouthwashes. With this you can greatly reduce your risk of tooth loss, because you can prevent bacterial overgrowth in the oral cavity.
Bacterial overgrowth results in the overproduction of organic acids, which are by-products of oral bacteria. The elevated level of organic acids can contribute to the dissolution of the tooth’s mineral content, which ultimately results in tooth decay. If tooth decay has progressed to the pulp tissue inside your teeth, it is often irreversible and leads to tooth loss. However if you have been affected by tooth loss, you should not worry too much. Modern dentistry has found various solutions to address this widespread condition! One example is the use of dental implants. Contact our dental practice, Warrendale Dental to find out more about getting dental implants in Herefordshire.
How do dental implants work?
Luckily, the modern solutions for tooth loss are getting better and better. One of the most important treatments of this condition are dental implants in Herefordshire. But how do they work?
Dental implants work by grafting a piece of metal into the jawbone, which acts as an artificial root. This is used to hold an artificial tooth or teeth, depending on your individual condition. Many people call dental implants the best way to replace missing teeth because of their durability, longevity and permanence. The implants are made out of the metal titanium, which is quite a specific metal in this sense, because our bodies recognise it as if it was natural tissue and thus it can replace roots.
Many patients are afraid of surgical procedures, especially dental ones. If you experience such fears, sedation before the procedure can be applied. This can happen either orally or through an injection. You will be awake throughout the process, but highly relaxed and sedated. The procedure is not painful either, given that there are not many nociceptive nerve terminals in your jawbone which would perceive pain. Local anaesthetic is also used throughout the procedure, therefore pain is really not an issue. Contact our dental practice, Warrendale Dental if you or your loved ones would like to find out more about dental implants in Herefordshire. In the initial consultation session your individual condition will be evaluated first. Dental implants are not for every condition, and some patients may require some preparatory dental works prior to getting implants. If you have any periodontal diseases, they will require treatment before commencing the dental implant surgery.