Could Dental Implants in Southend Work For Me?
As a dentist in Southend we do all we can to preserve a patient’s natural teeth but sometimes when a tooth is badly failing the only option is extraction. On the surface some patients may feel this isn’t such a big deal. After all, it’s just a small gap where the tooth once was and since it’s located to the rear of the mouth, no-one else will notice it anyway. The thing is tooth loss isn’t just about aesthetics; it can kick start a whole host of other dental problems which will affect your oral health. For example when a tooth is removed or lost the bone that once supported it begins to shrink away leaving a ‘sunken’ look to a patient’s mouth and cheeks if the issue isn’t resolved either with a partial denture or dental implants.
Tooth loss can also impact on the teeth that are left causing them to shift around in the mouth as they try to fill the gaps and this can impact on the muscles, joints, and jaw. This is why it’s really important to deal with tooth loss as soon as it occurs and this is where dental implants come in useful.
What are dental implants?
This is a restorative treatment that replaces the entire structure of a missing tooth or teeth. It consists of a titanium post which is surgically embedded into the jawbone. Over time this bonds with the surrounding bone and soft tissues to become a stable platform on which a dental crown can be placed. This stops the tooth or teeth from slipping around in the mouth and also prevents the bone loss which we mentioned earlier on.
Will dental implants work?
The answer to this question is both ‘yes’ and ‘no’. We know this sounds confusing but the success of a dental implant depends very much on the individual. Dental implants in Southend are a great way of replacing missing teeth but they aren’t a good fit for a person who has gum disease or who has suffered the loss of a considerable amount of bone. That said, sometimes this can be rectified with a bone graft and once a person has their gum disease under control then it may be possible to place a dental implant. Other health conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes, heart disease and cancer of the face or neck, may also prevent people from receiving dental implants. Smoking is also a major problem and many a Southend dentist will insist that a person refrains from smoking for several week before treatment and during the whole of the recovery period.
Patients need to be totally committed to caring for their dental implants if they are to benefit from the potential longevity of this treatment and as such they may have to change some of their oral care habits such as:
- It is crucial that you visit your dentist in Southend at least every six months, sometime more often. This is so that he or she can look for any possible problems which all too often won’t be noticed by the patient until it’s too late. This includes infection around the implant site and gum disease which could undermine the bone supporting the implant and cause it to fail.
- Brushing and flossing – This is key to maintaining good oral health and you need to be brushing your teeth and implant/s at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. Following with an antiseptic mouth wash is also a good idea.
- Quit smoking – Dentists will tell you that the number one cause of implant related problems is smoking. Therefore we highly recommend that you reduce the number of cigarettes that you smoke or better still, quit altogether once you have your implant/
Other surgical processes such as a bone graft or sinus lift may be necessary before an implant can be placed and this means the length of treatment is extended and the costs are increased. However on the plus side, dental implants are a predictable method of tooth replacement which if placed correctly and looked after properly offer the best long-term results for patients.