While knowledge about dental health has resulted in people taking better care of their teeth, millions of British people lose their teeth every year for a number of reasons.
Luckily, we live in an age where there is access to prosthetic devices that replace your missing teeth and restore your smile.
That said, commonly used prostheses, like dentures and bridges, aren’t perfect and are highly susceptible to wear and tear that makes the life of the user difficult.
Some might argue that dental implants in St John’s Wood is today’s best replacement method and here is why.
Dental implants use the body’s healing process
Dr P.I. Branemark, an orthopaedic surgeon was the first to discover that the compounds in titanium fused with bone during an operation he was performing.
He coined the discovery ‘osseointegration’, which refers to the integration of metal and bone, a process commonly used in surgical procedures across the medical field, including dental.
What makes dental implants in St John’s Wood so popular is their ability to replace a missing tooth at the root, rendering it possible for the user to carry on with life unimpeded by any restrictions caused by their implants.
Implantation surgery in dentistry occurs in four stages:
- First consultation
You will meet with your dentist to discuss your needs. A thorough examination of your mouth determines whether you are healthy for surgery. Patients with blood diseases, diabetes and osteoporosis, cannot undergo surgery. You will also need enough bone to insert a dental implant. If you lack enough bone, you will first have to undergo a bone graft before getting dental implants.
- First operation
For this procedure, it might be in your best interests to find a dental practitioner who has experience with implantology. Your dentist inserts implants into your jawbone using a drill, which requires enormous skill and ability to avoid damaging your sinus cavity.
Once the tooth implant is in place, the area is sutured, and recovery can commence.
- Healing
Implants are, by no means, a quick fix. You are relying on your body’s ability to heal, which can be a couple of months. This amount of time varies from person to person, depending on how quickly your body heals.
- Creating your new tooth or prosthesis
In the time it takes to recover, impressions of your teeth are sent to the lab technician so that an artificial crown that matches the size, colour and height of your remaining natural teeth, is created.
- Second procedure
Once fully healed, your dentist makes an insertion that exposes the base of the implant. This is done so that an abutment piece can be linked to the metal, connecting it to your new artificial crown.
After-care instructions
An implant is durable enough to last a lifetime, but it must be taken proper care of.
Ensure that you practice good hygiene, which includes brushing your teeth the prescribed two to three minutes twice-a-day, followed by routine flossing. Regular dental check-ups are also strongly recommended.
Losing a tooth can be a demoralising ordeal, but implants can grant you your old life back.