Dental Implant Overview

Health & Medical Blog

If you want to replace missing teeth, then one of the options available to you is dental implants. To help you make a better decision about replacing your teeth, here is an overview of dental implants.

What are dental implants?

Basically, a dental implant is a small device that is inserted into your gums. This device is then used as the foundation for a crown, which will act as a replacement tooth. Dental implants are very permanent and will likely last you for the rest of your life.

Implants actually consist of three components. The implant itself is a small screw that is attached to your jawbone through your gums. It sits in the same place that the root of your old tooth used to be. On top of the implant is the abutment, which is used to mediate the connection between the implant and the crown. Neither the implant or the abutment is actually visible and you won't be able to feel them if everything is installed correctly. Finally, a custom crown is fitted on top of the abutment.

When are implants a good idea?

Each dental implant effectively replaces a single missing tooth. This makes dental implants a good choice if you are missing a tooth here or there, but it won't be very cost effective to get implants for an entire swath of missing teeth. In those cases, you might be better off getting bridges or even dentures.

Implants also tend to require a lot less maintenance than other options. If you are concerned about needing to take out and clean your dentures, then implants might be much more appealing. On top of that, implants that are installed correctly are substantially more comfortable than some dentures. With an implant, you won't even notice that you are missing teeth

What is the drawback of implants?

The main reason that you might not want to get implants is the cost. Implants tend to cost a lot more than other types of tooth replacement, especially if you are replacing multiple teeth. Insurance companies won't always cover the cost of implants like they might be willing to cover dentures or bridges.

Another big factor is the actual length of the installation process. Getting prepared and fitted for an implant will generally take a lot longer than the equivalent process for dentures. While you are waiting for the actual implant to be installed, you will probably be in a fair amount of discomfort.

For more information, visit websites like http://www.ryanperio.com.

Share

9 October 2015

Take Your Health Into Your Own Hands

My name is Katie Langer. For a long time, I was bed ridden and I felt like I had no control over my life. I simply went along with what was instructed by my doctor and I didn't ask questions. It wasn't that my doctor wasn't willing to work with me, but I preferred to simply not think about the illness I was suffering from. I didn't realize that some of the symptoms I was suffering from were side effects of my medication and were not normal. After communicating more with my doctor, I was able to alleviate my symptoms. Since then, I've taken an interest in patient-doctor relationships and how to improve them.