Dental implants have become one of the best options for tooth loss. Whether you’re missing various teeth or just one, this is one of the many effective procedures offered by our dentist in Waterloo. It’s important to consider how dental implants are placed and what the many benefits of getting them are. This way, you’ll make an informed decision when the time comes.
How are dental implants placed?
Before you get dental implants in Waterloo, you’ll need to undergo a comprehensive assessment. Our Waterloo dentist needs to know if there’s enough bone in the area where the dental implant is supposed to be placed. This is because the absence of teeth causes bone loss in your jaw bone, as it lacks the proper stimulation from the missing teeth.
In case you don’t have the necessary bone density, they might choose to do a bone graft at our dentist’s office near you. Once this has been conducted, or if you already have viable bone, our dentist will proceed to the next phase.
The dental implant, which is made of titanium, is placed in the area after the use of local anesthesia. There is a required healing time, which can be as long as six months or as short as three months. This timeframe is because the implant needs to fuse properly with the bone. This can vary from patient to patient.
Then comes the second part of getting dental implants near you. Think of the titanium portion as the root. Now, the actual tooth has to be placed. This is called the abutment, which will be placed together with a crown. Our dentist will ensure the fit is as perfect as possible. This refers to not only the size but also making your new tooth or teeth match the colour of your natural teeth.
Long-term benefits
The two main benefits you’ll get from dental implants are the prevention of further tooth loss and the prevention of jaw deterioration.
Remember that your teeth, together, form a network. This is created by the roots and the placement of teeth next to each other. Therefore, when a tooth is missing, the adjacent teeth might suffer as well as their natural inclination will be to close the gap.
By changing their positions, these teeth risk losing their support. Furthermore, they’re at greater risk of decay. Eventually, you might find that you’ll lose more teeth if you don’t get dental implants in Waterloo in time.
The other main benefit is that you’ll get to prevent jawbone deterioration. As we briefly mentioned before, the lack of bone stimulation caused by the fact that there is no tooth in a specific area is detrimental. This will cause bone deterioration.
There are various consequences of bone deterioration. The anatomy of your face will change as the area where the missing tooth is will sink in. Furthermore, you might have greater difficulty eating, as your jaw bone strength will deplete. By getting dental implants near you, you can prevent this from happening. Instead of waiting until greater damage, getting a timely implant that will stimulate and preserve your bone is better.
Dental implants are a good solution for missing teeth and permanently fix a serious problem. With the proper care, dental implants can last for the rest of your life. Now that you know the many benefits, consider visiting our dental office near you for an assessment.