Using Dental Implants To Replace Teeth

Dental ImplantsThe use of dental implants, to replace lost teeth, is a testament to the resilience of a treatment method that has been around for thousands of years. Dental implants are so successful that we are actually starting to change how people view what their options are with tooth replacements. For most people, the idea of tooth loss is limited to people in their older age, a myth that often delays not taking great care of your teeth. The truth is that tooth loss affects people of all ages and all demographics.

Timeless Method

The American Academy of Implant Dentistry, AAID, finds that 69 percent of people over the age of 35 have lost at least one tooth. Teeth are critical for multiple functions. First, they are the starting place of all human digestion. Second, they are what we use to enunciate and form words. Third, they are the foundation upon which we base certain social signals like smiling.

All of these make teeth critically important to modern human life. This makes it ironic that we are using a treatment that dates back thousands of years to the ancient Mayans. In the old days, the ancient Mayans would hammer pieces of bone or shell into a person's gums to give them new “fake teeth”. Today, we have divested with the hammers and the shells for modern materials and the benefits of medical science.

However, the basic idea of replacing a lost tooth with an implant remains the same. The teeth we are able to secure, look and feel exactly like the natural teeth around them to the point where, after a while, even the patient will forget that he or she has a fake tooth on a dental implant.

Space Age Material

It is interesting to note that NASA uses the same material to make space objects, including parts of the spacecraft, out of the same material we use to fabricate dental implants. Titanium is one of the most durable and strongest metals that holds application in many places. Titanium can withstand a tremendous strain, including titanium that is in the mouth. In addition to the strength this metal brings to dental implants, it is also extremely biocompatible, meaning that it fuses effortlessly with the bone for maximum stability.

Dental implants serve a dual purpose

Dental implants provide an anchor for the new teeth, also known as dental crowns. The implant helps the crown remain stable and strong. Dental implants also provide the jaw with much-needed stimulation, which under normal circumstances is provided by the root of the tooth. When the root is lost, this stimulation ceases, often leading to a deterioration of the quality and density of the bone mass in the jawbone. Dental implants help the jawbone to regain lost mass.

Call our dental office at (619) 805-4248 for more information.

Recent Posts

Can You Get Dental Implants If You Have Gum Disease

Gum disease, if left untreated, often results in tooth loss, leaving many patients to wonder if they can get dental implants. Even gum disease patients who do not develop the advanced form of the disease, known as periodontitis, may want to replace missing or decayed teeth with implants. Is this possible, or will unhealthy gums…

Using An Electric Toothbrush After Getting Dental Implants

For those who severely damage or lose a permanent tooth, dental implants can restore the appearance and function of a healthy smile. This option produces a durable and more natural-looking replacement than other alternatives, such as crowns or bridges. While the treatment process can be lengthy, most patients find they can return to a normal…

How To Prevent An Infection After Getting Dental Implants

For many people, dental implants are life-changing, as they drastically improve the appearance of the smile and increase overall comfort and function. That said, the process of installing implants is invasive, requiring several surgeries. As with any surgery, proper care post-implantation is key to preventing infection and ensuring the procedure’s success.Any area of the body…

Can Dental Implants Be Removed?

Learning more about how dental implants work will help you when it comes to choosing a tooth replacement option. The entire implant placement process can take many months to complete, which means you need to make sure this is the right replacement option for you. One of the many reasons people who are missing teeth…


Recent Posts

How Your Invisalign Aligners Are Custom Fitted For You

How Your Invisalign Aligners Are Custom Fitted For You

Invisalign® is a system of transparent aligners that are custom-made to fit a person's teeth. Like braces, it corrects alignment by delivering different levels of pressure to individual teeth. Since everyone has a unique smile, you will need a custom-made pair of Invisalign clear aligners. This article provides information on how clear aligners are custom-made…

The Benefits Of Invisalign Treatment For Straightening Teeth

The Benefits Of Invisalign Treatment For Straightening Teeth

Thinking about getting Invisalign®? Read on to learn some of the benefits of choosing this teeth-straightening treatment. Most people want a beautiful smile, but many people do not want to undergo teeth-straightening treatments that involve conspicuous metal braces. Fortunately, another option called Invisalign involves wearing transparent aligner trays over time to correct tooth misalignment. A…