Dental implants are used to replace teeth and many prefer them because they look and feel like natural teeth. Dental implants are artificial teeth roots that are placed into the jaw. They are perfect for individuals who have good oral health but have lost teeth due to periodontal disease or injury. Dental implants happen to be more effective in saving teeth than traditional bridgework because implants do not require neighboring teeth for support.
Dental implants are more natural looking than bridges and are fully functional on their own. Having a healthy smile affects your confidence and dental implants can help you achieve a picture perfect smile. They can be used to replace one or more teeth without requiring neighboring teeth to be altered. They also provide bridge support and eliminate the need for removable dental appliances. Because implants are durable and stand alone, they can also provide support for a denture.
There are several dental implants that are used today. The most commonly used implants are endosteals, where the implant is placed into the jawbone by screws, blades or cylinders. In this case, each individual implant supports one or more prosthetic teeth. This type of dental implant is often used as an alternative for patients who already have bridges or a removable dental appliances such as dentures. The other type of implant used are subperiosteals, which are placed on the bone and placed on the top of the jaw. These implants are often supported by metal framework posts that protrude through the gum in order to hold the prosthesis. Subperiosteal implants are typically used for patients who are not able to wear traditional dentures or who have compromised bone height.
Since dental implants are integrated into the bone structure, they prevent gum recession and bone loss that is often experienced with bridgework and dentures. Additionally, dental implants do not affect the neighboring teeth and there is no need to alter teeth in order to support the implant. The success rate of dental implants is high and they are considered an outstanding option for the replacement of teeth.