Dental implants: the advantages of permanent tooth replacement

More often than not, dental implants are the best solution to tooth loss. Richmond clinic Sheen Dental Implants offers implant treatment to patients of all ages who have lost one or more of their natural teeth. In combination with dentures, crowns, or bridgework, implants are designed to create restorations that are natural in terms of both action and appearance.

tooth-replacementMany patients come to our Richmond dental practice because they are experiencing problems with the fit of their dentures. Modern traditional dentures both look and function in a realistic manner, yet nevertheless the majority of people who wear them will encounter some problems.

Loose-fitting dentures can make it difficult to eat anything but soft foods, potentially risking your ability to get good nutrition. They can also impact upon speech and, when they become so loose they start to slip or even fall out in public, can have negative consequences for your social life.

These denture problems are primarily caused by the jaw bone shrinking, which happens when natural tooth roots are missing. Because dental implants are bionic tooth roots, they help to prevent these issues – not just holding your teeth securely in your mouth, but also helping to ensure that your jaw bone remains healthy and strong.

People who have already experienced bone loss are sometimes turned away by their dentist if they enquire about implant treatment. However, at our Richmond dental clinic we are able to treat such cases successfully, by carrying out additional bone expansion or bone grafting procedures before placing dental implants.

The placement of dental implants requires minor oral surgery, which can be carried out under local anaesthetic or conscious sedation at our Richmond clinic. As soon as the implants are in place in your jaw bone a process called osseointegration begins, which sees the implants form a very strong bond with the bone.

Typically, osseointegration takes between three and nine months to complete, although every case differs. Your dentist will let you know your projected treatment time when you come to our Richmond clinic for a consultation.

After healing, you’ll be called back to our Richmond clinic to have your permanent new teeth attached.