Nobody wants to lose teeth, either due to decay or because of an accident, but the likelihood of losing at least one tooth is something that nearly half of us will face at some stage in our lives. Missing teeth can look unpleasant and particularly in younger patients cause a loss of confidence and self esteem. There are also several very important medical reasons why it is important to replace missing teeth.
Missing teeth can cause teeth to move in the dental arc, interrupting bite and causing painful jaw conditions. It is also very bad for the other teeth as they are exposed to more plaque and bacteria. More and more teeth are now being artificially replaced with a procedure called a dental implant. Implants are small titanium screws fixed directly into the jawbone to act as a solid base for an artificial tooth.
Dental implants have several key advantages over other forms of dental restoration. Firstly, because they replace the root of the tooth as well as the crown they are much more stable than dental bridges or partial dentures. This means that patients are able to eat whatever foods they want without the anxiety of breaking any part of the restoration.
Implants also look and feel a lot more realistic as they replace more of the original tooth preventing further bone loss and gum recession. A well-fitted dental implant will also last a lifetime compared tot the ten to fifteen year average of a bridge or denture. For these reasons and many others, dental implants are the number one choice of dental restoration at City of Leeds dentists.
Tags: bacteria, dental bridge, dental implants, missing teeth, painful jaw, partial denture, plaque
