Dental implants are an increasingly popular way of replacing missing teeth. At Crofts Dental Practice in Essex we offer a range of implant treatment options, designed to replace anything from one to all of your natural teeth. We can also offer additional procedures to help people who have already experienced bone loss, with the help of a sinus lift or bone graft.
How dental implants work
Dental implants are the only way to replace the root portions of missing teeth. Whilst not visible in everyday life, the roots of the teeth are just as important as the crowns. As well as keeping the teeth in the mouth, they are vital to preserving the health and vitality of the jaw bone.
When several or all of the tooth roots are missing in one or both jaws, the bone will start to resorb or degenerate. This not only makes dentures loose and means dental implant treatment in the future will be more complex (although still possible) but can also alter the structure of your face and make you look old before your time.
A dental implant is a titanium tooth root that is placed directly in your jaw bone during minor oral surgery, which most people at our Essex dental clinic only require local anaesthetic for. As soon as the implants are in place, a process called osseointegration begins, which sees the implants integrate with the jaw bone.
Osseointegration takes a few months to complete, and ensures that your jaw bone is kept healthy and strong as well as making sure your new teeth stay where they should. During this healing period, your dentist may fit temporary teeth; alternatively, you might be able to continue wearing your old denture after adjustment.
Once integration is complete, you will be called back to our Essex dental clinic to have your permanent new teeth fitted. This may be a single crown to replace one missing tooth, a bridge or a denture to replace several of all of your teeth.
Whichever option is used, you will soon be enjoying all the benefits and functionality of a second set of healthy adult teeth. This includes being able to eat what you like, and speaking and smiling with renewed confidence – and no danger of loose dentures putting a dampener on things.