When might you need a dental implant

Losing teeth can compromise our health and our looks. But getting false teeth is something that many people put off. A plate is often uncomfortable and makes the mouth feel dry. For those people who have lost their teeth through injury a dental implant could be the alternative option.
A dental implant is constructed from a strong material that is embedded into the bone below the gum. It then forms a strong foundation to anchor a false tooth to, rather than having it attached to a plate in the mouth. Once the dental implant is in place it must be left for some months so that the surrounding bone will adhere and grow over it.

This is called osseointegration and can take from one to 9 months, depending on the person’s health and the position in the mouth of the implant. Generally speaking an implant in the back of the mouth will take 6-9 months, but in the lower front it will be integrated in about four months. Once the bone has grown over the implant, it can be drilled for the insertion of a small post to which the false tooth will be attached.

False teeth on a plate can be uncomfortable and hard to chew with, compromising both health and enjoyment of life. If the jawbone is strong and not many teeth are missing, then having a dental implant is an ideal alternative. A dental implant may be recommended if teeth have been lost through injury or accident, especially if the sufferer is a young adult.

Having a dental implant means that nearby teeth do not need to be compromised in any way. It also helps to prevent loss of bone, especially in older patients. Loss of bone causes the jaw line to change, giving an older look than is necessary.
Mel writes about dental implants, dental crowns among other dentistry related topics.