Who Needs Dental Implants?
Missing teeth can be embarrassing. They can affect how you smile, speak and eat.
Whilst the gaps can be hidden by traditional methods like bridges and dentures, they don’t replace the roots. This can result in problems with both oral health and facial appearance. These conventional ways of replacing teeth can also be uncomfortable and frequently need adjusting or replacing.
Those wanting a permanent, long-lasting, natural solution for missing teeth – that not only hides the gap but act like the real thing – need dental implants.
Dental Implants can be suitable for a range of issues from a whole missing tooth to dentures that need securing in place. They may also be an option for those needing a root canal, those with a fractured tooth or even those that have experienced some kind of oral trauma.
If you think you might need dental implants in Bournemouth, the best person to advise you is a dental expert. Here at Smile Stories, our resident implant experts are some of the best in the field to give you the right advice about your suitability for implants.
Whilst we can’t tell you if you need implants without a consultation, in this article we can give you some information on who needs implants and why it’s important to replace not only the missing tooth but the root as well.
Who Needs Dental Implants?
Dental implants may be suitable for a range of dental problems such as:
A Single Missing Tooth
Losing a tooth, especially when it’s at the front of your mouth can be unsightly and embarrassing. You can feel like you have lost your smile.
Losing a single tooth whether it’s at the front or back can also affect the positioning and health of your other teeth. The way you eat and talk can be affected.
A single tooth implant is a long term solution.
Multiple missing teeth
Losing multiple teeth can affect not only the way you look but it can have a real impact on your dental health in both the short and long term.
If you have a row of missing teeth they can be replaced with an implant-supported bridge or denture.
Ill-fitting and uncomfortable Dentures
Traditional dentures can be uncomfortable, painful and can need replacing frequently due to changes in bone density and jaw shape.
Implant-supported dentures could be an option for you if your bone density is sufficient. They feel like real teeth, and you won’t have to worry about what you eat anymore or about them clacking whilst you speak.
Worn dentures for years? You might still be a candidate. It will depend on the bone density. If you don’t have enough bone to support the implant, a bone graft could be possible. There are several new implant options due to recent advances in technology, so even if you’ve been told before you’re not a candidate, it might now be possible.
Other Reasons
Dental implants may also be needed if you need teeth extracted because they are fractured or chipped or a root canal has failed multiple times.
Those that have experienced some kind of oral trauma through contact sports, an accident or a fight may also need dental implants.
Do I Need to Have an Implant if My Tooth is Missing?
No, you don’t need to have an implant if your tooth is missing, there are alternatives to hide the gaps but they don’t fix all of the problems associated with losing a tooth.
When you lose a tooth it can have a domino effect that leads to changes in the way you eat, talk, your oral health and even your facial structure.
If the missing tooth is at the front of the mouth, some people can think it looks embarrassing and unsightly.
Here are some of the reasons why dental implants are needed and why they are often better than the traditional alternatives.
Moving and Weaker Teeth
If there is a gap in the teeth, the other teeth can move, get weaker and crack. There is also a greater risk of gum disease. Teeth tilt into the missing spaces, and the opposing teeth can overerupt to find it’s former friend it used to bite on. If a space is left for a number of years, the surrounding teeth can drift so much that you can no longer have a dental implant.
Whilst a traditional dental bridge can help provide support to the adjacent teeth and stop them from moving, the natural teeth have to be damaged in the process so supporting crowns can be fitted.
If the bridge is being used to replace multiple teeth in a row, the lack of roots in that area can lead to a decrease in bone density (see more on this below).
Implants provide support to the surrounding teeth, without the need to damage your other healthy teeth.
Decreased Bone Density
When a tooth is lost, so is the root. The jawbone is no longer stimulated and bone density decreases. A reduction in bone density causes the jaw to shrink and weaken.
If you have multiple teeth missing this can be a really big problem. Your jaw gives shape to your face. A shrunken jaw will lead to sunken and droopy cheeks, and you’ll look older than your years.
Dental implants replace the root and do everything that a natural root would do. So bone density is maintained and facial appearance isn’t altered. You’ll stay youthful for longer!
Traditional dentures and bridges have no way of stimulating bone growth, and changes in facial appearance are a common problem.
In fact, a full set of dentures not only leaves you resembling your dear old granny (remember the time when her teeth fell out the mid-conversation?) but can also increase the rate at which bone density is lost.
This is because they don’t have any support from teeth or implants. They rest directly on top of the gum tissue. Insufficient stimulation occurs to prevent bone regression and as they can move around and rub the gums, it can speed the whole process up. This means your jaw could shrink quicker and so will your face.
Weak Jaw Muscles
When you lose a tooth, the way you chew your foods is altered. Often people try to eat on the other side of their mouth. The muscles and bones on one side of the face don’t get used.
This causes the unused muscles to get weak and the bone doesn’t get stimulated which can lead to a reduction in bone density. Reduced bone density can cause more teeth to become loose and maybe fall out.
Dental implants will fill the gap permanently, correct the way you eat and prevent muscles deterioration.
Benefits of Implants over the Alternatives
As well as implants being superior to traditional bridges and dentures for the reasons mentioned above, the implants stop your false teeth from moving around.
As the implants are secured into the jawbone they are immobile. When the natural-looking crowns (false teeth), are attached to the implants they won’t move either.
This means that any attached crowns, bridges and dentures feel and act like real teeth.
You won’t need to take them out to clean, go for them re-fitting and more importantly, they won’t move around when you eat or talk.
You’ll be able to eat anything that you want. Steak. Crunchy apples. Crusty bread. Imagine how awesome that would be!
Prerequisites for Dental Implants
Dental implants are a great option for many but in some cases, they’re not the right choice.
Patients need to have a great oral hygiene routine, healthy gums, adequate bone support and density. Those that smoke or have certain pre-existing health conditions will be considered individually for suitability.
The best way to know if you are suitable for dental implants is to arrange a consultation with an expert dental implant dentist Bournemouth.
In Summary
If you want a permanent, discreet long-lasting way to replace missing teeth, you may need dental implants Bournemouth. As they are placed directly into the bone they mimic the presence of a real tooth, providing many benefits to long term oral health over the alternatives.
If you want a brilliant, dazzling smile that restores the way you eat, talk and smile along with your confidence, dental implants could be the perfect solution for you.
Smile Stories offer bespoke Confident Smile Reports to give you a gauge of suitability before having to commit time and money to an appointment. Get in touch with one of the dedicated and expert implant and restorative Dentists here at Smile Stories and see how we can transform your smile.
AUTHOR
Dr Gareth Edwards BDS (Hons) MFDS RCPS (Glasg) is a Poole and Bournemouth-based dentist who qualified with honours. He has a keen interest in aesthetic dentistry and orthodontics. For more information, click here.
