An age old problem

close up shot of an old woma's teeth

It is almost inevitable that people will lose some of their teeth during their lifetimes. In fact, statistics show that tooth loss in adults is on average 7 teeth with only 25 teeth remaining of the original 32, not including wisdom teeth.

So patients need to feel rest assured that they will not be judged for problems that they begin to face over their lifetimes and that when they are looking for dental implants in Melbourne, that they will find modern technology coupled with a warm and welcoming service.

There is a huge array of different options available these days regarding this procedure, depending on the amount of teeth lost and the condition of the gums. It is important to understand that dentists will initially evaluate each patient in a case-by-case situation to see if they are viable for this treatment.

Heavy smokers and those with pre-existing conditions such as heart disease or diabetes will need to have further evaluation before consent can be given, but generally if a person is healthy and their gums are without disease, then an implant can be a solution to missing teeth.

Why would somebody bother with this procedure?

Not only does this help to improve self esteem by giving patients back a natural smile, it can also reanimate the facial structure which can sag and change when teeth go missing.

Speech is most likely to be improved as speech patterns are designed to utilise the tongue and teeth together, whilst poor fitting dentures can slip and make people mumble due to fear of them losing their teeth.

There are also several reasons from a health practitioner’s perspective that would encourage a patient to have this treatment.

Firstly, if the jawbone does not receive pressure from a tooth, it begins to degrade so that the body can use the nutrients elsewhere in the body. This can weaken the bond between the jawbone and remaining teeth causing further tooth loss in the mouth.

Tooth decay can occur more frequently in those teeth surrounding the area where a tooth is missing, and gum disease, infection or injury is more likely to occur as the sensitive tissue can often be damaged through eating or talking.

What does the procedure entail?

man getting a dental implant in the dental clinic

Thanks to modern day advances, the procedure is relatively simple as a lot of the placement and arrangement is done through digital scanners and instruments. There is an extremely high success rate which is only increasing thanks to these aforementioned advancements in technology. Current success is seen to be at 98%.

Healing time can take from between 6 to 12 weeks whilst the metal rod that is screwed up into the jawbone is fusing to the bone. An abutment and the corresponding crown or bridge can be placed immediately onto the rod, depending on the unique situation of each client.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

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