Dental implants Sydney are a great way of restoring your smile after having undergone a tooth extraction or losing a tooth as a result of an accident, injury, decay or disease. Missing teeth can change the appearance of your mouth in a huge way. It can make you look a lot older than you actually are and it can draw unwanted attention to your teeth. This can affect your self-confidence and your self-esteem, it can make you feel embarrassed and it can even result in social anxiety in some patients.
Tooth loss as an adult is a distressing situation for anyone to find themselves in, but thanks to advances in dental technology you can restore the appearance, function and health of your teeth with dental implants. Speak to your dentist sooner rather than later. The longer you avoid the dentist after losing a tooth or undergoing a tooth extraction the more complications you may face in the future. You may also restrict your options for tooth replacement.
The effects of missing teeth
Missing teeth cause an array of issues. As mentioned it can not only affect your mental wellbeing, but it can also affect your dental health further. This includes weakening of the adjacent teeth, because not only do they lose the support that adjacent teeth provide each other, but the remaining teeth try and shift to fill the gap of the missing tooth causing them to become crooked and wonky. Tooth loss also increases your chance of gum disease and bone decay. Studies show that in the first year after losing a tooth, 25% of the surrounding bone is lost and continues to wear away. Your gums begin to shrink and the quality of the gum tissue decreases, becoming thin in the area around the missing tooth. Both these issues result in further tooth loss. It also means that you will have to undergo bone grafting and gum grafting to replace your missing teeth.
Dental implants
If you speak to your dentist as soon as your tooth falls out or you undergo a tooth extraction then they can carry out an examination of your remaining teeth and gums. They can advise how to look after your teeth for the time being and they will put together a treatment plan to restore your missing teeth at the correct time to prevent further complications. It is often recommended that you wait 3 months after you lose a tooth or undergo a tooth extraction to allow the bone to heal before undergoing implant surgery. The surgery itself involves drilling a hole into the bone socket of the missing tooth to insert the implant into the jaw. This initiates osseointegration which is a natural healing process and the implant becomes embedded firmly into the jaw. This provides a permanent foundation for a replacement tooth. With good dental hygiene and regular visits to the dental practice, your implant can last for the rest of your life, the crown or dentures that you use to replace your teeth, however, may need replacing over time. In this way you can enjoy the full function of your mouth and a beautiful, natural looking smile for the rest of your life. Speak to your dentist today and find out more about dental implants for replacing your missing teeth and maintaining the health of your remaining teeth at the same time.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
