Dentistry is so multi-faceted nowadays. The same dental practice can offer anything from a routine check-up, to teeth whitening, to the placement of dental implants. Split into general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and implant dentistry, the world of teeth has become so vast that you might think you know of a treatment, but now the how or why. So, in the spirit of this conundrum: what are dental implants, and what do I need to know if I’m considering them?

What are dental implants?

Dental implants replace missing teeth and fill the gaps in your smile. They comprise of two parts: a tooth ‘root’ made of titanium that resembles a screw, and a crown. The root is made of titanium because the metal invites your jawbone to heal around it, fusing it in place and creating a stable and wobble-free base for the crown. The crown is the part of the dental implant that looks like a tooth: it is tooth-coloured, tooth-shaped, and fixed to the root to perfectly match your natural teeth.

How are dental implants placed?

Dental implant placement differs from patient to patient depending on individual healing time and needs. If you’re found suitable, for example, but don’t have enough jaw bone to support the root, alternative methods to create and strengthen this bone will be suggested before treatment. Typically, your dental implant is placed in two different stages. The root is placed first by drilling into your jaw bone, but don’t worry! We use a local anaesthetic, so you shouldn’t feel any pain. We let the area (or areas) settle and heal properly for a few weeks and even up to a few months before we place the crowns. The mouth is a sensitive cavity that your body tries hard to regulate, so we don’t want to impair its healing by rushing your dental implant treatment! The crowns are then placed in another appointment and your new smile is ready for a test-drive!

What do dental implants look like?

There may be a few concerns floating around that dental implants will look so glaringly obvious and, well, fake in comparison to your natural teeth. Actually, when they’re crafted and placed by skilled dentist, you’d be surprised how unambiguously tooth-like they are. Colour-matched and even shape-matched to your natural teeth, your dental implant will blend into your smile seamlessly. There will be no joke shop-like, bright white, stand-out teeth, just a decidedly ordinary-looking replacement that nobody need know about unless you tell them.

Why should I replace missing teeth with dental implants?

There’s absolutely no doubt about how missing teeth affect your health. Leaving an empty space in lieu of replacing a missing tooth or teeth can lead to lots of dental maladies. The neighbouring teeth can move and drift into the gap and affect your bite, your chances of developing gum disease and cavities heighten, and your jaw bone loses strength in the area too. As well as pure aesthetic reasons, receiving dental implants to take the place of missing teeth is vastly beneficial to your dental and oral health.

How do you clean a dental implant?

Well, how do you clean your natural teeth? Good old-fashioned toothbrush, toothpaste, and dental floss is all you need for effective dental implant cleaning. Because they function exactly like natural teeth, they only need the same cleaning natural teeth do too. There’s no specialised methods or products, we’d just advise that you continue your attend your dental check-ups and follow-up appointments after your treatment to ensure that you’re healing how you should be. Otherwise, brushing and flossing can continue as normal.

We feel that we’ve demystified dental implants, making them much more accessible to those who are seeking to replace missing teeth. If you’re looking for dental implants in Kent, why not visit Roseacre Cottage Dental for your initial implant consultation?

Enquire online or speak to a friendly member of the team on 01622 730 548 today!