Protecting Our Kids' Smiles

Not so long ago, your options were rather limited if you lost a tooth due to decay or injury. The team at your local dental surgery could make you a convincing removable partial denture, which would be a prosthetic tooth attached to a pink base that was specially designed to look like the soft tissue inside your mouth. This would assist with eating, and would certainly look natural, and yet it could still be inconvenient.

The replacement of a single tooth using a partial denture has become less popular with the advent of dental implants. You've probably heard about dental implants, but did you know just how sophisticated they were? They're an amazing use of technology that blends seamlessly with your body. So how do they work?

A Robot Tooth?

A small tube is inserted into your jawbone, and this is the actual implant. It's usually made of titanium, but there are a number of other options depending on your budget. The metallic tube is then left in your mouth for a predetermined amount of time as it fuses with your jawbone. Your tissues actually heal around the metal tube and it becomes part of your body. It's small and discreet, so you don't need to worry about looking like a robot or a James Bond villain.

A Realistic Tooth

While the metallic tube is fusing with your jawbone, your dentist will have been fabricating a prosthetic tooth. A dental impression will have been taken, so the tooth will be perfectly shaped. A wide range of colours are available, meaning it will match your existing teeth. After the tube is secure (which can take several months, depending on your dentist's recommendation), a tiny abutment is then secured to the implant. The abutment is what attaches the prosthetic tooth to the metallic implant.

You Still Need to Brush!

Your dental implant will look totally natural, and only you and your dentist will know. You will still need to brush your teeth, but the prosthetic tooth will not be susceptible to cavities. It's made of long-lasting porcelain or zirconia, and cannot be affected by dietary acid and sugar as a natural tooth can be. Decay in your other teeth can potentially degrade your gums, destabilising the implant, so an implant is never an excuse to neglect your dental hygiene. With proper care, your implant can potentially last a lifetime.

Dental implants are nothing short of fascinating, and while they're not the cheapest option, they are arguably the best when it comes to replacing a tooth. Consult resources like Manuka Dental Care to learn more.