Your teeth can influence your whole body and overall wellbeing. When they are healthy, you are healthy too. However, badly decayed and missing teeth can cause many problems such as bite, speech and eating issues.  Replacing missing teeth is essential for your oral health, since the fewer teeth remaining in the mouth the more forces they sustain which increases the risk of losing more teeth. Furthermore, tooth loss can also cause problems to your jawbone.

At Orpington Dental Care in Orpington, dental implants are our treatment of choice for patients who have lost one, several or all of their teeth. Each patient has different requirements and we are here to help you decide which implant treatment is the best for you. Single missing teeth can be replaced with single tooth implants, whereas multiple missing teeth may benefit from implant-supported bridges or dentures.

How do dental implants work?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of titanium metal. They are surgically inserted into the jawbone, where they have the ability to fuse with the bone tissue and create a strong foundation for replacement teeth.

During the second stage of surgery and once the tissue has healed, your dentist will attach a connector (also known as abutment) to the dental implants. This will connect the replacement teeth to the dental implants. If you have implant-supported bridges or dentures, then they will be stabilised with the aid of special fixtures or clip-ons instead of an abutment.

Why select dental implants over dentures and bridges?

There are several reasons to select dental implants over conventional dentures and bridges. Dental implants preserve healthy bone structure and encourage the creation of new bone tissue, plus they can last a lifetime with proper care. A dental bridge requires the removal of healthy tooth material for support, whereas removable dentures weaken the adjacent teeth, can harm the gums and tend to become loose over time.

Am I eligible for dental implants in Orpington?

Most people are eligible for dental implants as long as they are healthy and have sufficient bone left in their jaw. To see if you are a good candidate, contact us today.