Dental implants serve as replacements for the roots of teeth. Similar to the roots of teeth, dental implants are fastened securely into the patient’s jawbone. Once these implants have been surgically inserted, they are unable to be seen, like the root of a tooth is unseen. The purpose of implants is to secure dentures and bridgework. They are fused directly to the bone of the jaw and very commonly provide solid anchoring posts for crowns to be installed upon. Crowns are the non-root parts of teeth that can be seen.
What are dental implants made of?
Most dental implants are made of titanium, a very strong and lightweight metal that has been proven to be highly biocompatible. It is rare that a patient’s body rejects the titanium implants. Alloys of titanium and titanium itself are the most commonly used metals in numerous other types of surgical procedures including joint replacements, bone implants and more. Of all types of surgical devices, dental implants have the best success statistics.
When a person loses a tooth, the bone around the tooth is also lost. This causes the general degradation of the jawbone, many times leading to a more aged appearance. Titanium dental implants give the jawbone back its strength and structure. They solidify the jawbone and prevent it from becoming further degraded over time. It is notable that the soft tissues including the gums, lips and even the cheeks will all be adversely affected by the degradation of the jawbone. This makes dental implants a very enticing option for those missing teeth, or suffering from teeth that need replaced.
Benefits of Dental Implants
For those with decayed or missing teeth, dental implants offer the following advantages:
- Do not decay;
- Never require root canals;
- Very safe surgical procedure;
- Restores the smile, and therefore confidence;
- Crowns are able to be easily replaced if worn or broken;
- Require very little maintenance; simply practice intelligent oral hygiene habits;
Who can benefit from getting dental implants?
Most people are able to very safely benefit from dental implants. If teeth are missing or decayed due to an oral disease, dental implants may not be advisable. If you are considering implants for yourself, then please take the time to educate yourself about all aspects of the procedure. Any type of surgery is serious business and you should arm yourself with knowledge before committing to having dental implants inserted.