The whole story

Last year was a tough one for almost everyone across the country, and for many, our teeth may have suffered as a result of external factors that prevented treatments such as dental implants Richmond from being as attainable as in a pre-Covid society.

Living with a missing tooth or teeth is one of the hardest things that anyone can go through – no matter how long ago the loss happened.

Alongside all the cosmetic and social implications of a visibly missing tooth – which can unfairly alter the way that you are perceived by others and can even affect your employment prospects – there are also many negative dental and general health impacts that having a missing tooth can bring.

What are the negative effects of having a missing tooth?

One of the most obvious and apparent impacts of having one or more missing teeth is a loss in your ability to speak clearly and enunciate certain phrases.

However this is only one of the more immediately apparent and obvious implications, and in reality, there are far more detrimental health consequences that an untreated gap in your mouth can bring about.

If you have a gap in your mouth that is left untreated for a prolonged period of time, one of the worst long-term effects is an alteration in your entire facial structure.

This happens as the bone surrounding the lost tooth is unstimulated over time, and eventually is absorbed and redistributed elsewhere in your body. What this equates to is a loss in facial bone density which can make your facial structure change and appear more hollowed.

What are dental implants?

Thankfully, these detrimental consequences of having an untreated missing tooth can all be avoided or reversed by seeking out dental implant treatment.

Unlike more conventional treatments for lost teeth – such as dental bridges or dentures – dental implants are surgically (and thus permanently) embedded within the patient’s jawbone.

This means that they are far sturdier and long-lasting, and fully restore not just the aesthetics of your smile, but also its functionality.

How do dental implants actually work?

Despite having been around for several years now, there continues to be a proportion of people out there who are unaware of what dental implants are – or how they could potentially transform their smile.

Sadly, not every smile is eligible for dental implant treatment immediately, as a patient’s gums and teeth must be healthy and fit enough to effectively bond with the implant.

However, provided the patient is deemed fit enough to complete dental implant treatment the process involves the following steps.

Firstly a small hole is surgically made in the jawbone where the implant will be fitted, and into this space, a titanium-alloy socket is inserted, covered over and left to heal.

Over a short healing period that follows, the titanium alloy inside the socket naturally bonds and fuses itself with the patient’s jawbone. This results in the implant being forever fixed in position exactly as a natural tooth would be – which means it is perfect to attach a crown, denture or bridge to.

If you’re interested in determining whether or not dental implants could permanently restore the functionality and aesthetics of your smile, speak to a trusted, local provider today and arrange for a consultation to get things in motion.

For More Latest Health Updates and Information about Dental Implants in Richmond, Visit Qieru Magazine.