What are dental implants? An introductory guide

When you have lost a tooth or teeth, you may be looking for the ideal solution to replace them.And if you have many teeth in a row that are missing, you may be looking for a solution that not only looks realistic but feels realistic too. This is going to be especially important when it comes to things such as biting into and chewing food.There is a solution that ticks all of these boxes in the form of oral implants, which our team is happy to provide.When you come to the Hilton Dental Clinic for dental implants West Bridgford, we will always be happy to assess your suitability and discuss the most suitable option for you. There are many different types of oral implants, in the form of endosteal, subperiosteal, zygomatic and mini, and we will aim to ensure that you get the one that is most suited to you.So, how exactly do dental implants West Bridgford work and who is suitable for them? Read on to learn more.How oral implants workWhether they are zygomatic or endosteal, dental implants West Bridgford work on the same principles.Made from titanium, each of the implants is placed into the bone via surgery where, after a period of between 3 to 6 months, they fuse entirely. This creates a solid base for the prosthetic tooth or teeth to be attached to.If there are no signs of the implants fusing 12 months after the fitting, then we will consider the treatment a failure and will search for the next most suitable solution for you.How oral implants are fittedAs mentioned before, oral implants are fitted via surgery.This will involve our team taking X-rays to find the most suitable place to put the implants in your mouth and assessing the overall health of your jawbone.Your mouth is then numbed, and we make some small incisions into the gum line in the pre chosen locations. The gum is then gently peeled back, exposing the jawbone underneath, which we will then drill into.After the hole has been made, the implant(s) will be fitted. The entire procedure for a single endosteal implant to be fitted takes around 2 hours, and if you are having several placed, we may choose to spread the treatment out over many appointments.The prostheticsIf your implants fuse as planned, there is then the process of having the prosthetic teeth made.They will be colour and shape matched to your natural teeth, so no one will be able to spot them when you smile or laugh. If you have an entire set of dentures fitted via oral implants, you may even want to have your new teeth created in a whiter and brighter shade. It is entirely up to you!Caring for the implantsOnce they have fused, and the prosthetics are attached, caring for the implants is relatively simple and comparable to looking after natural teeth. The implants need to be brushed twice a day, and you also need to floss between them and see our team every 6 months for check-ups.