However hard we try to look after our teeth in south east London, there is a certain inevitability that most of us will suffer from some form of tooth loss at some point in our lives, be it from injury or just the ageing process. But there are several reasons why teeth need to be replaced one way or the other- like how you feel psychologically, how you will look, but more importantly, for health reasons. Dentures and bridges have their uses, but for total freedom, the dental implant has become the treatment to go for. The boom of technology in dentistry has made all treatment prices competitive, especially with implants, that were once seen as very exclusive and expensive and now it is seen as a heaven sent, must-have for tooth loss. The use of lasers and computers has made the treatment fast and slim lined and multiple implants can be fitted in only a day. There is of course a cooling off period to allow the gums to heal, but once you are ready, you can have a full set of fresh new teeth put into place. They are as strong as your old teeth, less suceptible to disease and once they are in, they are with you to the end. If you are in the sad place of losing your teeth, chin up, be strong and trot off down to your dentists and ask about the dental implant.

Missing teeth can be a great source of embarrassment, especially when in a prominent position in the smile. They are very noticeable and can really knock a person’s self-confidence, even more so when the lost tooth has been the result of a sudden trauma or accident. But there are ways of replacing the teeth that are both very realistic and functional.

One of the most realistic ways to replace a lost tooth is a dental implant. This is the only kind of tooth replacement that restores the whole tooth from root to tip. Other dental prosthetics such as dental bridges and partial dentures only restores the tooth from the gum line and as a result are more prone to damage and are less sturdy. This can make it difficult to eat certain foods and can cause anxiety about breakages.

The implant itself is a smell titanium screw that is drilled directly into the jawbone. This sounds a lot more unpleasant than it actually is and the procedure is relatively painless. Once secured into the jaw, the implant is left for some weeks or months to fuse with the gum tissue and bone. When this is complete the dentist will then attach a post and ultimately an artificial crown which is usually made of porcelain. This closely resembles the colour and consistency of other teeth for a greater degree of realism.

Dental implants are a lot more solid because they are anchored to the jaw just like real teeth. Unlike other dental substitutes they can last a whole lifetime without needing to be replaced. South East London dentists can assess suitability for implants at your next appointment and also give some guide as to their cost. But whatever the price, it is surely worth it to restore the appearance of your smile.

Dental implants are among the most successful treatments available in the field of dentistry. While no procedure is 100 per cent effective, the five-year success rate of the average dental implant is 95 per cent. This is just another reason why dental implants are considered the best option for replacing missing teeth.

Dental implants are the small cylindrical screws that are secured directly into the jawbone to support a tooth. Usually made form titanium because of its strength, implants are anchored into the jaw before being left to fuse with the bone and gum tissue in a process called osseointergration. Once full fusion has occurred, the implant can be used to secure a post and ultimately an artificial tooth. Because the implant replaces the whole tooth root, and not just the crown that is proud of the gum tissue it provides a much more realistic alternative than both dental bridges and partial dentures. Dental implants are almost as strong as real teeth meaning there are fewer limits to what the patient may eat or drink.

Implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth or even two or three adjacent teeth lost to decay or dental trauma. A series of five smaller implants are increasingly being used as a solid base to attach dentures. This alleviates anxiety for denture wearers and removes the need to use denture adhesive, which can be unpleasant.

Of all the restorative options available to London SE1 dentists, none has proved to be as consistently reliable and realistic as the dental implant. Patients with missing teeth keen to restore their smile should ask their dentist about their suitability for dental implants at their next appointment.