Questions about dental implants from patients in our Glasgow practice

Here at the Centre for Implant Dentistry we get asked what might sound like a pretty basic question. What is a dental implant?

Simply put – the best way to replace a lost tooth. For many people losing a tooth will have very little impact on their day to day life, however, for others it has a detrimental effect on their quality of life. It is a body part after all. Losing a tooth or a number of teeth can have a major impact on your health, nutritional intake, appearance and sense of well being. There is a well known and documented psychological effect on those people who are missing teeth.

Dental Implants are a lifesaver

And a relatively simple procedure of having a dental implant can improve the situation for many who suffer from these issues. So a dental implant for patients is a real lifesaver. It’s a tool that implant dentists use to improve your appearance, chewing function and general health. The actual dental implant is made of titanium, a biocompatible material with no known allergies.

So it’s a really safe material to use and has been in use for over 30 years as a dental implant. The implant tends to be in a screw-type shape with a hollow internal channel and screw thread that attaches the actual tooth part known as the prosthetic.

The actual dental implant is made up of 2 general parts – the titanium implant itself and the prosthetic (artificial tooth). The dental implant acts just like a natural tooth would in function and it has one of the highest success rates in medicine. It has many benefits over the other traditional methods scubas dentures or dental bridges.

What about dentures?

Dentures tend to be made of plastic and are removable. They are a much less stable solution and who wants to wear a large piece of plastic in their outs. Dental bridges have a major problem in that they rely on the dentist to cut away natural healthy teeth, which can have a detrimental effect on the cutaway teeth, leading to further problems! That’s not a good situation to be in. Dental implants are independent and are fixed in place. They match adjacent natural teeth and no one needs to know they aren’t your own teeth. You can always tell your friends you have had implants as they do look good!

Implants come in different sizes and each individual will undergo a series of investigations to make sure they are suitable and that the correct implant is chosen. That is very important and there are often various stages to the implant therapy to get you back to good health.

The tooth (prosthetic) part can be made from different material, again depending on the person. Often a porcelain type material is used such as zirconia. This a robust. strong and natural-looking material that mimics a natural too in appearance. If you are having a number of teeth replaced or a full set, known as a full arch, then the new teeth and smile is designed in conjunction with the patient, dental technician and the implant dentist to make sure it matches their facial features and that they like the look of their new smile.

A dental implant whether it be replacing a single lost front tooth or a full set of teeth is a sound investment in your long term health and the benefits it brings to your well being.

Got questions? Contact us today!