It took a while for dentists to figure how to make replacement teeth that mimic real teeth; for centuries there was no way to fix them into the jawbone. But about 30 years ago, that all changed when dental implants became available.
Having great replacement teeth is not just about having ones that look like real teeth, they have to work as well as real teeth do too. And that’s the thing. The reason your natural teeth can chew down hard on foods is that they are anchored firmly into your jawbone. They are not part of your jawbone, but they are held in place in their sockets by masses of fibrous ligaments.
The crowns on modern dentures and fixed bridgework are very lifelike. They are often handmade to match the size, shape and colour of the rest of your teeth. The acrylics or dental porcelains used have the same light-reflecting qualities as natural teeth. So the main advantages of dental implants are not so much that they look better than these other kinds of prosthetics; it’s that they do a better job.
Firm anchoring
Dental implants are put into artificial sockets that we make in your jawbone. We can’t recreate the fibres that hold natural teeth in place, but, because the implants are made of titanium, they get held in place by the jawbone itself. The body sees this metal as another body part, and not an intruder, and grows new bone tissue all over it. The jawbone and the implant fuse together.
Once this process, called osseointegration, is complete, the implants can withstand the same powerful chewing forces as natural teeth.
You get to eat whatever you want, and never have to worry that your false teeth will wobble around.
Healthy jawbone
Bones need impacts to retain their size and density and this is supplied through the implants, which transmit impact vibrations from the teeth meeting together.
Low maintenance
Dental implants last for at least 15 years, and all you have to do to take care of them is avoid gum disease by following your usual diligent cleaning routine, plus visit the hygienist regularly.
To find out more, come in for a consultation at Ace Dental in Camden.
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