Replicating the natural presentation and utility of a missing tooth (or teeth) is a difficult task and, while there isn’t anything that can actually fill in for your natural tooth, an implant is the most similar available answer from current dentistry. Dental implants are a remarkable and flexible part of current dental treatment plans. Dental implants can be used to take the place of a single tooth, a few teeth or all of your teeth – top and/or bottom. Dental implants can be utilized as a solid base to crowns, bridges or removable dentures.
People With Loose Dentures Or Partials
Patients with all of their teeth missing and who have dentures and are finding it hard to maintain good nutrition because they cannot chew many healthy foods, arrive at UMKC Dental Faculty Practice seeking help.
These patients haven’t been able to eat some of their favorite foods for years.But, by placing just a few dental implants in the jaw bone that anchor their dentures in place, it’s as if you give them all of their own natural teeth back again. Implants are stable, natural looking and have the strength of natural teeth. Those who get dental implants can smile, laugh and eat comfortably, not worrying that their dentures may slide or make noises or something even more embarrassing.
Athletes Both Young And Old
It isn’t odd that a student falls victim to an accident or injury while playing a sport and are suddenly without one or more of their teeth. Of course, the wise move to make when that occurs is to locate the tooth, have the athlete hold the tooth in their mouth if it cannot be replaced in the socket, and find the nearest on-call emergency dentist. Sadly enough, the logical course of action is often lost in the shuffle. Thank goodness, instead of putting in a bridge that may need to be replaced in a few years, we can place a dental implant that could last from twenty years to as long as their entire lifetime.
Teens (And Sometimes Young Adults) Who Are Missing Their Eye Teeth (Canines)
Frequently, we see a boy or girl who’s permanent smile came in without their eye teeth. To us, it’s a dental challenge, but to that youngster who is most likely entering into high school or just graduating high school, it’s really a dating issue.
In the past, many doctors simply moved the teeth together creating a mismatched bite and the potential for TMJ syndrome. In modern dentistry, we can ask an orthodontist to move the teeth so the spaces actually become larger and then place implants so the smile is not only beautiful, the function of the teeth works perfectly.
Remember, as a rule of thumb, UMKC Dental Faculty Practice will not place dental implants into a young adult’s mouth until they reach the age of 17 – 18 years old.
The best candidates for dental implants have good oral health and are also healthy over all. You should also have healthy gum tissues that are free of periodontal disease. Your jawbone, whether upper or lower, needs to have enough density and volume to securely hold the dental implant. To determine this, we have to determine your density and quantity of the bone. Keep in mind that, in certain cases where patients have lost bone because of periodontal disease, implants may not be recommended until bone is replenished. If you are lacking in bone quantity, in your jaw, this most likely will be able to be augmented with a graft of bone or use of artificial bone to give you enough bone where the implants will be placed.
There are specific medical factors that may prohibit you from electing to have dental implants, while other situations might only stall your implants until those issues can be addressed. Some of these may include:
• Uncontrolled diabetes • Undergoing chemotherapy treatment • Currently receiving radiation • A disorder of the parathyroid • Disorders of the blood • Bone disorders • Bone marrow cancer • Enlarged sinus cavity or cavities • Osteoporosis
To find out if you’re a good candidate to get a tooth implant, you should talk to us. Be sure to inquire about our dentist’s thorough training and experience with regards to tooth implants. Dental implant placement is actually considered surgery and it is important to make certain that our dentists tell you about the experience and training for this surgery.
