How dental implants are changing the lives of patients with missing teeth

How dental implants are changing the lives of patients with missing teeth

23 March 2016

Dental implants are one of the greatest advances in the world of dentistry in the past 30 years. At Staplehurst Dental Practice in Kent our skilled implant surgeons can replace one, several, or all of your natural teeth with implants – restoring not just your confidence to smile, but also the full functionality of a set of natural teeth.

Why missing teeth should be replaced

People lose teeth for many reasons – accident, injury, tooth decay and gum disease. Whatever the reason for losing one or more teeth, a dentist will always recommend that you replace them. This is because any remaining teeth may move, tip or tilt into any gaps, affecting your bite and your ability to speak and eat. Additional strain is also placed on remaining teeth when you bite and chew.

If you lose several teeth you are also likely to experience bone loss, which happens because the jaw bone starts to resorb without the tooth roots in place. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that help to prevent bone loss. They are also the only permanent way for a dentist to replace your missing teeth.

How dental implants work

Dental implants are small titanium screws that your dentist places in your jaw bone in a small operation, which is carried out here at our Kent practice. They form a strong bond with the jaw bone and promote bone growth, providing a firm anchor for you new teeth – crowns, bridges or dentures.

Sometimes, we can fit your new teeth at the same time as your implants in a procedure known as All-on-4. In other cases, a healing period will be required, during which your implants integrate with your bone. At the end of this period you will be called back to our Kent clinic to have your new teeth fitted.