Dental Implants: A Guide from Your Coquitlam Dentist
There are many ways to replace a missing tooth. One popular solution is the dental implant, a dental prosthesis that provides support for artificial teeth. If you’ve lost a tooth due to injury or disease, you should ask your dentist if dental implants are right for you.
Let’s take a closer look at what they are, what benefits you’ll see, and who is eligible for them.
Dental Implants Replace Missing Teeth
Dental implants are a good solution for replacing missing teeth. They are an alternative to bridges or dentures, replacing the missing root as well as the tooth itself.
A dental implant consists of an artificial root made from titanium that is inserted into the jawbone to replace the root of your natural tooth. Once the root is in place, an artificial tooth will be securely attached to it, with the implant acting as the anchor holding the replacement tooth in place.
Benefits
There are many benefits to dental implants, including:
- Restoring your ability to chew
- Restoring your cosmetic appearance
- Keeping your jawbone from shrinking due to bone loss
- Keeping adjacent teeth stable
- Preserving the health of your gums
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Dental implants require a healthy jawbone and gums for proper implantation. If you have healthy gums and sufficient jawbone mass, dental implants may be right for you. However, if your jawbone has shrunk or not developed properly, you may still be able to receive dental implants through a bone graft to build up the bone. Your dentist in Coquitlam will be able to let you know if you are a candidate for dental implants or bone grafts.
How to Care for Them
Since they behave the same way as natural teeth, caring for your dental implants is very similar to caring for your natural teeth. They need to be kept clean using a brush and floss. Your dentist may instruct you on the proper method for cleaning, but here are a few tips for looking after your dental implant:
- Use a soft nylon brush – soft nylon brushes are gentler on your implant. Harder bristles can scratch the surface of your prosthetic.
- Avoid abrasive products – abrasive toothpaste can cause discomfort with your implant.
- Floss daily – you should be flossing daily anyway, but with an implant it becomes more important than ever to remove plaque from the implants.
- Avoid hard or sticky foods – hard or sticky foods can damage your implant. Avoiding foods such as caramel, dried fruit, carrots, apples, hard candies, or hard shell tacos can keep your implant healthy for a long time.
- Schedule regular dental trips – regular trips to the dentist can help your implant – and your normal teeth – last a lifetime.
At Coquitlam Dental Centre, We Offer Dental Implants and More
Coquitlam Dental Centre specializes in dental implants, offering you a way to restore your smile’s natural beauty and improve your overall health. If you’re dealing with missing or damaged teeth, dental implants are a great solution. Please contact us today to book an appointment.