If someone has ever hidden a smile, they aren’t alone. Many factors contribute to tooth decay, which can lead to rotten or missing teeth. A potentially pretty smile may be over-shadowed by a gap in the mouth. The popularity of dental implants is growing, as are whitening treatments and restorations. More and more people are taking a look at their teeth and deciding they no longer want to just deal with them as they are.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that can support an individual ceramic tooth, bridges, or even dentures. They are most commonly implanted into the jaw bone, giving them the name of root-form endosseous implants. Many implant screws are made of titanium, one of the most hypo-allergenic metals known.

The endosseous form of implants has been dated back to the ancient Mayans. The root-form is replacing the blade endosseous implant, named for its blade-shaped metal piece placed in the bone. This procedure is also done more often than the subperiosteal implant, where framework is screwed into the bone and the prosthetic pieces lay on top of them.

The implants do more than just make a smile aesthetically pleasing. Confidence boosting is often reported, and few would put a price on feeling better about themselves. But more importantly, it may be necessary to have this procedure done to properly chew food and prevent other teeth from shifting. Dental insurance may help with the costs if it’s deemed medically necessary to have done.

The false root can be implanted immediately after losing the tooth or delayed up to three months, depending on the situation. Before any other prosthetics can be attached, bone needs to grow over the implant and the gum needs to heal. This can take anywhere from two to six months. Rushing the healing process can result in failure of the implant.

Normally an out-patient procedure, implantation can be performed by a regular dentist, an oral surgeon, or a periodontist. The patient can be put under a local anesthetic, nitrous oxide, or consciously sedated. An x-ray and sometimes a CT scan will be required beforehand. The situation and severity of the missing member will determine the preparation.

It takes careful planning to get the implant in the correct spot. Whoever is doing the surgery must be cautious around the upper jaw so as not to disturb the sinus cavity and nasal passages. The implant can fail if it moves from the place it was planted or becomes a peri-implant. That is when the bone disintegrates around the surgery site. It can take up to 18 months to try again if there is a failure. There are minimal risks if the procedure is done by a professional, having around a 95% success rate.

Whether it is medically necessary or personally requested, dental implants have come a long way. Many people have been helped by them. They are the next best thing to having the original teeth in place. Talk with a dentist, plan the procedure carefully, and get ready to flash those pearly whites!

Author Bio: Dentist Toronto provides quality dental implants to replace missing teeth and maintain the integrity of your facial structures. With dental implants Toronto you can restore your teeth and your smile.

Category: Medical Business
Keywords: health, teeth care, business, dental care, beauty, fashion, society, culture, lifestyle, whittening