When you lose a tooth, or a number of teeth, you might expect the main impact to be the appearance of your smile. What can come as more of a shock though, is the serious effect it can have on eating.
Suddenly, there are foods that you would rather avoid. Apples may become difficult to bite into, steak can be harder to chew and some foods may simply feel too uncomfortable to tackle. If you have lost several teeth, you may find yourself automatically chewing on one side of your mouth or cutting food into much smaller pieces.
There are several available ways of replacing missing teeth, but dental implants have become increasingly popular because they can provide a very secure replacement. For patients of the Smile Dental Practice Bromley who have become frustrated by what they can and cannot eat, this is probably one of their biggest attractions.
A single missing tooth doesn’t necessarily cause major problems with eating, particularly if there are plenty of healthy teeth around it. However, the more teeth you lose, the more noticeable the difference can become. Back teeth play an important role in chewing, while front teeth are used for biting and cutting food. If either are missing, you may start compensating without really thinking about it.
Gradually, you might find that you are no longer buying some of your favourite foods. This is not always because you physically cannot eat them. Sometimes it is because eating them has become too much effort or you are worried about causing discomfort or even damage to your remaining teeth.
Dentures are still a perfectly good solution for many people. Modern dentures can look very natural and, when properly made and fitted, can restore a considerable amount of function. However, they are removable, and this can make them feel different from natural teeth.
A lower denture, for example, can sometimes move when you are chewing. Sticky or particularly hard foods can present a challenge, and some denture wearers become very familiar with the foods that are best avoided and find that they avoid even their favourite foods when they are eating socially, even if they just about manage at home.
An implant is placed into the jawbone and acts as an artificial tooth root. Once the implant has healed and become securely integrated with the surrounding bone, it can be used to support a replacement tooth, bridge or denture.
This stability is one of the main reasons why implants can make such a difference to eating. You can bite and chew without having to worry about the replacement moving around in the same way as a removable denture might do. For someone who has spent years adapting their diet because of missing teeth, that can be a major benefit and a huge relief.
Another advantage with implants is that they do not have to be used only for replacing a single missing tooth.
If several teeth are missing, implants can sometimes be used to support a bridge. If someone has lost all or most of their teeth, a number of implants can be used to provide support for a fixed or removable implant-supported denture. This means that treatment can be tailored to the individual rather than there being one standard solution for everybody.
You may not need an implant for every missing tooth. In some cases, a relatively small number of implants can provide support for several replacement teeth.
Although teeth implants can be an excellent option, they are not automatically suitable for every patient. The health of your gums, the amount of bone available and your general oral health all need to be considered. Smoking and some medical conditions can also affect the success of implant treatment.
This is why an assessment at our Bromley dental clinic is necessary before deciding whether implants are appropriate for you. Our dentists will look at your individual circumstances and explain what options are available.
Once you have implants, they still need looking after. Although an implant cannot develop tooth decay in the same way as a natural tooth, the gum and bone around it can still be affected by inflammation and infection. Good brushing, cleaning between the teeth and regular check-ups are just as important as they are with your natural teeth.
Looking after the surrounding tissues is an important part of giving an implant the best possible chance of lasting for many years.
If you have missing teeth and have avoided dentures because others have told you how unstable they can be, or if you currently have dentures that you are not happy with, why not arrange an initial consultation with us to discuss the possibility of having dental implants instead? You can do this by calling the Smile Dental Practice in Bromley on 020 8462 2473.
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