People who are missing teeth often find this can have a negative impact on their life in ways they may not have expected. When teeth are missing most people, expect eating will be difficult, but they may not realize they can also have a difficult time speaking certain words or making some sounds. In addition, lost teeth can cause a person to avoid smiling. This can have a very negative impact on their appearance and their life in general. Because of these issues, it can be very important for anyone with lost teeth to see a dentist about dental implants in Midlothian VA.
Dental implants can be a great option for a person who has missing teeth. Unlike prior types of replacement teeth treatments, dental implants are designed to closely duplicate a person’s natural teeth. This is done by using a metal rod as an artificial tooth root. In doing this, the replacement tooth can be secured in the patient’s mouth. This will prevent the replacement tooth from moving in the mouth or falling out, which can be a great advantage for a patient.
When a dentist is determining if a patient is a candidate for dental implants in Midlothian VA, he or she will need to examine the bone mass in the patient’s jawbone. People who have missing teeth will often have decreased bone mass in their jaws. Since most dental implants involve a rod being surgically implanted into the patient’s jawbone, it is important there is sufficient bone available. If there is not, the dentist may need to use alternate forms of implant treatments.
Once the dentist has assessed the patient’s condition and determined to proceed with the implants, the first thing to be done will be surgery to place the implants into the patient’s jaw. This is generally done in the dental office while the patient is under local anesthesia. After these rods have been implanted in the jaw, they must be allowed to bond together. This can take several weeks. Once the rods and bone are bonded, the dentist can attach custom dental appliances to the rods. The dental appliances can be in the form of crowns, bridges or dentures.
Missing teeth can affect a person in many negative ways. By having dental implants, many times a patient will be able to reverse these effects and this can greatly improve their quality of life.
