No doubt, some of you will have spent at least part of the recent Christmas holidays refusing toffees that were offered and perhaps passing on certain foods, simply because you weren’t sure if your dentures could handle them. Let’s face it, no one wants to be the subject of children’s laughter as your dentures end up where they shouldn’t! If any of this sounds familiar, or if you are simply tired of unstable or uncomfortable dentures, today’s blog is for you.
Dentures still serve a purpose and are much improved on what they used to be. The fact that there is no ‘root’ to secure them in place though means that they rely a lot on suction and adhesives to keep them stable. As most denture wearers will acknowledge, this is not 100% reliable and some seem to have a tendency to move just when you really don’t want them to do. There is an alternative though which offers excellent stability and strength and is as close as you can get to a natural tooth, and that is dental implants.
Dental implants were discovered in the 1960’s when a scientist discovered that the titanium rods he had placed into rabbit bone as part of an experiment, had fused together with them. This led to much research before it was concluded that this always happened with titanium and bone. The scientist who first discovered this went on to place the first dental implants into a human patient successfully. This process has been improved and refined over the years and placing dental implants has now become a tried, trusted and popular method for replacing missing teeth.
In order to place dental implants into a patient’s mouth, there has to be sufficient bone into which to do so. This means that part of the pre-treatment phase includes scans and x-rays to ensure that this is the case. Where it isn’t, there are options available such as bone grafts or sinus lifts, depending on the location of the implant.
The procedure is carried out using a local anaesthetic and small holes are made into the jawbone to allow the implant to be placed into. These are then left to fuse with the bone, leaving a secure ‘anchor’ onto which a dental crown is attached using an abutment. Once the process is complete, and providing that you look after the implant as instructed, it can last for twenty years or more.
As with many medical procedures, patients can be slightly worried by them. This is often eased when we hear from others who have had the same treatment. While dental implants are now popular, you still may not know anyone who has had them and some patients are particularly concerned with the idea of having holes drilled into the jawbone.
We do understand this, and part of the initial consultation’s purpose is to explain in more detail exactly what happens. This particular part of the procedure can conjure up some scary images in a patient’s mind, but it is a sophisticated procedure carried out by trained professionals using highly sophisticated equipment and should not be feared. The local anaesthetic means that you should feel little discomfort and the whole treatment should cause no more discomfort than most invasive dental treatments.
The vast majority of people who have had dental implants placed tend to feel that this one off treatment was well worth it. Healthy dental implants do not move around in the mouth, so there is no fear of them visibly wobbling around as dentures can sometimes do. They are also as strong as a healthy natural tooth so whether it be crunchy bread, apples or even sticky toffees (which we don’t recommend for anyone who wants healthy teeth!), your dental implant will be able to handle it just fine.
You have probably heard of dental implants but are not entirely sure if they are for you. At the same time, anything that is more secure than dentures is appealing, so what do you do? The best thing that anyone living in the Witham area of Essex can do is to contact us to arrange a free dental implant consultation. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain. Instead of having to tolerate years of fiddly cleaning, loose and sometimes uncomfortable false teeth, just one treatment could change all that.
During your initial consultation, we can explain the procedure in more detail and answer any questions that you might have. Our friendly Witham dentists will not pressure you into having the treatment if you feel it is not for you and will advise you of other alternatives should you wish to explore those. Why not make the move today? Click the ‘Free Implant Consultation’ button on the dental implant page of our website or contact Blake Dental of Witham by calling us on 01376 501688. We look forward to helping you on the first step of your implant journey.
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Katie Annabel Blake trading as Blake Dental is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Financing First Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Katie Annabel Blake is a credit broker, not a lender. The provider of a payment scheme which is not offered through or by Financing First Limited may not be so authorised and regulated.
