All you need to know about Dental Implants
Nature in itself, is complete. Especially when it comes to our biology as human beings. A pair of eyes, apair of ears, one nose with two nostrils, four limbs; two hands and two legs, and 32 white enamel filled teeth (20, if you're still a young one). That's the natural formation.
However, even the best of orders and natural designs can get flawed, especially over time. Perhaps there's no other part of the body where this couldn't be any truer than with the teeth.
The teeth are considered one of the most hardworking parts of the human body. They chew, grind, tear more than 3 times a day; 7 days a week, continuously for months and years. They're also probably themost overlooked and underappreciated parts of the body. At least 30 percent of Americans do not brush their teeth twice a day, which is the recommended number of times you should care for your teeth. A larger number does not even bother to floss.
This leaves the teeth grinding over and over for extended periods of times, and while depreciation may be more of an accounting concept, it is one that applies to every single aspect of life. Continuous use without proper maintenance can only lead to untimely breakdown, and the teeth are no exception.
The results? Tooth decay, discoloration, tooth aches, oversensitivity, bleeding gums, cavities, tooth erosion, complete tooth loss are just few problems you could face amongst many others.
Even too much care of the teeth can lead to serious problems. Too much or violent flossing leads to inflammation, overuse of liquid solutions could lead to abscesses, and a host of other problems.
But it doesn't end there. The problems with teeth go beyond just the mouth. Bad teeth problems can affect just how you stand in public. Imagine not being able to smile properly, just because you're afraid of how people would react to teeth that are misshapen, missing, filled with plaque or have odd colors.
Also imagine cutting yourself off from a lot of the things you love because you can't bear the pain that comes when you try to take a bite. No apples. No popcorn. No candy. You have to constantly watch what you eat, because any mistake means untold and unbearable pain for you in the long run. What if you can't even speak in public because your bad teeth also come with equally bad breath, so you can only nod and shake your head when being spoken to.
That's no way to live life, really.
Solutions? Of course.
There has to be a way to fix your teeth problems, and luckily there just so happens to be. And they come in the form of dental implants.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are simply fixtures; surgical fixtures, that are meant to complement any corrections made to dentition. You could say dental implants are a sort of eraser; made to clean any errors that arise with a person's teeth.
Dental implants imitate actual teeth, and that's just how they function. By imitating the part of a tooth or teeth that they're replacing, they seek to correct any errors that previously existed. They usually consist of man-made materials, such as ceramics or titanium.
In a nutshell, dental implants provide support for artificial dentition.
What are dental implants used for?
As the name implies, dental implants are implants or fixtures relating to the teeth. Dental implants are primarily used to support any kind of prosthetics for dentition, such as false teeth. In simpler terms, if you were to have any medical corrections to your teeth that were artificial, then dental implants would aid such a correction, ensuring they fit just fine.
Dental implants correct a lot of teeth problems. Some dental implants are used to just replace individual missing teeth. Some others are used to replace whole sets of teeth, while some are used to fill holes and cavities. That's not all. Dental implants can also be used to fix spaces, or realign teeth to correct overcrowding and overspacing. They can also be used to correct unnecessary movement of teeth.
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Dental implants can be tricky. That's because not everyone should get them, as not everyone can get them. You could run many risks from getting a dental implant, such as injury, bleeding gums,or worst case scenario, damaged nerve endings. Let's not even talk about the pain and discomfort a lot of people may face.
Dental Implants are just like transplants, in the sense that some conditions need to first be met before they can be placed. To get dental implants, here are some of the things you need to have;
- You need to have healthy gums
- You need to have enough bones/ a suitable bone structure in order to accommodate the implant. This also comes in handy in the event that a bone graft is required.
- Your oral hygiene must be in excellent form. A good medical oral health history is important as well. This includes regular visits to the dentist for proper management before and after the implants have been made.
How Much do Dental Implants Usually cost?
An implant could cost as much as $3,000 to $4,500 per implant, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry. Insurance could cover a part of this cost, although it mostly covers justbelow 10 per cent of the cost.