Recover your smile with a dental implant in Richmond
Tooth loss is a common but unfortunate reality for British adults, caused by a range of different things, namely tooth decay and accidents.
It might be too late to preserve your natural teeth, but restorative dentistry has prevented us from having to accept a gummy or gap-filled mouth for the rest of our lives.
Do you want to know more about what is considered the best tooth replacement device on the market? Come down to our practice, Sheen Dental Implant Clinic and learn more about dental implants in Richmond that everyone has been talking about.
The components of a dental implant in Richmond
A dental implant is made up of three parts: the implant which is a tiny screw made from titanium, the abutment that caps the implant and connects it to the third and final piece, the crown which is the artificial tooth.
The screw is the root of the tooth responsible for holding the crown securely in place while the crown is the part of the tooth that assists with chewing, eating and talking, and is also that which is visible to others.
Stages to getting a dental implant
Are you diabetic? Is there a chance you might be experiencing gum issues? These are some of the questions that we will pose to you in our first meeting. A full examination of your mouth will determine whether you are healthy enough to be considered for a dental implant.
Red, inflamed gums and a lack of bone in your jaw are possible obstacles that may stand in the way of receiving an implant. Do not let this news dishearten you, however, as there are routines and procedures you can undergo that will make implant surgery possible in the future, such as bone grafts or deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing to remove plaque build-up.
Once you are given a clean bill of health, we will book you for implant surgery at a later date. Surgery might strike fear into anxious patients, but do not worry, it is a pretty straightforward procedure, and if the thought of drilling holes into your jawbone makes you nervous, we can sedate you to help you feel calmer whilst still remaining alert.
The purpose of this stage is to embed the titanium screw into your jawbone, which over time, will fuse with the bone and will become as much a part of the mouth as the surrounding tissue.
Only once the dental implant is fully healed can the next stage of the process take place. This is when the implant is capped with an abutment, the piece that connects the metal to your new tooth. Once secured to its root the new tooth, which is custom made for you, functions like a natural tooth and can be used without difficulty, for eating and chewing. You will also find that your speech will improve, especially when you do not have an unpredictable and ill-fitting set of dentures to worry about.
Are you looking for a replacement tooth that closely resembles your old one? Why not opt for a dental implant?