In the vast majority of circumstances, dental implants in Yaletown Vancouver are a lifelong solution for tooth loss. Thanks to the biocompatibility of the titanium implants with your natural bone tissue, your body accepts the implant as natural tissue that can reasonably be expected to last for the rest of your life. The abutment and restoration attached to the implant are more vulnerable to damage and sometimes need to be replaced. But even then, they can be expected to last at least a couple of decades. While it’s true that other alternatives for replacing missing teeth — fixed bridges, traditional full or partial dentures, for example — have a lower up-front cost, those alternatives are far less temporary solutions than implants, and ones that need to be replaced far more often. Up front cost aside, the value proposition inherent in dental implants near you is clear.
If you’re looking for a permanent solution for your tooth loss, you should ask your dentist in Yaletown Vancouver if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Your dentist will discuss the procedure involved in getting implants and who is a good candidate for receiving them. This article is not intended to replace that conversation with your dentist in Yaletown Vancouver, but is an introduction to things to consider about getting implants.
To qualify for dental implants in Yaletown Vancouver, you require a minimum volume and density of bone tissue in your jaw. If an initial review of your jaw (including via dental images) reveals substandard bone density or volume, you may be able to improve that situation to the extent you can sustain implants through bone grafting. Alternatively, there are miniature and zygomatic implants that require less bone support or rely on bone tissue in other bones in your face other than your jaw.
Implants are a solution for replacing single missing teeth and multiple missing teeth. Multiple missing teeth do not require an implant to be placed in the location of each original natural tooth. A single implant rooted in your jaw is strong enough to support more than one tooth. Implants can support variations on traditional bridges and dentures by providing anchoring points for restorations to replace multiple teeth. An implant-supported bridge, for example, can replace multiple teeth in the same jaw while being supported by two implants (and without requiring the modification of any natural teeth to hold crowns.) Implants can also support partial or full sets of dentures. As few as four implants, for example, can support an entire fixed denture to replace all the teeth in your upper jaw. Unlike a traditional removable denture, implant-supported dentures remain securely in place with support from your jaw and no need to rely or rest on your gums.
Caring for your implants is simple, but essential. Your implants themselves are not vulnerable to decay or developing cavities, but the teeth and gums adjacent to your implants are still vulnerable to tooth decay and gum disease. To keep all of your gums free of periodontal disease and all neighbouring teeth free of tooth decay — and to avoid the development of the rare but serious implant infection called peri-implantitis — you need to exercise good daily dental hygiene habits when it comes to your implant. Doing so is simple as:
- Brushing your teeth twice daily with a specific focus on the gums near your implant
- Flossing around each tooth (and implant) and along your entire gum line once daily
- Attend your dentist for dental checkups at least twice annually
- Receive all recommended dental treatment and cleanings
- If you grind your teeth or clench your jaw, wear a night guard as you sleep
While dental implants are not appropriate for everyone, they have an established success rate after a decade or more of over 95%. Part of establishing that success rate is the important and careful treatment planning and investigation done to determine if patients are good candidates for implants. To determine if implants are right for you, contact a dentist near you and ask for a similar review and assessment.