Over the years you may find that you need one of more of your teeth replaced in order to maintain good oral health. What’s great about replacing them with dental implants is that they look, act and feel like real teeth. They are stable and durable and let you eat and smile with confidence. Here’s a look into how dental implants compare to real teeth.
Real Teeth vs. Dental Implants
There are 3 main parts to a dental implant, just as there are three main parts to a natural tooth.
- Natural Root versus Implant:A natural tooth has roots that reach into the jawbone and hold it tightly in place. With a dental implant, a titanium implant is screwed into the jawbone. The bone and gums then grow around the implant, integrating and stabilizing it with the existing tissue and bone.
- Neck versus Abutment: The transition area of a natural tooth lies between the root and the crown. In a dental implant, this section is called the abutment. This connector piece attaches the integrated implant to the artificial crown.
- Crown versus Crown: The natural tooth’s crown is the portion of the tooth that you see and brush every day. The final step in the implant process is the attachment of the artificial crown to the abutment. Artificial crowns are designed to match the coloring of the surrounding teeth, so they blend seamlessly into your smile.
As you can see, a dental implant is structurally similar to a natural tooth, offering a nearly identical feel, appearance, and function.
How Will My Dental Implants Feel?
Your dental implants are designed to give you maximum comfort, though they will not feel exactly like real teeth. When you bite or chew, you won’t feel the artificial root of the dental implant, since it has no nerves, which in a real tooth can sense heat, pressure and cold. You will feel a normal sensation from the surrounding gum tissue, however, as well as the stability of the implant.
Your implant is anchored securely to your jaw, just like a natural tooth, so if won’t wiggle or shift. Made of titanium metal, it easily holds up to the pressure and forces of eating and chewing. If cared for properly, your dental implants can last a lifetime. Crowns may need to replaced after ten to twenty years, though they may last up to twenty-five years, depending on care and location of the crown in the mouth.
At Good Samaritan we use Straumann Dental Implants, which are made of the same surgical grade titanium alloy used in artificial joint replacements such as knees, hip, shoulder, and ankles. This material is the finest available for dental implants.
How Dental Implants Function Over Time
You can eat what you like and have confidence in your smile, knowing your implant blends seamlessly with your natural teeth. And over time, implants continue to act and function like real teeth as long as they’re cared for properly.
Proper care includes regular, daily brushing and flossing, just like your natural teeth. You’ll need to brush your implants twice a day using low-abrasion toothpaste to protect the crown. You’ll also need to floss daily to remove food particles and bacteria. Some people like to use a proxabrush, a specially designed brush for cleaning dental implants, or a water flosser/irrigator to flush debris from around the crown’s base.
Be sure to schedule and keep yearly dental appointments with your regular dentist or oral surgeon to keep all of your teeth, natural and artificial, happy and healthy. At Good Samaritan Dental Implant Institute, you also get free follow-up visits each year for the life of the implant.
A Final Note
There are different types of dental implants, and your oral surgeon will help you decide on the right option for you based on your medical history and unique oral circumstances. Call Good Samaritan Dental Institute at 561-833-6880 to schedule a free consultation and see if dental implants are the right solution for you.