Getting older is far too much about becoming limited in a body that used to know no limits. Joints give out, skin becomes thinner, energy is reduced, bones are more brittle. Slowly but surely it seems we have to give up doing things we love. But, with dental implants in Basingstoke, old age need no longer include having to make do with a limited diet of soft foods, or not being able to talk, smile, and laugh as you once did for fear of wobbly false teeth letting you down.
At Glenholme Dental in Basingstoke, dental implants can give you back your freedom of choice around food, and take away the hassles and inconveniences often associated with dentures. They do this simply by replacing the root of the tooth as well as the crown, thereby creating a firm and stable anchor for the replacement crowns.
The advantages of dental implants
The other great thing about dental implants in Basingstoke is that the crowns are permanently fixed into the mouth, just like real teeth. You clean them like you would your own teeth. While they can’t decay, they can fall victim to gum disease, which, when far enough advanced, can loosen both natural teeth and dental implants and cause them to fall out of the jawbone. So, careful tooth brushing is required, but you don’t have to faff around with soaking overnight in denture solution, or dealing with dental adhesive. Add to this the fact that dental implants, if well looked after, can be expected to last you the rest of your life, you can see why they are fast becoming people’s first option when it comes to replacing lost teeth.
The treatment journey
The implant procedure involves minor oral surgery, during which the gum is lifted and channels carefully drilled into the jawbone, avoiding nerves and blood vessels. This takes a bit of time, but is less painful than drilling teeth because there are fewer nerve endings in the jawbone. Local anaesthetic is enough, but patients who are anxious can also have oral or intravenous sedation.
A single implant can support three teeth on a bridge, and there are techniques for using implants to secure dentures, and to support an entire arch of teeth on only four implants.