Of all the options for resolving tooth loss, dental implants are unique. How? They’re the one option that replaces both the tooth and the root, and that does so permanently.
How do dental implants in Winnipeg work?
Confirming that you are a good candidate for dental implants and planning for your implants involves a careful review of your medical and dental history and of the condition of your teeth and jaw. While not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants — more on that to come — they are a versatile tool for solving tooth loss in a lot of different ways. The implant process itself consists of three steps.
The first step in receiving dental implants in Winnipeg is to place the titanium post into your jaw. That titanium post is compatible with your living gum and bone tissue. In fact, your body receives that post as a natural tooth root, which is one reason that modern dental implants have such a high rate of success. Over several months, the titanium post will bond completely with your jaw bone. Once that bonding and your healing process are complete, you and your dentist in Winnipeg will move to step two
The second step is to attach an abutment to the end of the titanium post that is effectively a new tooth root. You can think of that abutment as the connection between the root and the restoration that will replace your missing tooth.
The third and final step is to place your new and permanent restoration onto that abutment. The restoration is the artificial tooth that fills the gap formerly left in your jaw. While those restorations are commonly artificial teeth, they can also be permanent supports for bridges or even permanent supports for full or partial sets of dentures.
The primary advantage of dental implants over temporary solutions to tooth loss such as dentures and bridges is that implants are permanent and completely integrated into the anatomy of your jaw. That permanence and integration instill confidence in your full and natural dental function that is often missing with temporary solutions like dentures.
Implants may not be appropriate for everyone
Your dentist in Winnipeg will carefully review your medical history as part of identifying the right solution for your experience of tooth loss. There are some conditions that recommend against implants as an appropriate solution. The following medical conditions can bring into doubt the suitability of implants:
Chronic illnesses that affect your ability to heal and recover from implant surgery — such as diabetes and leukemia — may render you a poor candidate for implants. This is an example of why it is important to provide your dentist with complete medical history.
Patients who have undergone chemotherapy or been treated with other drugs containing bisphosphonates need to be considered carefully during the review of whether implants are appropriate.
If you have taken medications such as Boniva or Fosamax to restore bone mass, additional tests will be required to confirm whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants. These are two examples of how important it is to provide your dentist with a full list of all current medications during the assessment of your candidacy for implants.
Finally, if you chew or smoke tobacco, the negative impacts of those habits on your oral health may undermine your viability as a candidate for dental implants without counselling or support to address your smoking habit.
If you’re trying to find a permanent solution for tooth loss that restores your complete natural dental function while allowing you to eat naturally and live confidently again, titanium dental implants may be the solution you’ve been looking for. To determine how dental implants can meet your needs and to confirm that you are a good candidate for implants, contact a dental clinic near you.