There are times when a gap is a good thing. A gap year before starting at university can give you a chance to travel and explore the world. A gap caused by the loss of a tooth or teeth however can affect your oral health, cause problems with eating and even affect your confidence.
In the past there were limited solutions to this problem. You could live with the gap, or you could opt for dentures or a bridge. Over the past decade, another option has become more widely available. Dental implants are now widely regarded by most dentists as an effective long-term solution to missing teeth. Here at our clinic in Edinburgh, dental implants are giving more of our patients something to smile about.
More about dental implants in Edinburgh
Dental implants consist of 3 parts. The first is the titanium screw that is placed into the jawbone. The second part is the abutment, which connects the screw to the third and final part – a replacement tooth, teeth or denture. Once fixed in place, dental implants provide a secure and reliable way to address a variety of tooth loss scenarios.
Dental implants offer you a number of benefits. One of the most important is that the implants help conserve the structure of the jawbone. The natural process of biting and chewing prevents the bone from shrinking back. This degeneration of the jawbone is why dentures become loose over time.
Dental implants have an additional benefit, they help to prevent the sunken and aged look that occurs when the muscles of your face are no longer supported by the teeth and jawbone.
Are dental implants always the best solution?
As long as you are in good general health and have sufficient jawbone left at the site of the missing teeth, implants are an excellent solution to tooth loss. In some circumstances dental implants may not be a suitable treatment for you. So to find out if dental implants are right for you, come to Polwarth Dental Clinic and talk to our Edinburgh dental implants team. We offer an initial consultation where your needs can be discussed in a relaxed and informal way, before a tailored treatment plan is created.