Dental Implants in Garran
Our contemporary world is packed with new and innovative solutions to many challenges. At Telopea Park Dental, we proudly maintain extensive expertise with the most leading cutting-edge dental technologies. One of the most impactful applications of modern dentistry is the dental implant.
In Australia, adults with missing teeth are quite common. The Ministry of Health reports that of Australian adults, 6.4% were missing all their teeth, boosting the average lost teeth to 4.5 per person. So it's a safe bet that most adults in Garran have dealt with at least one missing tooth. A dental implant is the first effectively life-long replacement for a missing tooth or teeth.
If you've lost a tooth, we can help guide you on the path towards replacing it with a dental implant.
Why Missing Teeth Should Be Replaced
The impact of a missing tooth on your day-to-day life depends mainly on which tooth is missing. Gaps in your front teeth are the most unsightly, but spaces from any missing tooth can cause difficulty eating and affect your speech patterns. Also, any teeth surrounding a gap tend to drift into the space over time, contributing to bite misalignment, excessive tooth wear, cavities, and possibly continued tooth loss.
Beneath the surface, a functioning tooth creates pressure on your gums and jawbone that continuously stimulates tissue renewal. When you lose a tooth, that stimulation is lessened, and the renewal process slows or even stops. As a result, your gums could recede and cause adjacent teeth to drift towards the space.
Once teeth begin to move, larger gum pockets may form and lead to periodontal disease, further accelerating the surrounding tooth loss. A dental implant supports adjacent teeth, and because it attaches to the bone, an implant also promotes bone tissue preservation.
The Parts of a Dental Implant
The team at Telopea Park Dental is well-experienced with dental implants and can help you along each step in the process. But to promote understanding of that process, you should understand the overall structure of an implant. Each one comprises three parts, listed from bottom to top: the implant screw, the implant abutment, and the restoration.
The implant screw, also called the artificial root, is a threaded titanium rod placed into the bone. This portion firmly attaches to your jawbone, providing a sturdy base for the entire restoration. One aspect of the artificial root that lends its strength is that the bone grows around titanium, integrating it into the bone as though it were a single structure.
The implant abutment is the connection point between the implant base and the restoration. The abutment can support several different restorations, from single-tooth replacement to a dental bridge and up to a complete implant-supported denture. Dr Kropinak will advise you on which replacement appliances are appropriate for you, depending on your unique situation.
Finally, we refer to the top and visible portion of the dental implant as the restoration. Like the abutment, your restoration is tailored to your appliance, but more importantly, it resembles those teeth that they replace. For example, a single-tooth implant usually requires a porcelain crown which we may fabricate in our clinic using our CEREC crowns made while you wait.
The Dental Implant Process in Telopea Park
For those who would like to learn more about how dental implants may help resolve their missing teeth, the place to start is by scheduling an exam and consultation with Telopea Park Dental.
We will perform a thorough examination along with x-rays to ascertain your bone health. Then, our team will create a customised treatment plan complete with all restoration options. Since every patient's health is unique, the plan may include bone grafting in cases where their current bone structure cannot support the procedure.
Depending on the reason for your dental implant, your dental benefits scheme may cover a portion of the process and procedures such as damaged tooth extraction. Our team of experienced professionals is happy to discuss options for ensuring your treatment is as affordable as possible.
Our goal is to provide our patients with every necessary dental care and repair option.
Learn More about Dental Implants
If you're suffering from the impacts of missing teeth, you may consider dental implants as a viable solution. We are available to help you schedule an evaluation at your earliest convenience and look forward to helping improve your oral health.
