Dental Implants

Implants are anchored firmly in your jaw bone, providing a strong foundation for the artificial prosthesis (crown of the tooth). This makes it a sturdy teeth replacement option, allowing you to carry out your daily activities, like eating and talking, with ease.

Compared to removable options, like dentures or dental bridges, which can slip in and out of their position, implants are not removable and are secure.

Also, implants do not need to be removed and cleaned in the way dentures and bridges need to be. 

Studies have shown that dental implants have a high success rate, lasting for 10+ years on average.

Titanium metal implants are known to last a lifetime and can outlive their artificial tooth crown, which needs to be replaced every 25 years. 

Several factors affect the lifespan of your dental implants including how well you care for them, your lifestyle and habits, the density of your jawbone and the position of the tooth along the jaw arch.

For example, having low jawbone density and habits such as smoking reduces the success rate of implant surgery. 

The fixtures of implants (screws), surgically placed into your jawbone, support and hold the artificial tooth crown. 

This is unlike in a tooth-supported bridge or denture, where the surrounding teeth function as the supportive pillar, keeping the artificial teeth in place. Neighbouring teeth are therefore not overstrained by these structures, hence avoiding teeth cracking or being worn down over time. 

Having missing teeth is not just a cosmetic problem. It also causes teeth to shift and for over-crowding and gaps to occur, hindering your ability to floss and brush. This could lead to tooth cavities and decay occurring down the line. Gaps in the teeth also allow a cavity for food to be trapped and for plaque and bacteria to accumulate, which could eventually lead to gum recession.

Also, when a tooth is absent, it causes the jawbone and tissues surrounding it to atrophy and decrease in volume. This could affect the bone structure of one's face and change one facial appearance, making one look aged. Implants prevent bone loss and gum recession by stimulating the growth and development of the jawbone. Once the implant is placed, it functions like a natural tooth root, allowing the jawbone to grow well.

In this way, your facial structure is maintained, preventing premature ageing, and resulting in maintaining a youthful and vibrant facial appearance.

Dental implants can feel almost exactly like your natural teeth, allowing you to eat, drink, and talk as you normally would. 

With dentures, because the tooth root is absent, over time the jawbone can degenerate and shrink. This would cause the dentures to not fit as well, slipping in and out of their position. As the jawbone deteriorates further and over time, you would have to change your set several times over the span of a few years.

Teeth are an essential part of speech sound development. When there are gaps in your teeth, this causes lisps or whistling sounds. Wearing dentures also requires getting used to; initial problems include the collection of excessive saliva or the inability to properly enunciate certain sounds.