Dental Implants Manchester – Why Replace A Tooth Anyway?

03 December 2018

Dental Implants Manchester – Why Replace A Tooth Anyway?

When it comes to dental implants, Manchester patients who have experienced missing teeth may wonder if they really need to replace them, particularly if the gaps aren’t visible in their smile line. Of course, an implant-based restoration would be nice, but in all honesty, why would you bother? It’s an invasive, surgical procedure after all. The simple answer is that you don’t have to. There are other missing teeth replacements such as the fitting of dental bridges or even partial dentures that do a great aesthetic job of plugging the gaps and we’ll address this key point in a while. But first, why visit a dentist in Hale with a missing tooth problem in the first place?

The domino effect of change

You may be forgiven for thinking that a missing tooth at the back of your mouth is no big deal. After all, aesthetically it can’t be seen and it doesn’t affect your speech or chewing. What you might not know however is that what seems like a small deal now, may cause a whole heap of trouble further on down the line. Our dentist in Manchester explains…

When we lose a tooth the first thing that happens is that the bone tissue which once surrounded the tooth root is no longer needed. As such the body starts to reabsorb the calcium contained within and distributes it to other places that need it more. The result is a gradual shrinking of the jaw bone which can be as much as 25% in the first year. Over time, however, the thinning jaw structure can cause the face to change shape dramatically.

At the same time, the adjacent healthy teeth will slowly start to gravitate towards the gap causing them to shift in the mouth. This can lead to biting alignment problems, making them more difficult to clean and therefore increasing the chance of further tooth decay and gum disease.

From an aesthetic point of view, the facial skin which was once taught over the jaw will also start to sag as it’s no longer supported by the bone structure underneath. As you can imagine, that can cause wrinkles and lines making you appear older than your years.

So, with all this in mind, are dental implants in Manchester really necessary?

In a word no! Conventional bridges and partial dentures do a seemingly good job of plugging the gap, restoring bite function and preventing your otherwise healthy teeth from shifting. Indeed, many people go down this non-implant route when considering their missing teeth options. Generally, these options are more cost effective, less time consuming and with speedier results. For example, temporary crowns can be placed pretty much immediately while permanent restorations can be ready in as little as two weeks.

So that’s that argument sorted – dental implants are a luxury rather than a necessity, right?

Well…not quite! You see, despite the ease and simplicity of fitting conventional bridges and dentures, there’s one thing they can’t do that dental implants in Manchester can, and that’s put an end to the bone resorption process!

As an experienced dentist in Hale, once we explain this fact to people, they’re usually more likely to consider undergoing dental implants. So how does it work?

Remember we mentioned that bone resorption occurs when the body feels that the bone tissue is no longer required, Well, when a patient is fitted with partial or full dentures or dental bridges, for sure they’ll have teeth, but the problem is that the tooth root (the part needed to stimulate bone tissue) is still missing. As such and sadly, bone loss continues even with the new restorations in place and is the reason why dentures need continual adjustment. It’s also one of the reasons why non-implant restorations have a relatively short shelf life – in some cases, just 5-7 years.

Conversely, an integral part of the function of a dental implant is a titanium root. When anchored into the jaw, it tricks the remaining bone tissue into thinking that it is a natural tooth root. As such, the bone starts to fuse with it in a process known as osseointegration. Because the body believes the bone tissue is useful and needed, it no longer reabsorbs it back into the body and… hey presto – No more bone shrinkage!

But moreover, once anchored firmly in position, dental implants in Manchester can remain in place for a long period of time. While implant crowns may need replacing due to wear and tear, the titanium implant section – the bit that’s embedded into the jaw – can be in place for many years to come.

The psychological benefits of dental implants 

Of course, the ability to halt bone loss is a great plus for anyone considering implant-based restorations. However, there are other key benefits that you might not originally think of. Our dentist in Manchester explains…

Confidence boosting

Just imagine having hassle-free teeth replacement that you didn’t have to worry about every time you chewed something or spoke. Just imagine being able to talk to people without having to worry about embarrassing denture slippage or pronunciation issues Or, just imagine not having to worry about taking teeth out before you go to bed. How much of a psychological confidence boost would that be?

But that’s not all! Because dental implants have the ability to give you a fuller mouth, they better support the sagging skin around the jowls and jaw area. As such, dental implants can quickly rejuvenate an appearance. In some cases, the transformation can be quite dramatic, often taking years off a person’s look.

Overall wellbeing

The other fact that people might not know about dental implants in Manchester is that they give you back the ability to eat whatever you like. Even when teeth are replaced with bridges and dentures, patients will need to be careful about what they eat as they have a limited bite force compared to natural teeth. On the contrary, implants are super-strong once anchored into position and as a result, patients can eat whatever they like, giving them the freedom to choose a healthy eating lifestyle should they wish.

So, there you have it!  We’ve looked at why you really should replace missing teeth and why you should consider implant-based restorations to do it. If you’d like to find out more about dental implants, or if you’re considering dental implants in Manchester as a tooth replacement option, come and talk to the team at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. As your experienced implant dentist near Hale, we’re a dentist in Manchester you can trust. Call Dr. Karim and the team for a no-obligation consultation on 0161 486 0743 today.