Having to smile with a missing tooth can hinder one’s confidence to a large extent. People could mock you for your
displeasing smile, which would obviously lead to a lot of embarrassment. This can make you feel too conscious of yourself every time you interact with people. If that wasn’t enough, the way you bite and chew food would also change due to the extracted tooth.

Dental implants are a huge boon to people who have lost their teeth. They are the most widely sought-after tooth
replacement solution by dentists all over the world owing to their amazing features and strength. If you’re looking to have a reliable replacement for your extracted tooth, then dental implants would be the best option for you.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are titanium studs that are inserted into the jawbone in place of the extracted teeth. They are hard, strong, and wouldn’t break easily. A ceramic crown would be attached to the metal implant to act as a replacement tooth structure. Together, the metal stud and the ceramic crown replace an entire tooth (root to crown).

Why is it important to replace an extracted tooth?

• Whenever a tooth is extracted from the socket, the remaining teeth adjacent to it would tend to move from their
  positions. This is because, a gap will be left in the jawbone when the root is extracted, which allows the teeth to
  drift.
• A lot of unequal stresses will be applied on the teeth due to the gap left. They can lead to toothache, pain in the
  jaws, neck, frequent headaches, etc. In severe conditions, it can even lead to TMJ disorder.
• Biting and chewing food would differ very much. The gap between the teeth would always bother you, making you
  feel uncomfortable while eating food and talking. In fact, the phonetics would change as well, due to which you
  would pronounce words differently.
• Drifting of teeth lead to malocclusion or misalignment of teeth. Sometimes, the teeth right next to the gap could
  loosen from their sockets and fall off after a few months.
• The biggest drawback of all, a missing tooth will take away your beautiful smile from you. It can lead to frequent
  embarrassment too.

How can a dental implant help you?

• Since the implant fully restores a tooth, it will prevent the teeth from drifting from their positions.
• The aesthetics of your smile will return to normal as the dental implant would be made from tooth-colored ceramic material. Its visual resemblance to a natural tooth is just amazing.
• An implant is long-lasting. Regular professional cleanings, brushing and flossing the teeth, and avoiding biting hard substances will make sure you keep your implants for many years.
• The implant crown is highly durable, keeping its rate of wear to a minimal.

How is the implant surgery done?

The dentist would screen the teeth to check for possible infections, drifting of teeth, jawbone deterioration, etc. Once the candidacy is confirmed, you will be prepared for the implant. Local anesthesia will be administered to numb the teeth, jawbone, and gums. A slit will be cut on the gums and a small hole will be made on the jawbone. This is where the implant stud will be inserted. Once the implant is screwed into place, it will be allowed to heal for a few months’ time, during which the implant would adhere to the jawbone and the gums tissues would regrow around it.

During the next appointment, the ceramic crown, that is fabricated in a dental laboratory, will be attached to the metal stud by means of a connecting element called the abutment. The bite and fit will be checked to make sure the implant
comfortably fits in the mouth. Once everything is done, you’ll have a tooth replacement that looks and functions exactly like a natural tooth.