Published May 30, 2018October 9, 2018 in Blog by Guelph Village Dental

If you’re missing one or more teeth, it’s not as rare as you might think. Estimates are that at least 2/3 of people have lost at least one tooth by the age of 50, and many lose one or more teeth much younger than that. Either way, young or old, missing teeth aren’t something to be ashamed of – it’s something you should have fixed!

If you’re looking for a permanent solution to tooth loss, dental implant restoration is what you want. This isn’t the fastest way to restore teeth, but an implant is the best way to replace a missing tooth/teeth.

What You Need to Know About Dental Implant Restoration in Guelph

Getting a dental implant is a two-step process. The first step is surgical: A small titanium screw is implanted directly into your jawbone, at the site of the lost tooth. The bone around the implant grows into the implant (a process called osseintegration) over a 3 to 5 month period. The dentist then crafts a false tooth, generally from porcelain or other ceramics, which attaches directly onto the implanted screw.

The result is a look that’s 100% natural. There’s no metalwork like you get with bridges or dentures, nor any need to ever remove the tooth. (In fact, you can’t.) For all intents and purposes, it’s as close to a natural tooth as possible.

The implanted screw requires cleaning, just as a natural tooth would, but cannot develop a cavity.

The Benefits of Dental Implant Restoration

There are several long-term benefits to Guelph dental implants as well:

Maintain your jawbone. A dental implant tricks the jaw into thinking a tooth is present, so your jawbone continues to maintain itself without degrading.
No dietary or other lifestyle changes. Implants are the only option in false teeth that don’t require you to change your habits.
Indistinguishable from the outside. Your friends, family, and co-workers will have no idea you have a false tooth unless you tell them.
A long-term solution. Bridges and dentures wear out in 5-8 years, and so must be continually replaced. An implant is a longer-term solution.