The world has changed tremendously over the past years. The way you present yourself to the world has taken precedence over everything else. Whether you are in the public life or not, the way you look is important for a good self-image. It is the face that is the first thing  people notice when you enter a room, and flash a winning smile and you will win hearts. Therefore, more and more people choose cosmetic dentistry to acquire a captivating smile.

Cosmetic dentistry basically focuses on the appearance of the teeth, the mouth and the smile. In as much as the traditional dentists focus on dental problems, the cosmetic dentists focus on desired treatments of teeth for good appearance. It can be said, that although cosmetic dentistry provides services for good appearance, it also includes traditional dentistry roles of dental fillings, capping the teeth etc. Only, it does so with improved appearance as the central goal.

More and more dental treatments are done with the help of technological advances made in the field of dentistry. Many dental professionals now look at the teeth with improved understanding. For example, today a dentist will try to save as much of original teeth as possible depending on the specific situation. In fact today, all dental work that is done can be described as a cosmetic dentistry because the professional keep in mind that the face of the person should not look distorted, in fact they try to give the person a better look with enhanced features of dentistry.

Among the many cosmetic treatments available today, dental implant is one of the most important.

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is the prosthetic that is used as a root of an artificial tooth. It is used to restore missing teeth to stop jawbone loss. Dental implants help people eat all types of food, which otherwise may have been difficult for them. It also helps in prevention of bone loss, and provides support to facial muscles.

Who can opt for dental implants?

Adults of all ages can use a treatment involving dental implants. When you lose a tooth for whatever reason, you can choose to have this treatment. Once the facial bone growth and muscular development are complete, an adolescent can also be eligible for dental implants.

What are the benefits of dental implants?

1. Looks

Once dental implants are fitted and are functional, they feel like natural teeth. It adds beauty to your face, and improves your smile by giving shape to your face. This gives a new confidence which helps in enhancing your self-image which results in better performance in  whatever you do.

2. Utility

Dental implants are built to last if you take good care of it. They are secure and will not come off like dentures while talking or eating.

3. Protection

They protect your jaw bones from deterioration. They in fact stimulate bone rejuvenation. It also protects adjacent teeth because they do not need to be ground for anchoring of new teeth or bridges.

Before the dental  implant procedure

Before the actual procedure starts, you ned to discuss the whole procedure with your dentist team. The dental implant is an invasive procedure, therefore the dentist will need to know your medical background. Any health issues needs to be taken care of, for example if you are a diabetic, you need to get yourself examined and ensure that your blood sugar levels are in normal range. Or if you have infection in the gums, or cavities in teeth, then these will needed to be tackled. Similarly any other issue about health has to be addressed before going in for implantation. Your dentist will want to be satisfied with your general health and your oral health before he starts the implantation procedure.

How implants are fitted

A dental implant is composed of a screw made from Titanium material. A small hole called pilot  hole  is drilled into the place where there is no tooth so that the screw can be guided and holds the implant in place. The dentist may use x-rays of jaw bone for guiding the pilot hole.

After drilling the pilot hole, it is widened and the screw inserted. Once it is implanted, the tooth is allowed to get surrounded by the gum tissue. This process of gum tissue surrounding the screw is called osseointegration. This osseointegration takes about six months to occur. After healing, around six months later, your dentist may decide to uncover the implant and attach an abutment to hold the implant down. After abutment the dentist will create a temporary crown around which the gum tissue will grow and surround it, shaping it in a natural way. Then the temporary crown will be replaced with a permanent crown.

With modern dentistry, same day implants are also available if you are pressed for time.

After the implant procedure

The most important factor is your oral hygiene after the implant. Regular brushing and flossing of teeth are most important. Smoking leads to dental implant failures in many cases. Incidental bleeding or swelling may occur which will go away on its own or with prescribed drugs from your dentist.

Well-fitted dental implants are very long lasting and can remain in place for more than 40 years.

Dental implants are very much a part of cosmetic dentistry today because if done properly they will practically last forever, providing you with great self-confidence.