Do Dental Implants Feel Real?

13 September 2019
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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There are plenty of options out there when you're selecting a replacement for one or more missing teeth, but not all of them are created equal. If you want your replacement teeth to feel as real as possible, your best bet is dental implants. Here's why other replacements just can't compare and what you can expect from your dental implants.

Why Others Don't

The biggest problem with other tooth replacements is that they sit on top of your gums. Bridges, dentures, and crowns all do this. While they closely resemble the look and function of real teeth, they don't quite feel the same because they don't extend under the gums the way that real teeth do.

You have to remember that real teeth are a lot longer than what you can see when you look in the mirror. The roots of your teeth go down deep into the gums and reach as far down as the bone of your jaw. This means that when you bite and chew, pressure extends all the way down into the bone, rather than just being pushed into the gums' surface.

Why Implants Do

Dental implants closely mimic the way that real teeth work. On top, there's just a crown. However, it's what's beneath it that's so important.

Dental implants have a sort of artificial root underneath them. This is where the implant takes its name from. The titanium peg — or implant — beneath the crown acts as an artificial root, transferring pressure in the same way. It also ensures that your dental implants won't wiggle or fall out the way that other tooth replacements potentially can.

What to Expect

Getting dental implants is a fairly simple process, but one that requires multiple visits to a dentist's office.

Your first visit will be to assess your tooth loss and oral health. If you're a good candidate for dental implants, your dentist will take some measurements and some x-rays so that they can order your custom dental implants.

Once that process is completed, you'll be brought back in to have the titanium implant(s) put in. This is a surgical procedure, so you'll need another person to drive you home once it's complete. Once the implants are in place, you'll be sent home to let your gums grow and heal around them.

Once the healing process is finished, you'll come back in one time to have your crowns mounted on top of the implants. With those in place, the process is complete and you can immediately start eating normally.

Dental implants provide one of the most realistic looking and feeling methods of replacement for missing teeth. If you're tired of seeing gaps in your smile, look to dental implants to fix your problem once and for all.