The Canadian Dental Associations reports that 22% of fellow Canadians aged 60 to 79 have no remaining natural teeth. On the other end of the age spectrum, almost 24% of Canadian children have at least one decayed tooth. If that decay is allowed to go untreated, root canal therapy may not be sufficient to “save” the tooth. In that case, tooth replacement may be necessary.
Regardless of your age or situation, you’ve come to the right place for advanced, minimally-invasive tooth replacement options. Dental Implants in Oakville ON help Sherwood Dental live up to its tagline of dentistry for people who love to smile. There is no other artificial tooth that looks, feels, and functions quite like the dental implant-supported tooth. That’s because artificial teeth and dentures systems that are retained by implants are modeled after natural teeth. In turn, implant-support crowns or bridges and dentures are often hailed as the “gold standard” for tooth replacement.
A world of options with today’s dentistry
Historically, decayed teeth that couldn’t be salvaged with a large filling or root canal therapy had to be extracted. You either had to adjust to missing teeth or get dental bridges or removable dentures. With a conventional
bridge, the replacement tooth is supported by surrounding teeth. Some patients may not be candidates for bridges, due to the number of remaining healthy teeth and the location of those teeth. Furthermore, to support the replacement tooth, adjacent teeth must be crowned. All crowns require the removal of natural tooth structure. Due to how the crowns are fused to the replacement tooth, bridges often require special floss or brushes to clean thoroughly between the teeth and underneath the bridge unit.
Conventional removable dentures also require special care. They must be rinsed, scrubbed, and soaked. A period of adjustment is normal, as you get used to speaking and chewing with your dentures. Over time, the height and density of bone in the jaw atrophies or shrinks, because it doesn’t get the stimulation needed to stay strong from the overlying teeth that are connected to the underlying jawbone. As bone shrinks, dentures don’t fit as well as they used to, and may give rise to sores and irritation, and slip around in your mouth when you try to eat or speak. The process of bone resorption also causes the lower portion of your face to appear to “collapse.” Skin sagging may appear more pronounced, and you can generally look older than your years. Conventional dentures need routine relining to resurface the side of the denture in contact with soft tissues, so it fits better. At some point, these types of dentures will probably need to be repaired or replaced.
While
Drs. Stephen Gaines and
Arti Patel understand that every patient has his or her own personal preferences, unique needs, and budget, dental implant-supported teeth represent an answer to each of the concerns that have encountered bridge- and dentures-wearers through the ages. They are a terrific substitute for the “real thing,” because:
- The implant itself serves as the artificial tooth root. No other type of tooth replacement includes a component designed to replace the roots that stabilize teeth in the jaw. Implants are made from biocompatible titanium, titanium alloy or ceramic zirconia.
- When placed in your jaw during a simple in-office procedure, the implant fuses naturally to the underlying bone through the process of osseointegration. The artificial tooth or crown, or denture is then placed on top of the implant(s). New teeth are secure in your mouth because they’re connected to the jawbone – no embarrassing or uncomfortable slipping!
- Since the replacement teeth are rooted in the jawbone, the destructive process of bone resorption is either halted or prevented.
- Healthy tooth structure remains intact. There is no need to remove a portion of teeth, as is the case with dental bridges that require crowns.
- They’re hassle-free! You don’t need interdental brushes, floss threaders, dental adhesives, cleansers, and related maintenance. Just take care of your new teeth the way you would your natural teeth – with good hygiene at home and recall appointments at the Sherwood Dental office.
- They’re long-lasting! Dental implants can last indefinitely with good oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings, and without the need for the routine repairs, relining, and replacement associated with traditional removable dentures.
The process of getting dental implants and other types of tooth replacement at Sherwood Dental is also easy and painless because you benefit from the dental team’s gentle techniques and sophisticated technologies.
Call 844-951-8855 to schedule an
appointment at the Oakville ON office.
