What Are Teeth Implants?

Teeth implants, or dental implants, are today's most advanced method of replacing natural teeth lost to dental decay, gum disease or injury, or ill-fitting conventional dentures or dental bridges that impair oral function. Unlike other common methods of dental restoration, teeth implants offer Singapore dental patients replacement teeth that are structured like natural ones – replacing both the root and crown of a missing tooth – providing restorations that look, feel and function like healthy, natural teeth. So what, exactly, are teeth implants and what makes them so much better than traditional dentures or bridges?

What Are Teeth Implants?

Teeth implants, Singapore patients should know, are composed of three basic components, a dental implant, an abutment and a prosthetic tooth or teeth. The dental implants themselves are tiny posts, made of titanium, a metal that is extremely compatible with the human body, which are surgically placed in the jawbone. Once inserted into the jawbone, bone tissue grows around them, bonding the implants tightly to the jawbone. This process, called osseointegration, creates a foundation, much like natural tooth roots, to support abutments, which are small metal rods that are attached to the implant, which in turn, support strong, natural-looking prosthetic teeth.

Dental implants can be used to replace a single missing tooth, using a one implant placed in the jaw, topped with an abutment and a crown. An implant-supported bridge can be used to replace a span of two or three missing teeth, generally requiring the placement of one or two implants. In cases of total tooth loss in one jaw or both, Singapore oral surgeons can place anywhere from 4 to 8 implants to support an entire arch of replacement teeth – commonly called permanent dentures.

Why Choose Implant-Based Dental Restoration?

Teeth implants offer a lot of advantages over other forms of dental restoration. Since they, unlike any other restorative option, replace both the root and crown of missing teeth, dental implants offer protection against the bone resorption that occurs with traditional dentures and bridges, helping to keep the jawbone strong and healthy in much the same way that natural tooth roots do. This not only protects oral health and function, but facial structure as well, preventing the premature aging that often results from bone loss in the jaw.

Because they are structured like natural teeth, with sturdy artificial tooth roots providing support for replacement teeth, teeth implants look and feel like natural teeth, and they function like them too. Unlike traditional dentures or bridges, implant-based restorations will not loosen over time, nor will they restrict Singapore dental patients' ability to bite, chew, laugh and speak with confidence. Additionally, teeth implants provide better, more natural-looking aesthetic results than do conventional dentures or bridges, and they last much longer than those other options as well – with an average lifespan of 25 years, as opposed to the 5 to 7 years that can be expected of the typical denture or bridge.