Here at Sheen Dental we’ve been successfully fitting dental implants in Richmond for many years and as such have seen a huge rise in popularity over the past decade. The fact that dental implants are an alternative solution to bridges and dentures that look, feel and act just like your normal teeth makes it easy to see why. With this in mind, we thought we’d put together five interesting facts about dental implants you might not already know.
Dental Implant surgery in the UK on the rise
According to a study carried out by Kings College London, Europe is the fastest growing dental implant market. In 2012, there were over 10,000 lower mandible dental implants carried out in the UK alone and this figure is set to treble in the next five years.
Continuing research into titanium replacement
Titanium may be widely used in the dental implantation process and for very good reason. However research is continuing on other non-metallic substances. The main one being zirconia. Although zirconia is made from zirconium oxide and is technically a metal, the form that’s used for dental implants is more like a ceramic. It has all the great properties that a titanium implant does, but because of its natural white colouring it tends to be completely indistinguishable from a normal tooth root.
Not simply cosmetic
Aside from the obvious benefits of an improved smile, dental implants can not only halt the process of natural bone deterioration, but preserve and stimulate it too. By implanting the titanium rod into the jaw bone, a process of osseointegration (bone fusion) takes place. This stimulates the bone into new growth. As such, it’s the only form of tooth replacement that has the ability to do this.
Thank goodness for modern dentistry!
A form of dental implantation can be traced back to around 600AD and the ancient Mayans. Archaeologists found tooth-like pieces of shell which had been hammered into position in the jawbone of a Mayan woman.
Just like teeth, implants need to be brushed and flossed regularly
Although dental implants don’t suffer from cavities or root decay and can last for a significant amount of time, they can be prone to peri-implantis. When regular brushing and flossing are neglected, peri-implantitis can take hold. It’s a particularly destructive inflammatory problem that affects the hard and soft tissue surrounding the implant which eventually causes the implant to weaken and fall out over time.
If you want to know more about the implantation process or are seriously thinking about undergoing treatment for dental implants in Richmond then contact Sheen Dental. Led by Dr Harmit Kalsi we have a special interest in dental implants. Why not contact us on 020 8876 5277 or visit our website at www.sheendental.co.uk to book your free consultation today.