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  • Writer's pictureSheen Dental

How Natural Do Dental Implants Really Look?

For anyone who is considering a dental implant in Richmond or elsewhere in the country, then it’s only to be expected that they are concerned with how natural they will look. Dental implants do represent a considerable financial investment and it stands to reason that a patient not only wants a replacement tooth or teeth that are long lasting, but they also don’t want their new teeth to stand out for all the wrong reasons.


Dental Implants Richmond

Dental implants are the most advanced form of tooth replacement in the dental industry today and offer many benefits, one of which is their natural appearance. Many people wrongly think that the dental implant refers to the prosthetic tooth when in actual fact it is a structure made up of three parts. The implant is a titanium post which is placed into jawbone. In a process known as osseointegration it forms a bond with the bone and fuses to create a permanent fixture and actually takes on the role of the missing tooth’s root. This takes several months to happen and not until the surgeon is happy that the process has taken place effectively will the next step be taken. This involves attaching an abutment to the post which will be used to support the prosthetic crown.


The crown is made from dental porcelain which imitates the durability, optics and form of natural teeth with the result that they look almost identical to the surrounding teeth. The shape and colour of your crown will be closely matched to your own teeth so that only you and the dentist will know that it’s actually a false tooth.


Oral surgery is used during the dental implant procedure and apart from the more complex cases, most patients are surprised at how quick this surgery is. Conducted using a local anaesthetic the process is completed within a couple of hours and a patient can expect to be back at home eating a soft meal later that same day. Usually most patients can return to work within a day or two. It’s extremely important that all post-operative instructions are closely followed to avoid any infection or complications arising which could spell out failure for the implant.


Although for most patients, dental implants are all about restoring their smile and they’re concerned mostly about having an attractive smile, dental implants also offer structural benefits too. The jawbone is more stable with an implant than a denture or bridge for the simple reason that both the root and crown are replaced. When the root is missing, then the jawbone starts to wear away in a process known as resorption. This can also impact on remaining teeth so it’s this important characteristic of implants that plays a large part in restoring a person’s smile.


If you’ve lost a tooth or teeth and are exploring your options, then why not consider dental implants. In Richmond at Sheen Dental we’ve been carrying out this procedure with great success for many years. We offer a free no obligation dental implant consultation so why not give us a call to book yours. Alternatively visit our website for more information at www.sheendental.co.uk.

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