People respond well to smiles. They smile back, they feel happier, they even make better decisions. But missing teeth, stains (from genetics, smoking, or poor bleach jobs), and cavities and fillings can all cause self-consciousness, and make people feel that they are being judged for the poor state of their teeth. Regaining your smile is an amazing experience, and, thanks to dental implants, it is now possible.
However, people tend to worry about what their implants will look like: will they be impossibly regular, overly-white ‘tombstones’ dominating your mouth and making you look weird? Dentists are often asked, ‘Will my implants look real? Will they seem natural?’
The short answer is, ‘Yes, they will!’ Bear in mind that during the process, you will have your own damaged teeth removed (unless they are already absent), and the titanium implant will be implanted in your jaw. Once the implant has integrated well with the bone of the jaw, the dentist can place the crown, that is, the visible part of the implant that looks like the tooth.
All of the above may make your mouth feel very unfamiliar: stiff, over-filled and more rigid. If you have had a missing tooth for some time, it may feel very strange to have that socket filled out once more. However, disregard how it feels, and concentrate on how it looks (which is often the most important reason that customers undertake this procedure). Dentists work hard to make sure that your dentures look very natural and fit well with the shape of your mouth and face.
The shape of your teeth and their configuration will be copied as exactly as possible, so that you are comfortable with your implants. If you are having teeth removed, and the implants put in (which will only happen after your sockets have healed somewhat) your dentist will take a mould of the teeth for the technicians to match. More often, people decide to get implants later on, long after the extraction, or in cases where there is no tooth to be moulded or copied. In these cases, the opposing and neighbouring teeth will be measured, as will the pattern that the implant must feature so that your bite is nice and tight. Having an ill-measured bite can cause jaw pain and headaches, and can also cause issues with eating.
Implants must be created in the lab, and they are made in the chosen shade of white. This shade must be specified on the work order, and once it has been put in place, it cannot be changed or swapped out. Therefore, every care must be taken to get the remaining teeth into the best possible condition before the implants are made.
So what changes should you expect from having implants? Your face may fill out bit more. The more teeth you have in your jaw, the stronger and more intense your face looks. The implants work in the same way your real teeth did, filling out the jaw and holding the two layers of teeth apart. Do not expect to go to the dentist tomorrow and walk out with a mouthful of brilliantly white shined teeth – rather, be prepared for them to be exceedingly busy, and for your implants to take months, rather than weeks or days. The jaw must be healthy enough for the implant to be placed; then the implant must be given time to bed into the jawbone; and only then can the implants be made and placed, returning to you a beautiful, happy smile, with which to brighten up the world.
