Your teeth are an incredibly important investment. If you let them decay, there are solutions like implants and dentures that can help, but nothing’s quite as good as your natural teeth.
A dental implant is the closest thing to a natural tooth anchored in your jawbone that you can get. From the crown to the anchor point they’re designed to mimic a regular tooth.
But there’s one important aspect which they don’t share with your other teeth: decay.
Why implants don’t decay
A dental implant consists of three parts:
- The fixture
- The abutment
- The prosthetic
First there’s the part that goes into your jawbone, often called the “fixture.” This holds the tooth in place so it won’t move around.
Next there’s the part that holds the tooth, often called the “abutment”. It comes out above the gum line.
Finally there’s the prosthetic, usually a crown but sometimes a bridge or other piece of dental work. This is the part people see.
None of these parts is made up of anything that decays in the mouth. Unlike a living tooth, an implant is entirely inert. It doesn’t have any living parts that can lose blood flow or crevices that can catch food and erode enamel. It’s metal, porcelain, resin and plastic.
Concerns with dental implants
The only worry you need to have about the durability of your implant is the wear and tear you’d have with a piece of machinery or any other mechanical wear and tear. Crowns usually last around fifteen years, but with abuse or great care they can last much shorter or far longer.
You only really have to worry about structural issues from the implant, though, not decay. You could have a broken crown or something, but not one that rots.
Peri-implant disease, or gum disease around your dental implants, can be a problem. Gum disease can cause implants to become loose. It’s important to take care of the gums around any implants to avoid this.
What a crown can do for you
A dental implant is a great solution for any lost or broken teeth. If you’ve been thinking about getting some dental work done, consider an implant to replace any trouble spots. They don’t decay, they stay in place well and you don’t have to worry about taking them in and out. With proper care they’ll last for ages. Call us today at Philip Gray Dentistry to find out more about our implants or any of our other services.
