It
takes 32 teeth for a person’s oral cavity to function at full capacity. Sadly, you
will rarely find adults with a complete
set of teeth. According to statistics from the National Institute of Dental
and Craniofacial Research, the average American adult loses about seven teeth. Not
only can losing teeth affect your digestion and speech; it can also make you
lose your confidence to smile.
Thanks to dentures, missing teeth can be replaced and a person’s smile can be restored. Traditional dentures, however, are not designed to fully restore the teeth’s functionality. While they appear identical to real teeth, they are not as tough. In effect, they lack permanence, which is needed to prevent the jawbone underneath from deteriorating.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are screw-like devices installed in the gums and jawbones to replace the tooth roots. Each implant has two major components—a biocompatible metal screw that connects to the underlying bone, and the abutment on which the artificial crown is installed. It takes a few appointments to install a dental implant.
Mini Dental Implants
Those who want to avoid a dental implant installation can choose mini dental implants instead. These implants work the same as traditional dental implants, except they are half smaller. Due to their small size, installation is less invasive, and is possible even for those suffering from jawbone loss. For bigger teeth, however, two mini-implants may be needed to achieve the desired strength.
