Tooth Replacement Options – Benefits of Digital Dental Implants

Over the last decade or so, dentistry has evolved significantly. One of the most prominent of which has been in the field of missing tooth restoration, particularly dental implants. Nowadays tooth replacement options extend to not only conventional implantology but to digital dental implants.

With this in mind, it’s worth taking a closer look at how dental implants replace missing teeth and the real benefits that digital dental implants can bring. 

Before we start however we should clear something up…

When we refer to digital dental implants, it doesn’t mean that replacing missing teeth occurs by means of virtual implant restorations. On the contrary, these are high-quality, conventional dental implants that are surgically anchored into the jaw. 

Instead, what we really refer to when we talk about digital implants is the fully digitalised computer-guided system used to plan, design, and place them. And it’s this that brings about many benefits for the patient. Benefits that include:

Digitised impression taking

If you have ever experienced broken or missing teeth that required an impression then you probably remember it well. A mouth filled with messy gag-inducing alginate to the point where the jaw feels like it’s becoming unhinged is something that would stay in the memory for some time.

Thankfully, however, the digital dental implants process involves an equally digitised impression taking process. So rather than a mouth full of alginate, this is swapped out for a sleek scanning device known as an intraoral scanner. 

To take an impression, the scanner is gently and quickly waved inside the mouth and from this, a perfect virtual representation of your mouth is created on a nearby computer screen. The result is an accurate impression with zero discomforts (and mess) for the patient. 

Less chair-side surgery time

When it comes to tooth replacement options, one of the main sticking points about dental implants is that the process requires surgery. Often this could be relatively lengthy taking several hours or more depending upon the complexity of your oral situation.

The reason for this is that unlike conventional implant placement where the bulk of the work is carried out during the replacing of missing teeth, with digital or computer-guided implant placement, the majority of the work is carried out virtually, during the planning stages.

Less discomfort 

If you told anyone that they could experience one or more tooth replacement options without discomfort, then they would probably take that. One particular benefit of digital dental implants is that when it comes to replacing missing teeth, the process requires no cutting of the gum (raising of the gingival flap). Instead, it involves what is known as a ‘flapless’ surgical process. 

Because precise planning has been carried out, the surgeon already knows the exact depth of your jaw bone and the best angle to place the implant. As a result, replacing missing teeth is simply a case of drilling precise channels through the gum and into the jaw and inserting the implant directly into it. Ultimately, patients experience less trauma to the implant site with no suturing, little or no bleeding, less swelling (if any) and a speedier recovery.

Less dental visits for greater convenience

With tooth replacement options such as conventional dental implants, patients will need to attend the dental practice at every stage of the process. This can be as many as six of seven times during dental implants treatment. 

Where digital implants are different is that our team use the exact virtual representation of the patient’s mouth to work off in the initial stages, so they don’t need to be there. In fact, for most people, a digitised tooth replacement option takes just 3 visits.

Excellent occlusion

During a conventional dental implants procedure, the implant is placed into the jaw and then the crown has to be planned to fit where the titanium implant post sits. On some occasions, what may seem like optimal placement for the implant itself, might not be so for the crown. 

With digital dental implants, however, the entire procedure can be planned to perfection beforehand, thus ensuring that both the implant and crown are optimised for the perfect fit. This means that the dental crown is never placed in anything other than an ideal position. 

Your Tooth Replacement Options In summary

As far as tooth replacement options go, digital dental implants represent the ultimate in missing teeth replacement. Tooth implants have evolved a lot over the years and will continue to do so but until new technology comes into play, what we have now in term of digital dentistry is the best that it can be. 

Digital dental implants offer patients the highest standards of precision, taking into account a fully digitised workflow from scanning and planning through to manufacture and placement.  Processes are streamlined and simplified and surgery/recovery time is greatly reduced    

At DDSS/DDII, your oral health and wellness are very important to us and this is why we have invested in only the best technology for our patients. If you have a missing tooth or teeth and are seeking out tooth replacement options, come and talk to us about digital dental implants. We lead the way in digital dentistry in Sydney so why not set up a consultation and let us know just how digital dental implants can help you to transform your smile, once and for all.