Everything To Know About Dental Implants
Many people with missing teeth experience problems with their oral functions like chewing, speaking, and smiling. For these reasons, dental experts recommend replacing your lost teeth as soon as possible. It improves your smile and oral function and can help preserve your jawbone and keep the rest of your teeth in position.
Dental implants are a worthwhile replacement solution to consider if you’ve lost teeth from severe tooth decay, periodontitis, natural aging, or sports accident. Like many people, you may wonder what dental implants are, how they fit, their benefits and whether they’re right for you. This article highlights everything you should know about dental implants.
What are dental implants?
A dental implant is a dental prosthesis that replaces a missing tooth or teeth. A traditional implant consists of three major parts: the implant post, the abutment, and the outer restoration crown. Unlike alternative treatments like dentures and bridges, dental implants go into the jawbone through surgery. Visit our dental office for dental implants near you.
Do I qualify for dental implants?
Regardless of the cause of tooth loss or missing teeth, the first step to dental implant treatment is to visit your dentist for a consultation. The dentist will review your medical history and examine your condition to determine your eligibility for the procedure. Some of the critical factors your dentist will focus on include the following:
- General health. Since dental implants are placed directly into the jawbone through surgery, you should be in the right condition to undergo such a procedure successfully. Things that can disqualify you from the procedure include uncontrolled diabetes, a suppressed immune system, rheumatoid arthritis, and taking blood thinners. These conditions can affect bone healing, causing implant failure and other complications.
- Jawbone density. Since the implant anchors into the jawbone, you must have healthy and sufficient jawbone density to support a dental implant successfully. A weakened jawbone can cause the implant to fail.
- Good oral hygiene and health. You must have healthy gums and mouth for the implant to fuse with the jawbone without problems. You must also practice excellent oral hygiene to reduce the risk of infection and implant failure. If you have existing oral issues like gum disease, the dentist must treat them before placing the dental implants. If you don’t have enough jawbone, the dentist can perform a bone grafting procedure to rebuild and repair your bone.
- Lifestyle habits. Your dentist will also ask about your lifestyle habits, like alcohol consumption and smoking. Drinking alcohol and smoking can interfere with osseointegration, causing implant failure. You must be willing to stop before and after the procedure.
Dental implant Procedure
Once you get to the dental office, the dentist will numb you to keep you pain-free throughout the surgery. Then, they will drill through the jawbone and place a titanium screw-like post. The bone heals around the implant post in the process of osseointegration which takes about 3 – 6 months. The dentist will schedule routine checkups to check on your healing during this period.
Once the healing process is complete, you’ll return to the office for an abutment fitting procedure. The abutment connects the implant to the final restoration. You may wait about two weeks for the gums to heal after the abutment placement.
Lastly, the dentist will place the final restoration crown over the abutment. The crown acts like the artificial tooth, while the implant posts act like artificial tooth roots. After the treatment will look, feel, and function like your real tooth.
Benefits of Dental Implants
Tooth implants have numerous benefits, including:
- They preserve your jawbone health.
- They are stable and long-lasting.
- They restore your bite and speech functions.
- They improve your oral and facial appearance.
- They prevent the adjacent teeth from shifting out of position.
- They improve your self-esteem and overall quality of life.
- They improve oral hygiene and health.
Are Dental Implants Painful?
Most people shy away from dental implants because they fear it is painful. However, since you’ll be under anesthesia, you shouldn’t feel any pain or discomfort throughout the procedure. However, like any surgery, you can expect minor discomfort at the implant’s site. Below are some tips to promote faster healing and recovery after your dental implant surgery:
- Rest adequately for the next 48 – 72 hours.
- Take medication as prescribed by your dentist.
- Stay hydrated.
- Don’t eat or drink anything until the anesthesia wears off completely.
- Use a cold compress on the cheek.
- Eat soft and cool foods for the next few days.
- Follow your dentist’s instructions about resuming normal brushing and flossing. Brush gently around the implants.
- Notify your dentist immediately if you experience severe or persistent symptoms like severe pain, swelling, bleeding, or fever.
Are you interested in dental implants in Philadelphia, PA?
For more information about dental implants, contact Elegance in Dentistry to speak with our dentist in Philadelphia, PA.