Six Things to Know About Dental Implants
Having missing teeth does more than affect your smile; they can also damage your dental structure as the surrounding teeth shift to the available spaces. Furthermore, having a space in your gums will affect your ability to speak effectively.
Although there are different dental options for replacing missing teeth, dental implants are the preferred choice because they offer a long term solution.
Dental implants are a perfect solution, but before you choose to proceed here are a few facts you need to know:
1. Dental Implants Provide a Permanent Solution
Dental implants come in three parts; a titanium screw, an abutment, and a crown or artificial teeth. During the procedure, the dentist will fix the titanium screw into the jawbone to act as a root. Unlike the other orthodontic treatments, dental implants last a lifetime, but they need proper care and maintenance, just like the rest of your natural teeth.
2. You Need Enough Jaw Bone
Dental implants are not for everybody; you need to have enough jawbone to support the implant. Our dentist may recommend a bone graft or sinus lift to promote bone growth if you have severe bone loss. The bone graft procedure can take nine to 12 months for the bone to grow and be ready for a dental implant.
3. Dental Implant is an Invasive Procedure
The dental implants are surgically fixed to the jawbone and you may require anesthesia to numb the gum and make the procedure less uncomfortable. Depending on your gum health, bone density, and the number of teeth missing, the dentist can perform either an endosteal or subperiosteal.
Endosteal implants are performed directly on the jawbone while subperiosteal implants are fixed above bone. This procedure is ideal for people who don’t have enough jaw bone density but don’t want bone augmentation.
4. The Treatment Takes Several Months to be Complete
Before the dentist performs the dental procedure, the dentist will first assess your dental health to determine that you are a candidate for dental implants. Apart from bone density, you need to:
- To be above 16 years
- Have healthy gums and teeth
- You don’t have cavities or decay
- You are not allergic or sensitive to alloys such as zinc, lead, nickel, or copper
The dental implant is a process and is done in steps:
- Initial consultation
During your assessment, our dentist 33407, will use modern technology to examine your dental condition and health.
- Bone graft
If you have low bone density, the dentist will do a bone graft to promote bone growth.
- Fixing the implant
In one hour to two, our dentist will fix the titanium post into the jawbone.
- Placement of the bridge
The bridge or connector is placed on the same day as the implant if you didn’t get a bone graft.
- Fixing of the crown
Once the osseointegration (fusing of the bone to the implant) the dentist will give you a temporary crown first to aid in healing. Once the implant is healed, the permanent crown will be fixed.
5. There May Be Complications
Although dental implants have a 95% success rate, complications may arise that cause them to fail.
- Infection and gum disease
- Nerve damage
- Rejection of dental implants. Though rare, the dental implant may fail to fuse completely causing the body to reject the implant. When that happens the dentist will perform another procedure to rectify the situation.
6. The Procedure May Be Painful
During the implant procedure, you will not have pain, but as the anesthesia begins to wear off, you may begin to feel slight discomfort. The pain can last for ten days, but you can minimize the severity with home remedies such as medication, ice, compression, rest, changing diet, and saltwater.
Make An Appointment
Dental implants offer long term solutions for your missing teeth. At John S. Ledakis DDS, PA dental clinic we offer a variety of dental implants from All-on-4 to conventional dental implants. So if you are looking for dental implants West Palm Beach, FL, contact our dental clinic for a dental assessment to determine if dental implants are suitable for you.