Dental Implant 101: What You Should Know
No one should have to live with the discomfort, embarrassment, or inconvenience that comes with a missing tooth. Fortunately, many restorative dental options can effectively replace missing teeth with comfortable, natural-looking alternatives, such as dental implants. If you're interested in improving the appearance and function of your smile with dental implants, the trusted team at the Blakeney Dental is here to help you every step of the way. Here's what you should know before scheduling your consultation.
What is a Dental Implant?
A dental implant is a device that is used to replace a missing tooth's root. Dental implants are most commonly composed of metal, such as titanium, and are inserted into a person's jaw bone to create a strong foundation for a dental crown to be adhered to. Your dentist may recommend a dental implant to resolve common oral health concerns, such as extensive tooth decay, a tooth injury, or a severe fracture.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Dental implants can improve a person suffering from a severely damaged or missing tooth in many ways. Some of these include:
Improving a person's smile: Dental implants look like natural teeth.
Permanent: Because they are fused to your jaw bone, they'll never have to be replaced.
Easily Eat and Speak: You won't have to worry about them shifting or falling out like traditional dentures might.
Durable: By practicing good oral hygiene, dental implants can last a lifetime.
Convenient: They're as easy to care for as your natural teeth.
Comfortable: Dental implants feel like your natural teeth; they'll never have to be resized or adjusted.
While bridges and dentures are also popular options to replace missing teeth, only dental implants offer the comfort, convenience, and natural appearance of dental implants. No one will ever know that they aren't your natural teeth.
Types of Dental Implants
There are two types of dental implants:
Endosteal: A titanium screw-shaped rod is inserted into the patient's jaw bone, providing a strong foundation for the abutment and dental crown to be attached to later.
Subperiosteal: When a patient doesn't have enough jaw structure to support an endosteal implant and is not suitable for bone augmentation surgery, a subperiosteal implant can be placed below the patient's gum line on top of their jaw bone.
Are You a Good Candidate for a Dental Implant?
Not everyone will a damaged or missing tooth will be a good candidate to receive a dental implant. The best candidates for dental implants are those with otherwise healthy teeth and gums who also have an adequate jaw structure to support the implant. If your jaw bone is not in good enough condition to hold a dental implant, you may be able to expand your jaw bone with bone augmentation surgery. It's also worth noting that dental implants are not good options for people whose mouth and jaw are not done developing, such as children.
What to Expect from a Dental Implant Procedure
While dental implant procedures may sound scary, they are very common procedures that are accompanied by great success and minimal discomfort. If your dentist determines that you are a good candidate for a dental implant, here's what you can expect before, during, and after your procedure.
The dentist will go over your medical history and create a customized treatment plan to address your oral health concerns,
Then, he will numb the surrounding area of the tooth and insert the titanium rod into your jaw bone.
He may send your home with a temporary dental bridge to use in place of your missing tooth while your gums and jaw heal over the next six to twelve months.
After your mouth has fully healed, you will have a second procedure in which an abutment will be installed to hold the dental crown in place.
Once the implant and abutment are in place, your customized replacement tooth will be installed.
You may be uncomfortable after your dental implant procedures, but over-the-counter medications can help. It's important to avoid using a straw, spitting, and smoking while your implant heals, as well as keep it clean with an antibacterial rinse. Once your replacement tooth has been put in place, the best way to ensure it continues to look great and function properly is to practice good oral hygiene and visit the dentist every six months for routine exams and professional cleanings.
There's no need to suffer from the effects of a damaged smile for one more day. Contact us online or give us a call at (704) 386-6795 to learn more about how dental implants could benefit you today!