Dental implants are titanium posts used to replace missing teeth. They act as artificial roots and are surgically placed in the jawbone to support an artificial tooth, or crown that replaces a missing tooth. Implants are highly recommended because they make tooth replacement real, giving you a natural and permanent look and feel.
Before choosing dental implants, it is essential that you know certain key information, including how they function, the placement process, and proper care after placement. If well-maintained, implants can serve you for a lifetime, as they eventually fuse with the jawbone. If you can benefit from a dental implant, talk to a competent dentist for all the information you need about it to make an informed decision.
A Brief Overview of Dental Implants
When you lose one or multiple teeth, a skilled dentist will recommend immediate replacement to protect the adjacent teeth and maintain the functionality of your teeth. With so many tooth replacement options today, you must make a careful choice that will give you a natural look and feel and serve you for years. Dental implants are recommended because they provide proper anchorage for an artificial tooth that replaces a missing tooth. They are surgically placed into the jawbone and eventually fuse with it to create a permanent bond that supports the artificial tooth for the rest of its life.
A dental implant has three main parts. The implant body is the screw-like post that a dental surgeon places into the jawbone. It appears to serve as an artificial tooth root. An implant also has an abutment, which is usually a small connector post that attaches to the implant and extends above the gumline. This provides a stable base for an artificial tooth. Lastly, there is the restoration, which involves an artificial tooth that replaces the missing tooth.
The artificial tooth used in the restoration can be a dental crown, bridge, or denture. It is permanently secured on the abutment and is typically designed to resemble and function like a natural tooth.
Although dental implants are highly recommended for tooth restorations, they are costly. A single implant costs between $3,000 and $5,000. However, they offer great benefits, including strength, functionality, stability, and longevity. You will have a significant amount of money in the long run if you choose to have a dental implant.
The placement procedure for a dental implant is also a complex and extensive process. The restoration takes more than a single visit to the dentist’s office. Additionally, you need time between the placement process and the subsequent treatment to heal before the dentist proceeds. It all starts with a consultation and the development of a treatment plan. The dentist then prepares your jawbone for the placement. Remember that you need a healthy jawbone for the implant to be placed successfully. If not, you may need additional treatment, like bone grafting, to strengthen your jawbone for a dental implant.
Who Qualifies for a Dental Implant?
When you visit your dentist with a missing tooth or a tooth that needs extraction, they examine you carefully and recommend the proper treatment for your needs. Your dentist will provide you with treatment options tailored to your preferences and budget. Not everyone who has a missing tooth is a suitable candidate for a dental implant. Your dentist must examine your jawbone and other structures within your mouth to recommend an implant. If you are a suitable candidate and choose this option from your treatment options, the dentist will explain the treatment process and begin preparing you for the placement.
You are a suitable candidate for a dental implant if your teeth, gums, and jawbone are in good health. Remember that dental surgeons place implants into the jawbone. In this case, you need a healthy jawbone for the treatment to work. If you have suffered bone loss, your jawbone will not be sufficient to support the implant. This will result in implant failure, which is a significant loss, considering how expensive and extensive the placement process is.
However, dentists perform bone grafting to strengthen the jawbone for the placement of dental implants. If this can work for you, your dentist will include the bone grafting procedure in your treatment plan.
You are also a good candidate for dental implants if you need a more natural and permanent solution for your missing or severely damaged teeth. Remember that there are several solutions for missing teeth today, including dentures. However, only a few solutions, including implants, offer a natural and permanent result. If the implant is performed correctly, you can enjoy a natural look and feel for the rest of your life. However, you must take good care of the implants to enjoy long-term benefits.
The Benefits of Having Dental Implants
Before choosing dental implants for your missing tooth restoration, consider the benefits. Fortunately, dental implants have so much to offer, including the following:
They Restore Tooth Functionality
If you have a severely damaged tooth, it may not function correctly and can affect the functionality of the adjacent teeth. You should also avoid using the side of the mouth where the missing tooth was located after its loss or extraction. Replacing your tooth with a dental implant restores its full functionality. You can comfortably chew, bite, and speak as if you still have all your natural teeth.
Implants Improve Your Teeth’s Cosmetic Appearance
If you have been living with a damaged or missing tooth for a while, your smile and confidence may have been affected. Replacing the tooth with a dental implant also restores your cosmetic appearance and confidence. Remember that an implant looks and feels like a natural tooth. Thus, you can confidently smile and socialize just as you would with your natural teeth.
They Protect From Jawbone Loss
When you lose one or more teeth and do not replace them soon enough, your jawbone begins shrinking. This affects your facial appearance and your remaining teeth. It can affect your bite and result in bite-related issues like TMJ disorders. A dental implant replaces the entire structure of a tooth, protecting your jawbone from loss. It eventually fuses with the jawbone to create an even stronger support for the artificial tooth.
They Are Strong and Long-Lasting
Dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone to create a strong support for the artificial tooth that replaces your missing tooth. Once it fuses with the jawbone, the support becomes even stronger. It can remain that way for years, without requiring a replacement. If you take good care of your implants after placement, they can serve you for life.
Implants Protect Adjacent Teeth
Remember that if you do not replace a missing tooth soon enough, the adjacent teeth tend to shift from their position to occupy the space left by the missing tooth. This natural process may alter the appearance of your teeth. Eventually, your smile and facial appearance may also be affected, as well as your confidence. A dental implant gives you a lasting solution that keeps your adjacent teeth in their proper position on the gum.
Dental Implants Placement Process
The placement of dental implants involves a lengthy and extensive process that your dentist will discuss with you beforehand. They will explain what each process entails and what to expect. Then, you will know what to expect once the process begins. Here are the typical steps you must undergo before you can use your dental implants:
Initial Consultation with a Dentist
Every dental procedure starts with an initial consultation with a dentist. This is the time you discuss your dental or oral issues, and the dentist examines them to determine the proper treatment for you. If you visit your dentist with a severely damaged tooth, they may recommend and perform an extraction, and then discuss tooth replacement procedures that may work for you. If the tooth is already missing, your dentist will give you treatment options and help you choose the most suitable for your needs and budget.
During this initial consultation. Your dentist will examine your gums, jawbone, and the tooth’s underlying structures to determine your suitability for an implant. Then, they will explain the treatment process and develop a treatment plan for you.
Prior Treatment if Needed
If you require treatment before receiving a dental implant, your dentist will provide it on the same day as the consultation or on a scheduled follow-up day. This additional treatment could include tooth extraction (in cases of severely damaged teeth) or bone grafting (if your jawbone is not healthy enough to support an implant). They will give you sufficient time to heal before starting the tooth restoration process.
Implant Placement
When your gum and jawbone are ready for placement, a dental surgeon will cut open your gum and drill a titanium post into your jawbone to place the implant. This is an invasive procedure that is performed under local anesthesia. Again, the dentist will give your gums time to heal before completing the treatment process.
Healing after dental implant placement is not usually instantaneous; it takes time. The healing process includes osseointegration, whereby the implant fuses with your jawbone for stability and permanence. This process typically takes between three to six months.
Abutment Placement
The last step of the treatment includes placing an artificial tooth and a dental crown on the implant to replace the missing tooth. This last process restores the natural look and feel of a natural tooth, as if you had not lost one in the first place. The dentist first places an abutment, ot the connector piece, and then a crown to complete the tooth.
How To Care for Dental Implants
Remember that dental implants require proper care after placement to remain strong and provide long-term service. In this case, your dentist will give you a set of after-care instructions, which you should follow at home to maintain the cleanliness, strength, and health of your dental restoration. Here are some of the after-treatment care tips that can benefit you:
Maintain Good Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene habits are usually the first recommendation by a dentist for healthy teeth and gums. They include brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing every day to remove food and debris from your mouth. You can also rinse your mouth daily with a fluoride-based mouthwash to help discourage the growth of harmful bacteria.
Good oral hygiene habits also include regular visits to the dentist’s office for routine checkups. During such visits, your dentist will examine the implant to ensure that it is still in good condition. They will also professionally clean your teeth to remove any buildup that could lead to cavities and gum disease.
Stick to the Right Diet
Your dentist will recommend soft foods after you receive a dental implant until you are fully healed and ready to return to your regular diet. Before the implant heals completely, avoid hard or chewy foods. However, you can resume eating your favorite foods once you are completely healed.
Quit Smoking
If you habitually consume tobacco products, your dentist will urge you to quit for a smooth and quick recovery after receiving a dental implant. Smoking hinders your healing after a major dental procedure. If you do not heal within the recommended time, your risk of complications is usually high.
Contact Your Dentist In Case of a Complication
Your dentist will discuss some of the risk factors you should be aware of after receiving a dental implant. Some of these risks include infections, nerve damage, implant failure, and sinus problems. If you notice any side effects that worsen with time, you should contact your dentist immediately. Some of the signs to look out for include pain and fever.
Find a Competent Dentist Near Me
If you have a missing tooth or teeth, and you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant, learn as much as you can about the procedure for effective decision-making. A skilled dentist will provide all the information you need, including the benefits, risk factors, and the treatment process.
We start the process by examining your teeth, gums, and jawbone at The Lakewood Dentist. Then, we review your treatment history to determine your suitability for dental implants. We have the proper training and experience to place dental implants in Lakewood. Thus, you can count on us for quality and timely care. Please call us at 562-423-1441 to discuss your treatment needs and our services in detail.