If you’re looking for a way to improve your smile, dental implants may be the solution. Dental implants are an excellent treatment option for tooth loss due to natural wear and tear, injury, or gum disease. They can also help those with no teeth by providing them with a way to chew and speak that is more stable than dentures.
They can provide a long-lasting, natural-looking solution to replace missing teeth. However, dental implants are not suitable for everyone. You must speak with your dentist about whether this type of treatment is appropriate for you before deciding on a course of action.
Read on to find out how they work and whether this could be a good solution for your needs.
The Right Candidate For Dental Implants
If you have been told that your natural teeth are beyond repair, or if they’ve been removed without a replacement, a dental titanium implant can bring the function of your tooth back. However, not everyone is qualified to get the tooth replacement treatment.
Dental implants are only successful if you are in good health and have sufficient jaw bone structure. Thus, it’s no surprise that dental implants are not the best option for people with chronic medical conditions and inflammation because they may have difficulty healing after receiving dental implants.
For people who suffer from these illnesses and immunocompromised patients who want to get implanted teeth as an alternative to toothless gum, discuss with the dental professional about more appropriate treatment options. Only your dentist can evaluate your dental health and decide if getting permanent implants is best for you.
Learn More: What You Need To Know About Different Types Of Dental Implants
Dental Implants Is Not the Right Solution If:
- You don’t have adequate bone in your jaw. Your jaw bone is needed to support the implant; thus, the best candidates have healthy gum tissues free of periodontal disease. Dental implants are connected with the gum tissues and underlying bone in the mouth.
Bone loss can stem from several different things, such as gum disease or the long-term absence of natural teeth.
- You have these health conditions that might disqualify you for dental implant treatment, such as uncontrolled diabetes, blood clotting disorders, cancer, immune system and drug abuse problems.
A dental bridge is an option for someone who does not respond well to surgical procedures, especially if that person has diabetes. After examining and discussing the patient’s health history, the dentist will make their best recommendation on what treatment plan would work perfectly for them.
Learn More: Dental Implants vs Dentures vs Bridges: What’s the Best for Me?
Risk Of Dental Implants Procedure
Most implant placements have a high success rate. Although, in isolated cases, some implants fail. For example, patients who smoke increases the chance of failure. Due to this, it is vital to follow excellent oral health care at home, including good nutrition, brushing, and flossing.
Dental implants are typically painless, but minor discomfort is to be expected following surgery.
Common Side Effect:
- Swelling of face and gums
- Bruises on the outside of your skin or inside your mouth
- Minor bleeding
- Inflammation and pain on the implant site
Common Risk After Dental Implants Procedure:
- Damage to the adjacent tooth, surrounding gums, and blood vessels
- Infection on the area where the implant was placed
- Continuous bleeding of gums
- The implant can cause sinus issues or nasal pressure if it is placed in the upper jaw bone.
- Nerve damage that may cause discomfort on the lips and mouth
- Discomfort on the jaw
You will likely receive pain relief medication after surgery. You may experience pain and swelling for a few days but contact your dentist immediately if it is severe or prolonged. Additionally, there’s the risk of infection; therefore, you must strictly follow post-op instructions to avoid dental problems.
The recovery period takes around four to six months on average for this type of procedure for the patient to return fully back into daily life without complication.
Learn More: Who Can Perform Dental Implant Procedures
What To Expect During The Dental Implants Procedure
Implants are usually made of titanium, which can easily fuse into the jawbone, helping to keep it healthy. It leads to other benefits, such as reducing bone loss in the jaw and preventing soft tissue damage from chewing food. Dental implants also provide an improved quality of life by enabling you to enjoy your favorite foods again without pain or discomfort.
The process takes place in phases and is carefully planned by your dentist. You must visit your dentist to find out if this treatment is proper for you.
Dental implants are like natural teeth in many ways. First, they’re made from materials that are compatible with the human body. And second, a prosthetic crown is attached to an implant so your dentist can seamlessly restore teeth without compromising your look.
- A dental implant procedure usually begins with a consultation appointment to determine if you’re a good candidate for treatment and how many implants you need. Xrays and scans are performed so the dentist can assess your mouth condition.
- Next, the area where the tooth was removed is prepared for the new implant(s). If necessary, bone grafting might be done at this time to give you sufficient bone mass to support the replacement tooth. Any dental problems the patient have will be addressed before the implant procedure.
- The dentist will affix the titanium post into the jaw, situated under the empty tooth socket. The gum tissue is sutured over the implant. The artificial tooth root will gradually fuse with the bone during the healing time, forming a solid foundation.
- Once osseointegration is achieved, the abutment is inserted into a screw socket. It takes only one surgery and your recovery time lasts around two weeks.
- After your mouth has healed completely, the dental crown, usually made from ceramic, is attached directly to the abutment. It offers a lifelike appearance and feels. It’s also secure for chewing and talking; thus, it functions just like a natural tooth.
Learn More: Dental Implants Procedure: What’s To Expect
Final Thoughts
Permanent dental implants are a great permanent solution for patients who wish to replace one or more teeth. They have become a popular option for tooth replacement due to their high success rate and low complication rates. They are an excellent way of replacing missing teeth, but not all patients qualify for them.
Thus, it now comes down to deciding if this is something worth exploring further with your dentist. The team at Burwood Dental Care is committed to helping our patients achieve optimum oral health and will do what it takes to get you there. Contact us today by giving us a call at 03 7034 0333, so we can help determine if dental implants might be the solution you need.