Let’s face it. Dental implants, and the thought of needing them, is daunting. Most of us are scared of losing our teeth. But even if your teeth are loosening and perhaps even falling out, dental implants are a highly-effective remedy that can help restore the look and function of your teeth.
If you feel like you might be a candidate for dental implants, then this article is for you. Below we share some insights about the various types and procedures associated with oral implants, and what you need to know as a prospective patient.
What Are Dental Implants & Are They Right For Me?
A dental implant is an artificial tooth that is surgically fused into the jawbone by an oral surgeon or a periodontist. Over the past few decades, these implants have worked wonderfully as replacements for lost teeth.
Before dental implants, the options available for teeth replacement were either fixed bridges or removable dentures. The problems with these options were that:
- Fixed bridges relied heavily on the neighboring teeth to act as anchors. This eventually proved detrimental to these neighboring teeth.
- Removable dentures used to make clicking sounds when the patient spoke and they also had great potential for embarrassment as they could easily fall off.
- Another major disadvantage was that patients needed to periodically replace their fixed bridges and removable dentures.
Dental implants on the other hand have no such problems. The implant is primarily fused into the jawbone meaning they can’t easily fall off. Perhaps one of the most beneficial advantages of this option is that you hardly ever need to replace dental implants. The best approach is to consult an experienced dentist for dental implants who can provide you with an honest and individualized diagnosis.
What’s Involved in the Process?
The first thing you need to know is you want to get implants is that it is a process. It will take some time and you will need several visits to the oral surgeon’s office.
The first step will involve a complete dental exam where the surgeon may x-ray your mouth as well as make molds of it. After this, your surgeon will come up with a treatment plan depending on how many teeth you need replaced as well as the current state of your jawbone.
The best part about visiting a reputable dental practice for this kind of procedure is that the dentist will take their time to explain to you what needs to happen as well as tell you what you need to do to take care of your implants once they are in place.
The entire process may take about 3-9 months or even more. It will require several surgical procedures. A lot of this time, however, is spent on healing and allowing your jaw to grow new bone.
Dental implants do not damage the neighboring teeth, they often look as good as the real thing and they do not need frequent replacement, if at all. They are a wonderful way to replace lost teeth. Learn more about dental Perio.org, a reliable source for information about oral health.
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