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When you’ve lost one of your teeth to injury or disease, it’s easy to feel your confidence dropping. The good news is that you can replace one or more missing teeth through restorative options like bridges, dentures, and, most importantly, dental implants, which can brighten your smile even more.
Dental implants are a unique restorative option that dentists highly recommend. While the process needs surgery and takes longer, they’re a more long-term solution, providing the same comfort, aesthetics, and look as natural teeth. Here are five facts to know before making an appointment to have dental implants installed:
1. Dental Implants Replace the Entire Tooth
A dental implant is the only restorative dentistry option that replaces the entire tooth, including the root. The implant itself is a tiny, screw-like rod that functions as the tooth root, which means the dentist must insert it into the jawbone. It supplies the strength and stability needed to support the crown, bridge, or denture.
It also makes the jawbone stronger. It offers the required stimulation to the bone, preventing the facial atrophy that many people with missing teeth experience, causing them to look older than they are.
2. Dental Implant Patients Must Have Enough Jawbone Density to Qualify
While dental implants have a world of benefits, they are not for everyone. A patient must have enough jawbone for the implant to bond successfully. If a patient doesn’t have sufficient bone, the oral surgeon may carry out a bone grafting procedure.
When the dental implant is installed, it will fuse with the bone through a natural process called osseointegration. This process can take up to six months and is crucial for the success of the implant.
3. Dental Implant Failure Can Occur if You’re a Smoker
If you’re a smoker, you may not qualify for dental implants. The act of smoking and the resulting bacteria and chemicals that reside in a smoker’s mouth can complicate the mouth’s capacity to heal infections. However, if you’re set on getting dental implants, you will have to quit smoking before the procedure and during the healing process. It is also vital to avoid tobacco use to enjoy optimal oral health.
4. Dental Implant Surgery Has High Success Rates
One of the ultimate benefits of dental implants is that while they require surgery, they have a high success rate of over 90 percent. When you want dental implants in Waterford and work with an experienced dentist like us, complications are extremely rare, as we know who is most suitable for implants and who isn’t by studying their medical history and oral health. You don’t have to worry about any infections or anything adverse happening due to the surgery due to the nature of the procedure.
5. Dental Implants Do Not Require Extra Care
Once the dentist puts the implant in and the healing process has finished, patients don’t need to take extra steps to take care of it. As long as they practice routine oral hygiene, their dental implants will function as intended. However, that doesn’t exempt one from regular dental visits and cleanings; the dental implant is essentially a tooth replacement, which means it must still be treated as a regular tooth.
Conclusion
Dental implants are an excellent option for replacing missing teeth. By knowing these facts about the procedure, you can determine if it is the perfect restorative solution for your dental problem.
If you’re interested in getting dental implants in Waterford, Ypsilanti, or Ann Arbor, let us know at the Dental House. We have a wide range of dental services, like preventive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry, and oral surgery, to help you restore confidence in your smile. Book an appointment today!
