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For young children, losing teeth is a normal part of growing up. This situation occurs when permanent teeth replace the baby teeth, and the primary teeth must make room for them. However, losing teeth as an adult can be daunting.
It occurs because of poor dental hygiene, trauma, and age. Besides negatively impacting your self-confidence, missing teeth can increase your risk of infection and affect how you speak and eat when you neglect this issue. For this reason, you should invest in dental implants.
While feeling nervous about this treatment may be understandable, you should know how it works to get the best results. If you want your best smile back, this article will discuss the advantages of dental implants and what to expect from this treatment.
What Are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
Besides restoring your best smile and self-confidence, dental implants can also provide long-term health benefits by closing gaps in your teeth and gums, reducing the risk of further damage.
3 Things to Expect from This Treatment
After briefly discussing the benefits of dental implants, this section will enumerate three things to expect from this treatment.
1. Meet the Necessary Qualifications
Before you can get a dental implant, you must have a healthy jawbone and tissue. You must also not smoke or have conditions that prevent bone healing.
2. It's a Surgical Procedure
Adding a dental implant is a surgical procedure that a dentist or an oral surgeon will perform in a dental office or a surgery center. However, it doesn’t require a stay in the hospital.
3. It Can Take Months
Dental implants can take several months to complete, unlike regular dental appointments. Your dentist must first examine your teeth and jaw. Next, they’ll take x-rays or 3D scans to map the area. Then, they’ll review your medical history to ensure no chronic conditions or medicines could complicate the procedure. If necessary, your dentist may also prescribe antibiotics to prevent any infections.
Ultimately, the dentist will take the time to perform bone grafting if necessary, place the implant correctly, and help you enjoy your new tooth.
What Is Bone Grafting?
Bone grafting is a surgical procedure professionals use to support a jawbone that’s too thin or soft for dental implants. They’ll add natural or synthetic bone material to the area where they’ll place the dental implant.
Depending on the size of the area that needs grafting, it can take several months for the graft to grow in and be ready for an implant. Your dental healthcare provider can also graft smaller spaces when placing the dental implant.
Implant Abutment: What Is It and How Does It Work?
The implant abutment is a piece of hardware that healthcare professionals place after inserting the implant in your jawbone. It connects the implant and the false tooth, providing a strong and secure bond between the two.
During the dental implant procedure, your dentist will drill a metal post into the bone as a new tooth root and give it time to heal. Next, they’ll add an abutment and make impressions of your mouth and existing teeth. Finally, they’ll place and polish the artificial tooth to match the other teeth.
What Can I Expect after the Surgery?
If you’re considering getting dental implants, remember that you may feel discomfort after the surgery. You may experience swollen and bruised gums and skin and minor bleeding. You can reduce the pain by applying ice to the affected area and taking anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen. You should also consult your dentist immediately if the pain persists after a few days.
Implanting a Better Smile
No adult deserves to suffer from missing teeth because it can negatively affect your self-esteem, oral health, and quality of life. You can enjoy a better smile by considering dental implants and speaking to your dentist.
Dental House MI offers high-quality dental implants in Ann Arbor, MI, to help improve our patients’ self-esteem and oral health. Schedule an appointment now, and let’s make your teeth functional again!
