How Do Dental Implants Work?
If you have experienced tooth loss due to various dental issues, a dental implant treatment may be the right tooth replacement option for you. Dental implants provide a long-lasting and effective solution to replace missing teeth. Let’s discuss if you are a good candidate for a dental implant procedure, and whether this is the right treatment for you.
Missing Teeth Can Negatively Affect Your Oral Health
Missing teeth can cause serious oral health problems beyond cosmetic ones. It is harder to speak and chew, but in addition to that, missing teeth can lead to bone loss and further missing teeth. When you chew and bite, your bone tissue is stimulated by the tooth roots. When you have a missing tooth, the bone isn’t stimulated any longer by the root, which leads to bone loss.
When your jawbone starts to shrink from bone loss, this alters the shape of your face like your cheekbones and lips. Your remaining teeth may drift or loosen without the original tooth or teeth to maintain the space and because of the weakened bone, further impacting your smile. This can lead to even further tooth loss. You may experience jaw pain and headaches, too.
Dental implant treatment helps promote good oral health, as the implant posts simulate natural tooth roots, and the implant holds the remaining natural teeth in position.
Dental Implant Procedure
Dental implants are made of a titanium screw that will act as your tooth’s root and be surgically attached to your jawbone. The post will gradually fuse to your bone. Because dental implants are placed during a surgery and fuse with the surrounding bone, they are considered a permanent solution.
Once the site heals, one of our dentists will place a custom-made dental crown on top. This will act as your tooth replacement. Dental implants are very discreet and comfortable, looking and acting just like natural teeth.
If this isn’t the right treatment plan for you, our dentists will explore other options with you, such as implant-supported bridges or dentures. In some cases, gum or bone graft procedures may be needed before you are a good candidate for dental implants.
Am I A Good Candidate For This Treatment?
The first thing we will need to do is assess whether your jaw bone is strong enough to handle an implant in the first place. We will use x-rays, impressions of your teeth, and other scans to determine this. In some cases, a bone graft may be needed before the dental implant procedure can be done.
We will also thoroughly examine the affected area to make sure that a dental implant is the best treatment option for your situation. If we think you are a suitable candidate for a dental implant, we will schedule your procedure right here in our office.
How Are Dental Implants Placed?
During dental implant procedures, we will apply local anesthetic to the area. You will be awake for this procedure.
Once the anesthesia has taken effect, we will create a small hole into your jaw bone just below your gum line. Once the hole is wide enough, we will insert the titanium implant. We stitch the incision up with dissolvable stitches and this finalizes the first part of the procedure. You will be sent home to give the area time to heal.
How Long Does It Take For a Dental Implant To Heal?
The healing period may take up anywhere from three to six months; enough time for the implant to fuse properly to the bone. However, each patient may experience different heal times and side effects.
Once it is healed, we will numb the area again with a local anesthetic and make a small incision to expose the implant. We will then place a piece, called an abutment, to connect the implant and the tooth replacement. We will also take an impression of your teeth for your custom-made dental crown. Once your dental crown is ready, the final step is to place it over the abutment and screw it securely into the implant.
Aftercare Instructions
Our team will give you instructions on dental care for your implant in order to prevent infection and complications. The instructions may include specific recommendations on how to brush or floss and other dental care, as well as diet and lifestyle recommendations, such as avoiding smoking for as long as possible.
Your dentist may provide you with a special mouthwash and pain medication. If you follow our recommendations and practice good oral hygiene, and come for regular checkups and dental care, your implant will remain intact for a long time and you won’t need to have it replaced.
In very rare cases, patients may have an allergic reaction, infection, or the dental implant may become loose and require an emergency appointment. However, dental implant surgery has a very high success rate of over 95%. Patients can reduce the risks of issues by following their dentist’s instructions for care completely.
Once your dental implant has fully healed and the crown has been placed, you can care for it just as you would a natural tooth.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Call us today to book a consultation with our dentist to see if dental implants may be right for you. We also offer other dental services and tooth replacement options at our dental clinic. We want to develop the right treatment plan for you.
Discuss the possibility of receiving dental implants at Gateshead Dental with our dentist when you book an appointment today. Either give us a call or book your appointment for your procedure online. Our team looks after our patients’ dental needs with a smile!
