Living with one or more missing teeth can affect your daily life. Not only will missing teeth reduce your desire to smile while also decreasing your self-esteem, but an incomplete set of teeth can affect your overall oral health. Restoring your smile with implants is a great option, but most people are not prepared for the process and aftercare that is necessary. With this guide and your dentist's help, you will be ready to receive implants that will improve your smile's function and appeal.
Not a Quick Fix
One of the most common misconceptions patients have about implants is that they believe they are placed in the mouth during a simple appointment. Unfortunately, this is not true, since the process of receiving implants will require multiple appointments.
During an initial consultation, your dentist will determine if you are a good candidate for implants. Other than missing teeth, you should not have any other issues that affect your oral health. Patients with severe tooth decay or gum disease will require treatment before placing implants. Also, insufficient bone mass in the jaw can reduce the implant's ability to fuse. If your dentist believes this will be a problem, you will need to undergo a bone graft procedure before getting the implants.
Once other issues are addressed, your dentist will schedule a second appointment to take molds of the mouth. These molds are then sent off to a lab to create the artificial teeth that will be secured to the implants.
The next appointment will involve placing the actual titanium rods into the gums. Small incisions are made in the gum tissue and holes are drilled into the jaw, allowing the dentist to place the titanium rods into the jaw. These implants can take between 3 to 6 months to fuse into the bone. Known as Osseointegration, this fusion into the bone must occur before the artificial tooth is secured onto the implant.
Once the incision has healed and the implant has successfully fused, a final appointment will be scheduled to place the dental prosthesis. Of course, you will need to continue visiting your dentist after receiving the implants to ensure there are no issues affecting the strength and appearance of your new smile.
They May Fail
Every patient is different, so you may have a different experience with implants than other patients. You may be pleased to know that implant dentistry has a success rate of over 95 percent, but certain issues may occur. These issues will lead to an implant failure that may require removal and reimplantation.
One of the most common issues that cause implant failure is an unsuccessful osseointegration. Without the proper fusion, the implants will be loose and ineffective.
Problems with fusion occur if you do not have enough bone mass in the jaw, which is why it is so important for utilize x-rays to determine the density of your bone before the implant procedure.
Infections are also a common cause of implant failure. Without proper care of your incision site and good oral hygiene, food and bacterial can build up in the mouth. This will affect the incision's ability to heal while increasing the risk of an infection.
Lastly, the implant is a foreign object, which your body may reject. If the implant become loose without any signs of a failed fusion or infection, it may just be your body rejecting it in a similar manner as a body rejecting an organ after a transplant. While rare, a rejected implant does occur.
Implant dentistry is an innovative option in smile restoration, but proper understanding is imperative beforehand. If you are considering implants, consult your dentist to determine if you are a good candidate. For more information, contact companies like Pittsburgh Dental Spa.
I was very unhappy with the way that my front teeth looked. They were crooked and stained with an ugly yellow tint. I asked my dentist if there was anything that could be done to improve them. After discussing the options with my dentist, I decided to have crowns put on my front teeth. The procedure was painless and I wish that I had done it sooner. My name is Constance Graham and I am writing this blog to inform others about cosmetic dentistry. If you don’t like the way your teeth look, speak to your dentist about improving your smile. There are various cosmetic procedures that you can have done such as veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and dental implants. I hope you use the information in this blog to learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how it can help you.