Things to Consider for Dental Implants
Dental implants are placed into your jaw and can act as an artificial tooth root. They are usually the ideal option if you have missing one or more teeth because of gum disease, an injury and other reasons. Also known to many as titanium post, dental implants are surgically positioned into your jawbone. Unlike dentures, they do not come loose. As they are placed beneath your gum line, your dentist can easily mount your replacement teeth or tooth into the implant. And unlike bridges, they do not have to be placed to other teeth.
Things to Consider
Dental implants are better than dentures. They can offer stable support for the artificial tooth/teeth that will be mounted to the implants. And because they are fixed into your jawbone, you will not have a problem when eating or speaking. This means that they can cause artificial teeth to feel more natural, compared with when you have conventional bridges or dentures.
However, dental implants are not for everyone. We will examine your gums and jawbone. To be a good candidate for this procedure, your gums must be healthy and your jaw bone must offer support to the implants. For the long-term success of implants, you need to follow a meticulous oral hygiene routine. Make sure also that you can commit to regularly visit your dentist. In this way, he/she can check the health of your dental implants and the remaining of your natural teeth.
Types of Dental Implants
One of the more popular dental implants is endosteal. In this type, implants are surgically placed directly to your jawbone. You need to wait for another session or for your gum tissue to heal before a second surgery is performed. The second surgery is needed in order to connect a so-called post to the first implant. After the second surgery, the artificial tooth can now be attached, either individually or in a group.
The second type is subperiosteal. This type consists of a metal frame placed into your jawbone just below your gum tissue. You need to wait for your gum to heal before the frame will be fixed to the jawbone. A post is attached to the frame, which will protrude through your gums. This is where your artificial teeth are mounted.
Taking Care of Dental Implants
Dental implants are usually successful. They can last for years or decades. But not all patients with dental implants experienced positive results. One of the reasons is that they do not know how to take care of their oral health.
If you want to make sure that your implants last a lifetime, you should, as previously mentioned, practice excellent oral hygiene. This means that you have to brush at least twice a day. Make sure that you cover between teeth. Your dentist may prescribe you a toothbrush that can easily clean those difficult to reach areas around your implants.
And if you do smoke, this is the best time to quit. Smoking weakens bone structure. It is also the reason you have lost your tooth/teeth. It also makes your implant to fail.
To make sure that they are in good condition all the time, you should visit your dentist for proper, professional cleanings. Your dentist will also examine them so that they stay in good condition.
Chewing on hard foods is also a no-no when you have dental implants. Hard items can break the crown or the artificial teeth mounted on your implants. You must treat your artificial teeth as your natural teeth to make sure that they last a lifetime, if not for decades.
Who Can Perform Dental Implants?
It is a must that you visit a specialist in this area, like a prosthodontist. A general dentist may also perform this procedure but he/she must have advanced training in this field. During the initial consultation, your dentist will perform a thorough examination, take x-rays and create impressions of your gums and your teeth.
A CT scan of your mouth may be requested to ensure if your jawbone can fully support the implants. The scan will also help your dentist avoid those nerves and sinuses during the surgery. Dental implants can restore your beautiful smile. Make a consultation today to determine whether or not you are a good candidate for this procedure.