Needing dental implants can be intimidating. Here is a list of important facts you should know when considering dental implants. You will learn from the list that not only are dental implants common, but they are also not as painful as many people think they will be.
- Are Dental Implants As Strong As Natural Teeth?
Dental implants can be stronger than natural teeth.
Let’s be honest, our teeth deteriorate and maybe we didn’t see a dentist as much as we should have and we become in need of implants. The reason why dental implants are as strong as natural teeth is that a dental fixture is made from titanium. Dental implants are designed to last a virtual lifetime. Implants are also able to withstand more pressure than natural teeth because they are anchored to bone. Our natural teeth are anchored with roots to our gums. Being anchored to bone allows the dental implant to be stronger. If you lack the amount of bone needed to anchor an implant, a bone graft procedure may be done to help.
A dental implant is 80% to 90% of the strength of a natural tooth. Dentures usually have a life expectancy of 5 years. Dental implants have over a 95% success rate. It is not uncommon for dental implants to last a lifetime. The firm bite from dental implants makes it possible to eat such foods as apples, corn-on-the-cob and much more.
Natural teeth are attached to your gums with ligaments and roots. This causes natural teeth to move. A dental implant is fixed in place to your jawbone. This means that a properly installed implant will not move and thus be as strong if not stronger than your natural teeth.
- Are Dental Implants Safe?
Dental implants have low rejection and infection rates.
Dental Implants have over a 95% success rate. Because of this high success rate it can be concluded that dental implant procedures are safe. Dentists have been doing dental implants procedures for many many years now. The procedure has evolved tremendously. Dental implant procedures are done by highly trained dentists specializing in implants. One reason for the extremely high success rate is the amount of evaluation the potential patient undergoes before the dental implant procedure.
The first step to determine if a dental implant is right for you is by having an x-ray or CT scan. These are used to help determine the best location for the dental implant. Placing the dental implant in the correct location will help with gaining a natural feel and look to the dental implant.
A local anesthetic is used to make sure the complete surgical site is numbed. It is common for the dentist performing your implant procedure to use water to cool the drilling site of your jawbone to prevent overheating and damage to the jawbone.
As mentioned, dental implants are made from titanium or titanium alloys. These metals are also used in artificial hearts and orthopedic implants. Titanium is not toxic or harmful to living tissues. This is called being biocompatible. One reason it is biocompatible is titanium has low electrical conductivity. This low electrical conductivity makes it one of the safest biocompatible materials used today.
Titanium implants shouldn’t corrode or rust when they are placed in or near living tissue.
- Do Dental Implants Protect from Bone Deterioration?
Dental implants guard against jawbone loss.
If you have a natural tooth that deteriorates and falls out of a tooth that is knocked out by accident. Not having an implant in its original place can lead to bone loss. Without a reinforcing presence in the missing tooth’s place, bone in the area of the missing tooth will become less dense and more brittle. The bone will begin to shrink. To keep your jawbone mass as high as possible, you should replace any missing tooth as soon as possible. The longer you wait to fill the missing tooth space, the lower your bone density will become, and the likelihood of you being able to have an implant is diminished.
If missing teeth are not replaced, the remaining teeth may actually shift out of place. When this happens your facial appearance can change. It can make your face look more sunken. Having dental implants put in place of a missing tooth will prevent bone deterioration and keep the appearance of your face from becoming altered.
Having a dental implant in place of a missing tooth will cause stimulation through the use of biting and chewing. This movement of your mouth encourages the growth in the jawbone along with rebuilding support for your teeth.
If a missing tooth is not replaced, the jawbone does not receive stimulation. This lack of stimulation can cause the jawbone to lose its height, width, and volume. This can also lead to facial structure change.
- Do Dental Implants Aid Against Health Deterioration?
Dental implants can prevent health deterioration.
Having dental implants can help against future infections of the mouth from diseased teeth. By replacing diseased inadequately functioning teeth with an implant, can lead to a better ability to eat quality foods that can fuel your overall body’s health. We all know people with missing teeth that have dentures. The list of foods they need to avoid is endless. Fruits and vegetables have nutrients our bodies need to help fight against heart disease and infections. Having dental implants can give us the confidence to eat those types of foods that help us with our overall health.
Putting implants in the place of missing teeth can protect you from gum disease. Gum disease can cause gum inflammation, infection, bleeding, swelling, and more.
Gingivitis and periodontitis can cause bacteria and inflammation to move through your entire body. This certainly can cause the increase of such risks as heart disease, infertility, lung infections, Alzheimer’s, problems with pregnancy, and more.
Gum disease is the leading cause of tooth loss. If you have a missing tooth and do not replace it. We already know that our overall health will diminish. Not replacing a missing tooth will also lead to gum disease and will contribute to the possibility of other health problems that have already been mentioned.
Not replacing missing teeth can lead to periodontitis. Periodontitis leads to periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is when the gums pull away from the teeth. This leads to small pockets of space around your teeth. When you have small pockets of space around your teeth this is where infections may take place. These infections can lead to severe pain, and chewing problems. It is this circle of problems that can lead to our overall health deterioration when not replacing missing teeth.
- How Many People Get Dental Implants Every Year?
“About 3 million people in the U.S. have dental implants
and another 500,000 implants are placed each year, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.” This is according to an article written by Reuters.
With this many people getting dental implants it is easy to draw the conclusion that having a dental implant procedure is not only safe but also adds to the quality of life for those that receive the procedure. Dental implants can also very easily improve our overall health which will lead to a better quality of life. No wonder there are over 3,000,000 people having dental implants every year. If you are needing dental implants, having a quality dental insurance plan can help with the costs.
- Is Dental Implant Maintenance is Easy?
Dental implant care is simple.
Like regular teeth, it requires little care. To take care of our implants we do so just like our normal teeth. We need to brush twice daily for at least two minutes. Along with regular brushing, we will also need to floss our regular teeth along with any implants we may have. Flossing around the base of an implant is important as well. This helps to remove any food debris that is around the base of implants and our regular teeth. Removing plaque and bacteria through flossing and brushing around the gums is the ideal way to prevent gum disease.
When you brush your implants you will want to do so as if they are your regular teeth. You will want to use a soft or extra-soft toothbrush. In addition, the toothpaste you select should be non-abrasive toothpaste. Baking soda should be avoided because of its harsh abrasive nature. Using abrasive products can cause surface scratches. You want to avoid surface scratches because this will attract bacteria and stain your implants.
- Do Dental Implants Look and Feel Natural?
Dental implants appear and feel natural, say patients.
A reason the dental implants feel natural is that they are designed to be fixed to your jawbone. A small borehole is drilled into your jawbone. The implant post is then inserted into the hole. This is how your implant is anchored to your jawbone and provides you with a natural feel.
The reason the dental implant also looks natural is that the tooth replacement is designed to have a natural look. Combining the natural look design of the replacement tooth along with anchoring to the jawbone is why many people who receive dental implants report a natural feel with a natural look.
- How Painful is Dental Implant Surgery?
Dental Implants are less painful than patients expected.
Those that have received dental implants report on a regular basis that the procedure is less painful than expected. Kamyra, a patient at NorthStar Dentistry for Adults, reports there was little to no discomfort from her dental implant procedure. Kamyra had such a positive experience with this implant she decided to go ahead and get a second implant. See Kamyra’s first-hand account from this YouTube video. https://youtu.be/reezRO1VoK4
Bill, another patient from NorthStar Dentistry for Adults, describes the pain from the procedure as “amazingly painless.” He goes on to describe his experience of the dental implant as a lot less painless than other normal dental procedures. View Bill’s account of his dental implant procedure through this YouTube video. https://youtu.be/d7MK0_B0tYI
- What Type of Pain to Expect?
Most report little pain from dental implant surgery.
One thing that adds to the report of low pain when receiving dental implants is the jawbone does not have any nerves to feel the pain. Because of the lack of nerves in the jawbone, the discomfort you will feel is from the pressure of the drill. Of course, a local anesthetic is used to greatly dissipate the pain of cutting into the gums to gain access to your jawbone.
A dentist may give you pain medication to lower the amount of pain and discomfort as your local anesthetic wears off.
- Can You Be Sedated for Your Dental Implant Procedure?
Sedation is commonly used for dental implant procedures.
General anesthesia is not commonly used unless bone grafting is necessary for your procedure. Conscious sedation is regularly used as an option for your dental implant procedure. This will help you relax during your surgery. This method is very effective when combined with a local anesthetic. The conscious sedation is usually administered in the form of an oral pill or nitrous oxide gas. Conscious sedation is a great option for those that experience anxiety about dental procedures. This will help you with total relaxation, while still being aware of your surroundings. This will allow you to follow any of your dentist’s instructions while being alert to answer any questions.
- What to Expect When Healing from Dental Implants
Patients report pain during healing is very controllable.
An over-the-counter pain reliever will likely be recommended by the dentist that does your dental implant. A list of recommendations from your dentist after your surgery may include but is not limited to:
- Minor bleeding is likely, apply pressure by biting down on gauze pad
- Don’t disturb your implant site with tongue, fingers, or objects
- Rinse with salt water 3 to 4 times daily starting the day after the procedure
- Take antibiotics as prescribed
- Minor swelling will be present for about 2 to 3 days
- Avoid strenuous physical activity for at least 3 days
- Best to eat a diet of mostly soft foods
- No hot food for at least 48 hours after your procedure
- Avoid straws for 24-hours following surgery
- Avoid smoking for at least three days following surgery
- Use Acetaminophen (Tylenol) for discomfort
