If you are around someone using dentures, you’ll often hear complaints about how uncomfortable and difficult they are to use. However, when asked whether they’ve considered dental implants as an option, a common response may be fear that the procedure may be painful or that the dental implants may fail.
While many are worried of undergoing the procedure to receive dental implants when considering the long-term benefits dental implants can be less painful and more rewarding than many think.
Dental Implants and Health
Before an oral surgeon attempts to place a dental implant, the patient must undergo an examination that evaluates their jaw bone and oral health. This ensures the dental implant will receive adequate support and integrate with the jaw bone properly.
Once a patient has been cleared for eligibility, a surgeon will place the necessary amount of titanium implant posts according to their treatment plan. Patients remain under sedation throughout the entirety of their placement, leaving them with no recollection of their operation other than the appearance of their new implant posts.
Patients are required to wait anywhere from two to six months while the implant posts integrate with the bone and the gums have completely healed. Afterwards, a patient returns to the dental office to restore their new set of teeth. Dental implants can be used to replace a single tooth with a crown, a row of teeth with a dental bridge, or up to an entire are of teeth using implant-supported dentures.
Replacing the Entire Tooth
Dental implants completely replace a missing tooth, from root to crown. Implant posts act as teeth roots to generate support for both the prosthetic and surrounding jaw bone. Replacement of teeth using implants also maintains the alignment of existing teeth, making these essential in preserving a patient’s image after an extraction.
An option for mini implants allows for smaller teeth to be replaced, such as in the smaller front teeth of the bottom arch. However, mini implants do not replace the effectiveness of a standard implant.
Find Out More!
Considering the pain involved in maintaining floating dentures or the damage a bridge has on existing teeth, the procedure and overall costs of receiving dental implants may end up saving you a great deal, especially when it comes to bone health. Find out more information about by calling or visiting Dr. Steven Bergara at our dental practice Alhambra, CA.