Dental Implants

What You Need To Know About Dental Implants

KFDentistry Holly Springs Dentist 2 Comments

Tooth loss can happen for a lot of different reasons, but one thing’s for sure – it makes people self-conscious when eating, smiling or talking. The good news is that tooth loss is no longer something that just has to be lived with and accepted. Dental implants are a great alternative to bridgework, dentures or partial plates.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

  • An implant is surgically implanted in your mouth, using titanium and a bone-like ceramic material that’s designed to fuse with your bone, supporting a partial, crown or bridge.
  • Endosteal implants are placed into the bone; subperiosteal implants are positioned on the bone, in instances of inadequate bone height.
  • Implants can’t shift or slip, lending the same kind of stability and security as natural teeth.
  • Since implants are permanent, they’re cleaned the same way as your natural teeth, with no need for nightly removal, cleaning or soaking.
  • Since implants aren’t anchored to natural teeth for support, no tooth structure is sacrificed (as is necessary with bridgework).
  • Implants prevent nearby teeth from shifting, preserving the jawbone and contours of the face.

For patients who have tooth loss but still have enough bone structure to support an implant, they are an ideal solution. In some cases, a jawbone that has deteriorated can be built up prior to installing the implants.

What To Expect at the Dentist Office

The placement of a dental implant is done in-office, using local anesthesia. There may be swelling and pain afterward, but ice applied topically and prescribed pain medication will help. Patients should eat soft, cold foods and lukewarm soups until the healing is complete.

For two to six months, the implant and bone will be fusing together, a process called osseointegration.  The dentist will wait until osseointegration is complete before fitting the crown or artificial tooth to the implant; until then, you may opt for a temporary crown, partial plate or bridge to aid with chewing.

Comments 2

  1. I’ve been given the option between having a dental implant or a root canal performed. I didn’t even know what dental implants were! It seems like they are the clear victor. My favorite part is that you don’t need to worry about them getting infected! Thanks for sharing.

  2. I think dental implants are really nice because then you never have to worry about the gap in your teeth. I have also heard that dental plates are good for your as well. Do they have any relation to dental implants?

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