What to Know About the Dental Implants Procedure

Dental implants are not your ordinary solution. In fact, dental implants are the best solution by a long shot. For the past few years, patients far and wide have begun to realize the benefit of getting dental implants. Question is, do you? If you’re unsure of what dental implants are but are interested in what they are and potentially getting one or more for yourself, here’s a rundown of the dental implants procedure.

Dental Implants Procedure is A Solution Like None Other

Over 178 million people in the United States are missing one or more teeth This number doesn’t even include those who have loose, cracked or decaying teeth. Dental health is a huge problem many of us face, fortunately dental implants have shown up to help.

Dental implants are a major step up from historical solutions including dentures and partials. Made of three parts, a single dental implant is a full substitute for a missing tooth – from the root to the crown.

The first part is a titanium post, which serves as the root of the dental implant. When you’re searching for affordable dental implants, make sure the dentist works with titanium implants. Reason being, titanium is the best material for osseointegration, or bonding with the jawbone. After all, you don’t want a loose dental implant over time. The second part of a dental implant is an abutment. This is the part of the implant that protrudes out of your gums, connecting the post lying underneath to the crown that will come on top. Speaking of the crown, it’s the third and final part of a dental implant. The crown is the only part of the dental implant that is visible on the outside. Make sure you choose a dental implant specialist that will take the time to color and shade the crown to match the teeth adjacent to it.

Getting a Dental Implant is the Best Thing You Can Do for Yourself

Having a missing tooth sucks. It cuts into your confidence, causing embarrassment when your smiling or just out and about. A missing tooth can cause jawbone deterioration and cheek sagging. Teeth neighboring the gap in your smile will shift to cover as much surface area as possible, causing some serious pain. That’s why dental implants are the perfect solution.

If you’re missing a tooth, getting a dental implant as soon as possible will prevent these problems from occurring. You’ll look and feel better, regain your self-esteem and enjoy a higher quality of life. The American Dental Association (ADA) concludes dental implants improve your ability to eat and speak, as well as protect healthy bone through constant stimulation. As an added bonus, dental implants are a fixed solution. No more worrying over a loose denture and embarrassing slips at the most inconvenient of times. Dental implants have been helping people for over 50 years feel good about their smile again, and you deserve to as well!

What’s Involved in the Dental Implants Procedure?

No two dental implant cases are alike. Every patient is different, and the dentist in charge will customize the dental implant procedure to fit their needs. During your Free Consultation here at Atlantic Dental Group, we make sure to take quality X-rays of your oral cavity and use them to construct a mold of your mouth so our dentists know exactly where and how the dental implants will behave.

Once everything is prepared, you’ll go in for dental implant surgery. At this time, the dentist will perform local anesthesia around the dental implant site so there’ll be no pain or discomfort throughout the procedure. From there, the dentist will surgically drill into your jawbone which will then house the titanium implant post. Once completed, the jawbone will need time to heal – between 4 and 6 months – before the implant post is fully secure.

After the healing period, the dentist will place the abutment atop the implant post. From there, the dentist will create a new mold to capture all of your teeth, their type and arrangement. Your new tooth will be based off of this model. The dentist will custom create a crown made to fit between your existing teeth, capping off the dental implant procedure.

Who Can Get Dental Implants?

Dental implants are successful in nearly 98% of all cases. Pretty much anyone missing one or more adult teeth can get a dental implant. However, there are a few exceptions.

Typically, kids don’t get dental implants because they still have a whole set to grow out. Even if they lose one of their permanent teeth, its better for them to wait until they are older, and their facial structure has fully developed before seeking dental implant treatment.

Another thing is people with poor hygiene and lack of dental visits are at risk of dental implant failure if they do seek out dental implants. This includes chronic smokers and people suffering from uncontrollable diabetes. Smokers especially have problems with dental implants because their oral health is not suitable whatsoever. Aside from decaying gums and brittle bone, smoking causes a toxic environment neither natural teeth nor dental implants fare well in.

How Can You Take Care of Your Dental Implants After the Procedure?

It’s super easy to take care of your dental implants. There’s no adhesives or removable cleaning involved like there is with dentures. In fact, you can brush and floss your teeth like normal and be alright! Combine a good oral hygiene routine, good eating habits and biannual trips to the dentist for a professional cleaning to increase your chances of having lifetime success with dental implants!

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Dental implants are the best solution for restoring one or more missing teeth and we hope that with this article, you have a better understanding of what dental implants are and how they work. If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, take advantage of our affordable dental implant prices at Atlantic Dental Group and schedule your Free Consultation with us today!