Everything You Should Know Before Getting Dental Implants
Are you considering dental implants but don’t know where to start? Learn the basics of dental implants and what you need to know before deciding.
Despite advances in dental treatment, millions of Americans experience tooth loss, most of which is caused by tooth decay, periodontal disease, or accident. Bridges and dentures were the only treatment options for persons with missing teeth for many years. However, dental implants are now available.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial teeth that provide a permanent solution to missing or severely damaged teeth. They are secured in the jawbone, providing increased stability, and making them feel like natural teeth.
When considering dental implants, it is vital to understand beforehand the process, risks, and recovery time.
Before deciding on dental implants, consult with your dentist about the potential advantages and disadvantages and whether you are a candidate for the treatment.
Consider these factors:
- Your general health has a role in determining if you are an excellent candidate to receive dental implants. Your health also determines how long your tooth will take to heal and how long the implant will stay in place.
- Inquire with your dentist about the brand and model of the dental implant system.
- Smoking may interfere with healing and reduce the implant’s long-term success.
- The implant may take several months or longer to adjust. During this time, you will typically have a temporary abutment in place of the tooth.
Here are other factors to consider before getting a dental implant.
Understand the Confusion Around Tooth Implant Cost.
Confusion around the cost of tooth implants is common.
It’s important to understand that the price may vary depending on your situation. However, implants usually represent a more cost-effective alternative in the long run compared to other tooth replacement options like bridges or dentures. When comparing prices, be sure to factor in the durability and convenience of an implant and any additional treatment costs associated with it.
Find out Which Kind of Implant Fits Your Needs and Situation.
After researching and deciding that a dental implant is a suitable treatment for you, the next step is to find out which type of implant will best fit your needs and situation. Different types of implants have varying levels of complexity regarding placement procedure, material, and function. Make sure to find an experienced dentist who can provide you with the full details of each option to determine the most suitable one.
Consider The Benefits of Dental Implants for Aesthetics and Functionality.
Dental implants have a range of advantages that make them beneficial for both aesthetic and functional use. This includes a natural, healthy appearance with no risk of slippage or discomfort, easy maintenance, and the ability to match surrounding teeth when placing intra-oral implants closely.
Dental implants can also provide better bite stability for eating and speaking activities and support teeth on either side. When considering if dental implants are right for you, consider their advantages to ensure the best possible outcome.
Learn What to Expect During the Procedure, From Prep to Aftercare.
The implant procedure itself encompasses several stages. During the initial consultation, your dentist will review your medical history and discuss imaging results to determine if dental implants suit you.
Next, they will perform any needed tooth extraction or bone grafting before inserting the implant.
After the titanium post is fully secured, a dental abutment is attached to complete the implant process and ensure it functions correctly.
Post-implant surgery will involve follow-up exams to monitor healing progress and at-home care tips like proper oral hygiene and avoiding food that could impede recovery.
Check How Insurance Coverage Affects Your Choices for Dental Implants.
Before beginning any dental implant procedure, you must check with your insurance provider to determine your coverage and if any limitations or restrictions are in place.
For example, some plans may cover part of the cost of an initial consultation but not the actual treatment itself.
It’s also important to consider whether insurance will pay for additional treatments like bone grafting or gum tissue regeneration that might be needed for successful implantation. Knowing how your plan affects your choices before getting started can help make sure you receive the highest quality care at a price you can afford.
Following the dental implant procedure, consider the following:
- Follow your dental provider’s oral hygiene guidelines to the letter. Cleaning the implant and adjacent teeth regularly is critical for long-term success.
- Make regular appointments with your dentist.
- Inform your dentist straight away if your implant seems loose or painful.
Types of dental implants
There have historically been two types of dental implants:
- Endosteal
Subperiosteal dental implants are no longer used due to their poor long-term results compared to endosteal dental implants. Endosteal implants are those that are “in the bone.” In contrast, subperiosteal implants lay on top of the jawbone under the gum tissue.
While the main function of dental implants is tooth replacement, implants can also help with other dental operations. Because of their stability, dental implants can support a removable denture and give a more secure and pleasant fit.
Furthermore, for orthodontic procedures, dental mini-implants can serve as temporary anchoring devices (TAD) to assist in moving teeth to the proper position. These mini-implants are small and temporarily fixed to the bone, facilitating tooth movement anchoring. They are then removed once their purpose has been completed.
Implant dentistry has undoubtedly expanded treatment choices for replacing single and numerous lost teeth with long-term stability, which improves oral health.
Benefits and Risks
Dental implants can considerably improve a person’s quality of life and overall health. However, difficulties do emerge from time to time. Complications might arise quickly after the insertion of dental implants or much afterward. Some complications cause implant failure (usually defined as implant looseness or loss). If an implant fails, the patient may require another surgery to repair or replace the implant system.
Advantages of Dental Implants:
- Restores chewing ability
- Restores aesthetic appearance Aids in preventing jawbone shrinkage due to bone loss
- It keeps the surrounding bone and gums healthy.
- Aids in the stability of neighboring (nearby) teeth
- It improves the quality of life
Risks of Dental Implant:
- Damage to natural teeth caused by implant insertion
- Surgical injury to the surrounding tissues, such as sinus perforation
- Surgery-related injury (for example, fracture of the surrounding jawbone)
- Inadequate function, such as the sensation that the teeth do not ordinarily bite together
- A loose or twisting sensation in the tooth caused by an abutment screw loosening
- Cleaning the gums around the implant is problematic, resulting in poor dental hygiene.
- The periodontal disease left untreated
- Numbness after surgery caused by nerve impingement or damage
Before an MRI or x-ray procedure, always inform your healthcare professionals and imaging technicians that you have dental implants. Dental implants have the potential to distort or interfere with these photographs. The FDA is unaware of any adverse events associated with MRI or x-ray procedures involving dental implants.
FAQs
How Effective Are Dental Implants?
Dental implant success rates vary contingent on where the implants are placed in the jaw. Still, dental implants generally have a success rate of up to 98%. Implants can last a lifetime if you properly care for the implants.
Is the cost of dental implants covered by insurance?
Dental implants are not currently covered by dental insurance. Depending on your insurance plan or the cause of tooth loss, coverage under your medical plan may be possible. Ask your dental provider and insurance provider detailed questions about your specific needs and how they relate to insurance.
How painful are dental implants?
Most persons with dental implants report that the surgery is relatively painless. Local anesthetic can be administered during the process, and most patients feel implants are less painful than tooth extractions.
You can manage the mild soreness after the dental implant with over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol or Motrin.
Is the cost of dental implants covered by insurance?
Dental implants are not currently covered by dental insurance. Depending on your insurance plan and the cause of tooth loss, coverage under your medical plan may be possible. Ask your dentist and insurance provider thorough questions about your specific needs and how they relate to insurance.
How should I look after my dental implants?
Brushing, flossing, rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash, and frequent dental check-ups are all necessary for dental implants.
Is it possible for just anyone to get dental implants?
Anyone healthy enough to have a standard dental extraction or oral surgery can usually be eligible for a dental implant.
Patients must have healthy gums and sufficient bone to support the implant. They must also maintain good oral hygiene and visit the dentist regularly.
Heavy smokers or people who have uncontrolled chronic diseases such as diabetes or heart disease or have had radiation therapy to the head/neck area should speak to their dentists before having this procedure.
If you are considering getting implants, consult your dentist to discover if they are right for you.
What Doctors Specialize in dental implants?
Any licensed dentist can conduct implant surgery as long as the treatment follows the standard of care and is in the patient’s best interests.
However, because dental implants are surgically implanted in the jawbone, dental specialists that routinely perform surgery within the jawbone are an obvious choice for implant surgery.