Can Anyone Get Dental Implants?
by Arch Dental
Finally, there’s a way to replace missing teeth (or loose dentures) with an option that looks and feels just like natural teeth.
Dental implants are an effective and long-lasting solution for tooth loss and can help improve your appearance, speech, and overall oral health. But can anyone get dental implants?
In this article, we’ll explore everything you need to know about dental implants.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that support one or more artificial teeth.
They can be used to support fixed (permanent) teeth or support removable teeth like dentures.
This restorative dental option is the closest you can get to healthy, natural teeth.
In addition to replacing missing teeth, dental implants can improve the health of your teeth, gums, and jawbone.
How?
When a tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth tend to shift out of place, and the missing tooth’s bone begins to deteriorate.
Dental implants are the only dental restoration option that preserves natural bone and helps stimulate bone growth.
If you’re already noticing signs of shifting teeth or bone deterioration due to a missing tooth, don’t worry: There are different dental implant options that you and your dental provider can discuss.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
There are several major advantages to dental implants, including:
Natural smile
Dental implants look and feel just like your natural teeth. Only you will know you have them. You’ll care for them the same too: brush, floss, and get regular cleanings and checkups.
Look younger
Dental implants are the only dental restorative option that preserves natural bone, helps stimulate bone growth, and prevents bone loss. A strong jawbone helps retain your natural face shape and smile for years to come.
Build confidence
Unlike other replacement options, dental implants don’t slip or click while you chat, eat, laugh, or kiss. Your speech will also sound more natural than it did when you were wearing dentures.
Eat whatever
Dentures can slide and cause discomfort when eating. But dental implants function like your natural teeth, allowing you to eat virtually anything you want.
Proven success
Modern dental implants have been used successfully for more than 30 years, with a general success rate of 98 percent. When performed by an experienced dental implant doctor, the procedure is one of the industry’s safest and most reliable.
Save money
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime. Other dental replacement options may appear cheaper up front, but you will continue to pay that cost over and over, making them expensive in comparison.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
If you have one or more missing teeth – whether you were born without a tooth or had a tooth removed due to injury, infection, or decay – then the answer is:
Yes, you are likely a candidate for dental implants.
However, many factors go into how, when, and if you meet the requirements for dental implants, including:
Age
Children or adolescents may need to wait until their facial growth and development have been completed to ensure long-term success. This stage is typically around age 16 for girls and 18 for boys.
Health
If you are a heavy smoker, suffer from uncontrolled chronic disorders like diabetes, or have had radiation therapy to your head or neck area, you will need to be evaluated by your dental provider.
Enough bone
If you lack the necessary amount of supportive bone for a dental implant, you may need a bone augmentation or alternative dental implant.
But for the best answer, based on your situation, you need to consult with your dental provider.
Are there different types of dental implants?
Dental implants, like teeth, come in different heights, sizes, and types. You and your dental provider will create an individualized treatment plan, which may include one of the following types of dental implants…Click to read more in a new window…:
Endosteal
These dental implants are placed in the jawbone using a small screw, typically made of titanium. Endosteal is the most common type of dental implant.
Subperiosteal
These dental implants are placed on or above the jawbone (not in it). This type of implant may be used in patients who don’t have enough supporting bone or cannot undergo bone augmentation.
And if you don’t have enough jawbone to support a dental implant, there are also a few options:
Bone augmentation
This procedure uses bone additives and growth factors to restore or regenerate bone in your jaw to support an implant.
Sinus lift
This procedure adds bone below a sinus, where the bone has deteriorated due to missing upper teeth. A sinus lift is also called a sinus augmentation or sinus elevation.
Ridge expansion
If your jaw isn’t wide enough to support dental implants, this procedure adds bone graft material to a small ridge created along the top of your jaw.
What is the dental implant procedure?
The following dental implant procedure is based on an endosteal dental implant. But remember, based on all the above factors, no two treatment plans will be alike.
Consultation:
Consult with your dental provider on an individualized treatment plan. This consultation may include associated costs, insurance coverage, and a timeline.
Dental implant placement:
A small titanium post is placed in your jawbone. Most people find this procedure less painful than tooth extraction and return to work the next day. Local anesthesia or sedation may be used to keep you comfortable.
Healing process:
Formally referred to as osseointegration, your jawbone will heal around the implant, forming a solid foundation. This process can take anywhere between six weeks to a few months.
Abutment placement:
Once healed, a small connector is placed on the dental implant, just above the gum line, to securely hold your new tooth or support your denture.
Crown attachment:
Based on your dentist’s impression, your new tooth will look and feel just like a natural tooth. This tooth, formally referred to as a crown, is then attached to the abutment. Dentures attach to the abutment for support and can either be removable or permanently placed by your dentist.
Are dental implants worth it?
Take this quick quiz to find out for yourself:
- Do you want to replace one or more missing teeth?
- Do you want to retain your facial structure?
- Do you want to be able to eat whatever you want?
- Do you want to be confident about your smile and teeth?
- Do you want to save money in the long term?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, contact your dental provider today to discuss whether dental implants are your best option.
Or:
- Call us: 701-235-6075
- Email us: info@archdentalfargo.com
The content on this blog is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.
Re-posted with permission: source…Click to open source in a new window….
