What to Consider Before Getting Dental Implants

One of the most popular restorations for missing teeth is dental implants. However, that does not mean that they are appropriate for every patient. Under certain circumstances, implants may be contraindicated. If you are interested in this treatment, you should discuss with your dentist whether you are a candidate.

How do dental implants work?

The implant procedure involves multiple steps.

• A rod made of titanium or a similar metal is surgically implanted in the jaw to replace the roots of the missing tooth.
• The implant fuses completely with the jawbone during the process of osseointegration, which takes several months.
• A tooth prosthesis is crafted and connected to the implant by means of an abutment.

Once the implant is osseointegrated and the prosthesis is placed, you should be able to go back to eating the foods you want. Your implant should look and feel just like a real tooth, and you can take care of it as you would your natural teeth.

What do you need to consider before having dental implants?

Dental implants may not be right for everyone. There are some things you need to think about and discuss with your dentist before making your decision.

Oral health and hygiene

You need to have reasonably good oral health before you can have the implant surgery. For example, smoking may cause complications by interfering with postoperative healing. You may be required to quit smoking at least three months prior to surgery to prevent postoperative complications.

You also have to observe excellent oral hygiene to be a candidate for dental implants. Poor hygiene could lead to infection, which could ultimately result in implant failure.

Bone density

Following tooth loss, the density of your jawbone diminishes over time due to calcium resorption. It is common for patients seeking dental implants to have inadequate bone, and it does not automatically disqualify you. It may be possible to fortify the bone using a separate bone graft procedure. This increases the overall treatment time because it requires its own period of osseointegration before the implant can be placed.

Risks and benefits

Like all surgical procedures, there are risks involved in dental implant surgery, such as allergic reaction, bleeding, infection, and nerve damage. Another risk is failure of the implant, which may or may not relate to one of the other issues. According to the American Dental Association, dental implant surgery has a very high success rate of 95%, and serious complications are rare. For most patients, the benefit of restoring the look and function of a full set of teeth outweighs the risks.

Postoperative instructions

In the rare instances in which dental implants do fail, it is usually because the patient did not follow instructions after the surgery. Study the information you are given regarding what to do after implant surgery and follow the instructions to the letter.