Whether we want to admit it our not, most of us are aware that the way we look is important. Our appearance can affect our feelings of self-worth and our confidence. And when we feel unhappy about the way we look, our productivity at work and our social lives can suffer. The way someone looks can also impact a person’s success in his or her career. After all, people who look healthy and well groomed tend to feel good about themselves and often inspire others to feel the same way. There is even some evidence that, intentionally or not, employers tend to judge potential employees by their appearance during job interviews.
Buying a new wardrobe or hitting the gym are simple enough ways to improve the way you look, but what if your appearance is being negatively impacted by missing teeth? Dental implants, artificial teeth that are surgically joined to a patient’s jawbone using titanium posts, can offer a permanent solution for people with missing teeth. Dental implants look natural and unlike dentures, dental implants perform like natural teeth, allowing patients to eat and brush their teeth normally.
Dental implants can be used to restore one missing tooth or several teeth. In some cases, patients even opt for full mouth dental implants.
Another benefit of dental implants, one that patients don’t get from dentures or bridgework, is that they can help patients maintain their facial structure and appearance by preventing bone loss in the jaw, something that normally occurs when a patient loses a tooth. Because dental implants are actually anchored in a patient’s jaw, they fool the body into thinking that a tooth is still present, preventing the bone loss that normally occurs with tooth loss.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Once you’ve decided that dental implants are for you, it’s time for a visit to your family dentist. Your dentist will examine your mouth and determine whether or not you need initial treatment before implant surgery can be done. Patients with issues such as gingivitis, periodontal disease or bone loss will need to address those problems before they can undergo dental implant surgery. Once your dentist gives you the green light for the surgery, he or she might refer you to a specialist who will perform the implant procedure. If your dentist has undergone the proper training, he or she might perform the surgery himself or herself.
When Does a Dental Implant Require Bone Grafting?
Because dental implants are secured to a patient’s jawbone, it’s important that there is enough strong bone in a patient’s jaw to support them. If a tooth, or multiple teeth, has been missing for a long period of time, or if a patient has suffered from long-term periodontal disease, it’s likely that the bone mass in his or her jaw has begun to shrink. If a patient is suffering from bone loss, a bone grafting procedure may need to be performed prior to them being able to undergo dental implant surgery. While bone grafting will lengthen the patient’s treatment time, it can have the added benefits of helping to restore a patient’s facial appearance as well as improving his or her overall health.
How Long Do Dental Implants Take To Heal?
The procedure required to install dental implants is twofold: First, patients will undergo a surgical procedure to have the actual titanium posts implanted in their jaw. This is generally done while the patient is sedated but the procedure can sometimes be performed with local anesthesia. After the implant surgery is complete, the patient’s jawbone is allowed to heal for four to six months.
When the patient’s bone has fully healed, his or her dentist will attach a custom-made crown, or crowns, depending on the number of implants a patient has. These crowns are made to match a patient’s own teeth and have a very natural appearance.
Don’t Wait
If you are missing teeth and feel that it’s affecting your self-confidence, career or social life, make an appointment with your dentist today. Life is short. Don’t spend it missing out on social events, job opportunities or opting out of posing for family photos. Dental implant surgery is covered by many dental insurance plans, and many dentists who perform the procedure offer reasonable payment plans.
Recent innovations in dental implant technology have made dental implants even more durable than they were in the past, and the results look more natural than ever. No one will ever guess that they’re not your natural teeth