Oro-dental trauma includes injury to your teeth, oral cavity, or mouth. About 20% of people suffer from oro-dental trauma at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, you might lose a tooth as a result.
Without treatment, you could experience complications in the future. For example, surrounding teeth might lean toward the gap in your smile. Your teeth might start to appear crooked.
If you’re missing a tooth, your dentist might recommend dental implants to fill the gap. What are dental implants, exactly? What are dental implants for?
Keep reading to find out! After reading this guide, you can determine if you’re an ideal candidate. Then, you can schedule an appointment to restore your smile! Then, you can schedule an appointment with this Cosmetic Dentist in cordova to restore your smile!
Read on to discover everything you need to know about dental implants today.
Table of Contents
What Are Dental Implants?
First, let’s answer a few of the fundamental questions that likely brought you here.
What are dental implants, exactly, and what are dental implants made of?
Dental implants are designed prosthetics. They’re created to look and function like natural teeth. With surgery, these implants are fixed within the jawbone to replace missing teeth in your smile.
The implant itself is a metal, screw-like post that’s placed into the jawbone. It’s often made using titanium.
Once the post is in place, the process of osseointegration will begin. Osseointegration gives the implant a few months to fuse with the bone. This process ensures the implant is stable.
Then, your dentist is able to place the crown, or replacement tooth, over the implant.
The osseointegration process also ensures your body won’t reject the implant. Then, the crown is able to look and function like a real tooth.
Dental implant surgery can help you avoid bridgework or dentures. The surgery itself will involve several procedures.
Consider asking your dentist “what are dental implants” to determine if this treatment option is right for you.
Types of Implants
What are dental implants like? It depends on the type of dental implant you need. Your dentist might suggest either endosteal or subperiosteal implants based on your oral health.
Endosteal implants are placed within the jawbone while subperiosteal implants are placed on top of the jawbone. Endosteal implants are ideal for long-term benefits.
Your dentist might recommend mini dental implants.
What are mini dental implants, exactly? They’re small implants designed for teeth that need anchorage for a short period of time.
You can also ask your dentist about all-in-4 implants. They might suggest this option for dental implants if you need to replace teeth that are connected within an arch. All-in-4 implants can give your teeth the stability they need.
Ideal Candidates
What are dental implants for, exactly? This procedure is designed to replace missing teeth within your smile.
The titanium in the implant can fuse with your jawbone, ensuring the implant doesn’t slip. You won’t have to worry about bone damage, which often occurs with dentures or fixed bridgework.
The materials won’t decay, either.
Your dentist might determine you’re an ideal candidate for dental implant surgery if you:
- Have one or more missing teeth
- Don’t smoke tobacco
- Want to improve your speech
- Have adequate bone to secure the dental implants
- Are able to have a bone graft
- Have a jawbone that’s reached full growth
- Are unwilling or unable to wear dentures
- Are willing to commit several months to the process
- Have healthy oral tissues
Your dentist will also evaluate your health to ensure you don’t have health conditions that might affect bone healing. You can schedule a consultation appointment to determine if you’re an ideal candidate for this procedure.
Potential Risks
As with any procedure, there are a few health risks you’ll want to schedule when you ask your dentist “what are dental implants?”
For example, risk can include:
- Injury or damage to surrounding structures
- Nerve damage (leading to pain, tingling, or numbness)
- Sinus problems
- Infection at the implant site
These problems are usually rare. If they do occur, symptoms are often minor and easily treated.
What Are the Benefits?
What are dental implants used for? Here are a few benefits you might want to consider before scheduling your procedure. Understanding the potential benefits can help you determine if surgery can help accomplish your goals.
1. They Look Natural
One of the main benefits of dental implants is they’re designed to look and function like your natural teeth.
You can smile from ear to ear without worrying people will notice you have an implant in place. Your dentist can even match the implant’s color with the color of your surrounding teeth.
Since they look and function like natural teeth, you’ll have an easier time chewing and enjoying your favorite foods.
Remember, implants are also biocompatible, meaning your body will accept the implant as if it’s a natural tooth.
2. Stability
Putting a dental implant in place will give surrounding teeth the stability they need.
Otherwise, your teeth could lean toward the gap. Your smile could look crooked as a result.
3. Avoid Sagging and Bone Loss
If you’re missing teeth, your jawbone could lack stimulation in certain areas. Deterioration could occur as a result.
As your jaw bone deteriorates, you could experience bone loss, which can lead to sagging. Your lower face could shrivel inward, causing wrinkles.
You can avoid bone loss and sagging with a dental implant.
4. Prevent Gum Disease
If there are gaps in your smile, bacteria and food particles will have more places to hide. Plaque and tartar can build up, leading to gum disease.
Without treatment, gum disease could cause you to lose teeth, along with other complications.
Instead, you can close the gaps in your smile with dental implants.
5. Immediate Results
The average cost for dental implants falls between $3,000 and $4,500. The cost depends on your location and other factors. The cost is worth the benefits you’ll experience, though.
With proper oral care, you can ensure your implants will last forever.
What Are Dental Implants?: Your Guide to Smile Restoration
To recap, what are dental implants? They’re a surgical option for repairing gaps in your smile. Dental implants can restore your smile and improve your overall oral health.
Consider visiting a dentist to determine if you’re an ideal candidate today.
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