Many Australians with missing teeth experience health problems, and may also develop social anxiety. Smiling is an essential part of human interaction, and if you often cover your mouth when laughing or try to smile without showing your teeth, you may find it harder to interact in social situations. Dental implants are the only permanent options for missing teeth.
At No Gaps Dental, our patients often have many questions about dental implants, including wondering how the dental implant surgery works, how long the recovery time is, and whether going abroad is worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
While each patient is unique, many have the same questions about dental implants. If you can’t find the answer to your question here, the team at No Gaps Dental is happy to assist you.
What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are small screw-like titanium rods that sit directly in your jawbone. Unlike dentures, a dental implant remains in your jaw permanently and requires surgery.
Besides the dental implant itself, there are two other components: the abutment, a small hook, and the artificial crown, which is the only visible part.
What Does the Dental Implant Process Entail?
There are four major steps to getting dental implants. The first is your initial appointment, where your dentist examines your teeth and takes X-rays or 3D images to prepare for your dental implant surgery.
At your initial appointment, your dentist also checks to see if you have any pre-existing conditions that could impact the dental implant surgery, including gum disease. Because the dental implant sits in your jawbone, your dentist also must check to see if your jaw can support it. Some people with multiple missing teeth have experienced too much bone loss to support a dental implant and may require a bone graft or sinus lift before their dental implant surgery.
Once you are ready, your dentist schedules a date for your dental implant surgery. You can choose I/V sedation or local anaesthesia to ensure you are comfortable during the surgery. After placing the dental implant in your jawbone, your dentist closes the incision and cleans the wound.
Before scheduling your abutment surgery, you need to wait for the dental implant to fuse to your jawbone, in a process called osseointegration. This process, which can take up to six months, sets dental implants apart from other tooth replacement options and enables the implant to mimic a natural tooth root.
Once the fusion has completed, your dentist can perform the abutment surgery, attaching the small hook to your dental implant. After you have recovered, you can see your dentist for the final step, creating and fitting your artificial crown.
After taking impressions of your mouth, a lab creates a customised crown for your smile. Once completed, your dentist ensures that you are happy with your new crown’s look.
How Long Is the Recovery Period?
While it can take up to six months for the osseointegration process to finish, you can live your life as normal. Many patients return to work the day after their dental implant surgery, although you may need to use ice packs and over-the-counter pain medication for a week.
However, several factors could lengthen your recovery period, including your medical history, whether you smoke, and how closely you follow your dentist’s post-op directions.
An infection in the wound can significantly lengthen the healing time. To reduce your chances of developing an infection, use hand sanitiser before changing any cotton swabs or touching your wound.
What Hygiene Steps Does No Gaps Dental Take?
At No Gaps Dental, we pride ourselves on our hygiene practices.
We adhere to all the hygiene requirements laid out by the Dental Board of Australia, which include deep cleaning and sanitising all our reusable medical equipment, requiring that all our dentists and hygienists use medical-grade hand sanitiser before interacting with a patient, and ensuring that all our dentists participate in continuing education courses on infection control.
Should I Go Abroad For My Dental Implant Surgery?
Many dental practices abroad advertise cheap dental implants, which attracts some Australians. However, while the initial cost might seem lower, you also need to consider the price of travel, lodging, and taking time off work. Additionally, your dental insurance might not cover dental work abroad, and you may need to purchase travel health insurance to cover you in case of a problem.
Other countries may also not have strict hygiene requirements like Australia. They may use lower-grade hand sanitiser or fail to thoroughly sanitise reusable medical equipment between patients, which could result in serious infections.
Going abroad also involves long flights and hotel stays, which could make your recovery less comfortable.
How Do I Care for My Dental Implant?
Unlike dentures, which require a specialised cleaning solution, you can care for your dental implants just like you would natural teeth.
Floss and brush your teeth twice daily, and see your dentist every six months for a cleaning and check-up. To ensure that your crown stays white, you may want to avoid or reduce consumption of some food and drink, including red wine and coffee. Adding milk to your coffee, or brushing immediately after drinking red wine can also limit their staining effects.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
The titanium screw lasts a lifetime, setting it apart from other teeth replacement options. However, the abutment and crown are more exposed and may need to be replaced after 10 to 15 years, depending on where it is in your mouth and how well you care for it.
To increase your crown’s longevity, avoid biting down on hard foods and wear a mouthguard when playing sports.
Choose No Gaps Dental For Your Dental Implants
If you have missing teeth and want a permanent solution, call us today on (02) 8806 0227 to arrange an initial appointment. Our dentists are happy to answer all your questions about dental implants and determine if you are a candidate for dental implant surgery.
Call us today to learn more about missing teeth replacement options and start on your journey towards a full, confident smile.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.