Getting dental implants involves two surgeries across several months, making some Australians wonder, “Should I get a dental implant?” While the answer depends on each person’s circumstances, dental implants are an overall fantastic tooth replacement option with many physical and mental health benefits.
If you are considering getting dental implants, book an appointment with your dentist at No Gaps Dental to learn if you are a candidate or require treatments before proceeding with the dental implant surgery.
Should I Get a Dental Implant?
There are many factors involved in answering the question, “Should I get a dental implant?” You need to understand what getting dental implants entails, consider your budget, and check with your dentist to learn if you are a candidate for the surgery.
Dental Implants Explained
Before deciding that you’re getting dental implants, you first need to know what they are. Comprised of three parts; dental implants are the only permanent tooth replacement option available.
The term dental implant refers to the entire tooth replacement that includes a small titanium screw-like rod that sits in your jawbone. The abutment, a small hook, connects the rod to the only visible part, the artificial tooth or crown.
The dental implants process involves two surgeries, one to place the implant and one to connect the abutment, three to six months of allowing the jaw and implant to fuse, and then a fitting for your artificial tooth.
Getting Dental Implants
Before you can schedule your dental implant surgery, you must see your dentist for an initial consultation. At your consultation, your dentist performs a thorough examination to check for any preexisting conditions that could complicate your healing process or make the dental implants unstable.
If your dentist observes a gum infection, they may prescribe antibiotics to heal the infection. Once healed, you can schedule a date for your surgery.
Because missing teeth can cause your jawbone to lose density, you may require a bone graft before your dental implant surgery. If your jawbone is too weak to support the dental implants, they could fail, fall out, or be significantly less effective.
If you have diabetes, a blood disease, or other chronic illnesses, your dentist may suggest waiting until you’ve finished your treatment or an alternative tooth replacement option. Smoking can also prolong the recovery process. If possible, quit or find an alternative like nicotine patches before and after your dental implant surgery.
Once your dentist has cleared you for the surgery, you can schedule a date and time. If you’re receiving sedation, you may need to avoid food and water several hours before the surgery. Let your dentist know if you have any allergies to medications and to follow all pre-surgery suggestions.
How Dental Implant Surgery Works?
At No Gaps Dental, we believe in always providing a clean, hygienic space. Before your surgery, the staff ensures the room is clean, and your dentist and their assistant protect you against infection by thoroughly cleansing their hands using hand sanitiser and wearing PPE.
Once you arrive for your dental implant surgery, you may need to use a hand sanitiser to help keep the surgery room clean and free of dangerous infections. You may receive an IV or local sedation to help ease any discomfort during the procedure. Once you are settled, your dentist makes a small incision in your gum and places the implant into your jaw. Once in place, they close the incision, usually with small stitches, and clean the surgery site.
Recovery After Getting Dental Implants
After you wake up from the surgery, you may feel groggy, especially if you have IV sedation. Before your surgery, make plans to have a friend or family member drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours.
You may also feel some discomfort, which you can alleviate with over-the-counter medication and some swelling, which ice packs can help with.
To stem any bleeding, your dentist may leave some cotton swabs in your mouth. When you remove them, use a liberal amount of hand sanitiser to prevent an infection from developing.
After both your dental implant surgery and your abutment surgery, you should be able to return to work within a day or two. However, you may want to avoid contact sports or eating chewy or hard foods until your incision has healed.
Benefits of Getting Dental Implants
Getting dental implants provides a range of benefits, from preventing further jawbone loss to decreasing your chances of losing more teeth.
Dental implants are also easy to care for, requiring no more than twice-daily brushing and flossing.
Many patients also appreciate eating without worry since dental implants act just like natural teeth. You can dig into your favourite meals without concern that they are too chewy or that your dentures may slip.
One of the top benefits of getting dental implants is that you can smile with confidence, improving your social and professional life because they look like natural teeth.
Choose No Gaps Dental
If you’re still wondering, “Should I get a dental implant,” call the team at No Gaps Dental today on (02) 8806 0227 to schedule an initial appointment and learn more about whether you’re a candidate for dental implant surgery. Our dentists are happy to answer all your questions about dental implant surgery, the recovery process, and how you can finance your dental treatment.
Don’t wait any longer to fix your smile. The sooner you call us, the sooner you’ll have a brilliantly full smile.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks.