Tooth loss does more than adversely impact your smile. Missing teeth can cause bone loss in your jaw, facial imbalance and hinder your ability to eat and speak normally. It is essential to seek a tooth replacement solution with your dentist to prevent oral health issues due to lost or damaged teeth.
Restorative dentistry offers many options for lost, damaged, or unsightly teeth, but dental implants provide the most benefits. Learn what to know before getting dental implants, including whether you may be an ideal candidate, the dental implant procedure, and how long dental implants last.
What to know before getting dental implants: Why Are Dental Implants Preferred?
Dental implants are preferred over other tooth restorations because they offer the most natural functionality. A dental implant uses a metal screw implanted in your jaw to hold a tooth-coloured crown in your mouth.
The dental implant acts like a normal tooth, preventing bone loss, making it easier to eat and talk, and restoring confidence in your smile.
Dental implants can replace one or multiple teeth and are more convenient than removable dentures.
Am I A Candidate For Dental Implants?
Dental implants are an excellent option for many people, but those with the following conditions may not be well suited to dental implants:
- Significant bone loss in the jaw
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Heavy tobacco or alcohol use
- Drug use
- Poor oral hygiene
- Pregnancy
- Less than 18 years old
Additionally, people with certain medical conditions should discuss dental implant options with their dentists. These conditions include cancer, haemophilia, osteoporosis, and immune deficiency.
If you think you may be a good candidate for dental implants, schedule a consultation with your dentist at No Gaps Dental. They can perform an oral exam to determine the right tooth option replacement for you.
Does Dental Implant Surgery Hurt?
Before your surgery, you will undergo digital planning and CBCT X-ray to evaluate your bones, sinuses, and nerves. It will also help determine whether underlying issues need to be treated to make the dental implant surgery successful. After your dentist clears you for the procedure, they will begin to place the dental implant.
Your dentist numbs the area with a local anaesthetic before starting the procedure, so you may feel a slight pressure. Although this may cause discomfort, you should not feel pain. The dentist will cut your gum to expose your jawbone and drill a hole to insert the titanium rod.
You may elect to have a temporary denture while waiting for the bone to grow around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and usually takes 2-6 months. Your dentist may give you medication to manage discomfort before the procedure and instructions on managing pain after your appointment.
Once the bone has grown around the dental implant, your dentist attaches a metal abutment to the screw. They will use a local anaesthetic during this procedure to minimise discomfort. Occasionally, the implant and abutment are placed during the same appointment. Your recovery after this portion of the procedure takes about two weeks.
The final step in getting a dental implant is to have a crown made and placed. At No Gaps Dental, we use a digital scanner to create a digital impression of your mouth to create a CEREC dental crown. This technology lets you have the crown made and fitted on the same day.
You should not experience more than mild discomfort when undergoing dental implant surgery. If you experience dental anxiety, ask about our inhaled sedation, which can help you receive a dental implant without worry or stress.
How to Prepare for Dental Implant Surgery?
After your digital planning and CBCT X-ray, your dentist may decide you need one or more procedures before the dental implant procedure. These procedures might include tooth extraction, bone grafts, or a sinus lift.
Tooth extraction
If you have a damaged or decayed tooth, especially near the site of the planned dental implant, your dentist may decide to extract it to minimise the chance of infection. Your dentist gives you a local anaesthetic and pulls the tooth.
Bone graft
Bone grafts are necessary for dental implants for a variety of reasons. Gum disease and tooth loss are two of the most common reasons, but trauma and developmental issues can also be present. The most common type of bone graft for dental implants is a socket graft, which protects the part of the jaw that holds teeth. If your jaw isn’t wide enough for dental implants, your dentist may choose to do a lateral ridge preservation graft.
Sinus lift
A sinus lift adds bone to the top jaw to lift the sinus membrane and promote bone growth in the sinus area. Sinus lift recovery usually takes around 4-12 months.
Before getting dental implants, you need to know that these preparatory procedures dramatically increase the odds of success if your dentist thinks they’re necessary.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants are the longest-lasting type of restorative dentistry. The implanted post should last for life, while the restoration that attaches to the post lasts several years. According to a study of 10,871 implants, 94% of implants remained successful at the 15-year mark.
Are There Any Risks With Dental Implant Surgery?
The primary risk of dental implant surgery is an infection. Extreme cases can lead to gum disease and bone loss instead of bone growth. Injury to an adjacent tooth is a less common risk.
At No Gaps Dental, we take every precaution to protect patients through excellent hygienic practices, including the frequent use of hand sanitiser.
We thoroughly scrub our instruments before putting them in an ultrasonic cleaner and sterilise each device using heat and high-pressure steam.
We use clinical-strength detergent to clean rooms between patient visits, including work surfaces, dental units, and glasses.
We also provide hand sanitiser for our patients’ use.
How Can I Get the Best Result?
What you should know before getting dental implants includes steps to maximise your chances for a successful dental implant. Excellent oral hygiene and routine dental care every six months are imperative. Tobacco use adversely affects dental implant success rates, so you should refrain from using tobacco.
If you have any chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes, manage them by following your doctor’s directions. Follow your dentist’s instructions regarding your diet and oral health, wash your hands, or use a hand sanitiser before eating.
Begin Your Journey to a Fully Restored Smile
To discuss dental implants with your dentist, contact No Gaps Dental at (02) 8806 0227 or schedule an appointment through our online portal. We are happy to go over your tooth replacement options and answer any questions you may have about dental implants.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Dental implant procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant
Dental Implant Design and Its Relationship to Long-Term Implant Success
https://journals.lww.com/implantdent/fulltext/2003/12040/dental_implant_design_and_its_relationship_to.11.aspx
Should I Get Dental Implants?
https://www.dentistry.com/topics/dental-implants/should-i-get-dental-implants
Long term clinical performance of 10 871 dental implants with up to 22 years of follow-up: A cohort study in 4247 patients
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/cid.12994