Dental implants, while a common procedure at your general dentist or dental specialist, may be unfamiliar to dental patients seeking replacement teeth for the first time. Even if you know a bit about dental implants, there are some things you should know about them before undergoing the procedure.
1. You’ll never get cavities
Yes, you read that correctly. If you’ve received a dental implant, you will never get a cavity in your new fake tooth. That’s because implants are made from titanium screws that support a crown of porcelain or a similar material, which can’t be penetrated by tooth decay. However, you’re still at risk for other dental complications, separate from cavities.
2. You need to care for them like real teeth
Although you’ll never get a cavity in your implanted teeth, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to take care of them. As your dentist will tell you, it’s important to practice proper dental hygiene to keep your new implants clean and to prevent complications. If you’re a smoker, or if you don’t take good care of your implants, your gums may reject the screws, or you may develop an infection. And if you don’t brush and floss daily, plaque can build up on your implanted teeth and damage the surrounding teeth and gums. If you’re concerned about your dental hygiene routine, make sure you talk to you dentist prior to getting implants to make sure you’re able to keep them healthy.
3. They can last a lifetime
With the right care and hygiene, your dental implants are all but guaranteed to last a lifetime. Many people think that implants need to be replaced, or that they’ll eventually “wear out”. But if you’re diligent about brushing and flossing daily, and seeing your dentist for your recommended twice-yearly checkups, your implants can last even longer than natural teeth.
4. They can make your jaw bone stronger
Patients with several missing teeth are great candidates for dental implants because they may have suffered some gum or jaw bone collapse from the lack of a tooth root to keep your dental structure intact. In the process of placing a dental implant, a titanium screw is installed in your empty gum, where it fuses with your jaw bone over time. With this added structure, your jaw will stay strong and your gums won’t recede, which can improve the stability of your face.
5. Getting an implant is easier than getting a tooth pulled
When dental implants were first created as a method to replace natural teeth, the process and recovery period were lengthy, and the success rate of implants was low. Since then, advances in dental technology have improved the implant procedure to require simple local anesthesia and only one or two visits to the dentist. Today, dental implants are considered minor surgeries and can be performed in your dentist’s office.
Curious about dental implants? Call Valley Dental Care of Plainfield today!