When a patient arrives at a dentist’s office with tooth problems that require extraction, they often mention that they want a dental implant. Dental implants are one of the most successful and durable methods of replacing a tooth, but what are dental implants?
People have heard of them, but they don’t understand the process behind them and why they’re so successful compared with other methods. We’ve put together an article that helps explain what they are and how they work.
If you need an extraction and want an implant, you’ll understand the pros and cons and decide based on facts and not just because you heard that they were great.
What Are Dental Implants?
When a tooth is extracted, there is a hole left where the tooth was. You don’t want to just leave it as that can cause problems down the road. We can insert a dental implant which goes into the root and the bone to anchor a man-made tooth.
The implant is placed into the mouth and it contains a screw channel where the new tooth will go. It can be used to replace a single tooth, or it can help anchor a bridge or even partial dentures.
The implant is secured better than the natural teeth surrounding it. It allows you to eat everything normally and you don’t have to worry about taking dentures out at night or other problems.
How Does a Dental Implant Look and Feel?
Since the main part of the implant is covered by the crown, it looks no different to the teeth around it. It secures the tooth and can last decades without any problems.
After getting an implant, it’s important to do follow-up dental care to make sure that there are no issues or complications.
Since the implant is anchored, there are no issues with talking or speaking. It acts just like a natural tooth.
It’s important to choose a dentist that is knowledgeable in the implant procedures in order to decrease that chance of complications.
When done correctly, you won’t know a dental implant from a standard tooth.
What is Implant Recovery Time?
You might think that implant surgery might be complex and have a long recovery time, but that’s not the case. The surgery itself is complex but minimally invasive. The patient is numbed during the procedure and many times the pain following it is less than getting the tooth extracted.
Some patients may have a little pain and inflammation but much of that is taken care of with over-the-counter pain medication. Implant surgery is often less uncomfortable than many of the more common dental surgeries.
Dental Implants Are the Way to Go
What are dental implants? They’re the best method for replacing a tooth following an extraction or other major dental procedure. You’ll love the way they feel and the recovery time is short.
If you want to learn more about dental implants, please call to make a free, no-obligation appointment.
