October 22, 2021
If you don’t practice good oral hygiene, then your teeth will begin to rot and potentially even fall out. You also put yourself at risk of developing infections. If your teeth have fallen out or are rotting, then your dentist may recommend dental implants. A dental implant is a titanium screw that’s inserted directly into your jawbone, replacing your tooth’s root. With time, your jawbone will fuse itself to the implant. Once it’s been fitted, a false tooth can be attached.
Whether you need a dental implant or you’re just curious, this is the article for you. Here you will find a list of important things that you need to know about dental implants:
Why Do Patients Need Dental Implants?
1. Cosmetic Reasons
Some people have dental implants installed purely for cosmetic reasons, not because their oral health is poor. Dental implants are sturdy and appear natural, which makes them a good option for people whose teeth are chipped or missing. Missing or chipped teeth affect the way that a person chews, talks, and drinks. They also increase a person’s chances of experiencing headaches. Dental implant surgery allows people to continue with their lives, eat the foods that they enjoy, and socialise without worrying about the appearance or feel of their teeth.
2. Ill-fitting Dentures
Another reason that dentists recommend dental implant surgery is when a patient’s dentures don’t fit properly. Ill-fitting dentures can be very painful. In addition, dental implants are a much more secure option than dentures are. Dental implants function more like teeth than dentures do, not to mention that dentures don’t stay in place and have to be taken out. Dental implants can reduce gum irritation, discomfort, and pain. If you wear dentures and they don’t fit, you might want to consider exploring dental implant surgery.
3. Infected Tooth
Another time that dental implant surgery might be recommended, is if there are any infected teeth in a patient’s mouth. There are lots of reasons that a person might experience an infected tooth, including injury and periodontal disease. Regardless of the infection’s cause, oftentimes the tooth can’t be saved. When the tooth can’t be saved, dental implant surgery is the best option. The implant will stop the patient from experiencing pain and will stop them from experiencing any health complications associated with untreated infections, like sepsis.
4. Jawbone Deteriorating
If a person has been missing teeth for some time, there’s a chance that their jawbone will begin to deteriorate and recede. A dental implant will replace the tooth structure and strengthen the jawbone. If a person’s jawbone recession was left unchecked, then they could end up losing more teeth in the future. Implants stabilize the jaw, preventing any further issues from occurring. If you believe that your jawbone’s deteriorating then it’s important that you bring the issue up with your dentist. If your dentist recommends dental implant surgery because your jawbone is receding, then you must take their advice and have the surgery.
What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
Unfortunately, lots of people are frightened by the idea of getting dental implants. Any type of surgery can be scary. There are many benefits to getting dental implants, including the restoration and preservation of facial structure; stopping the progression of gum recession and bone loss; creating a stable base for bridgework; supporting remaining teeth and keeping them in place; filling gaps made by missing teeth; improve chewing and speaking, and securing teeth without the need for dentures. In addition, the professional doctors who offer dental implants in Las Vegas, say that dental implants can improve your confidence and compliment your facial aesthetic. The benefits far outweigh the potential risks, when it comes to dental implants.
Things to Think About Before Getting An Implant
There are lots of things to take into consideration before you get an implant. Some of these things include:
1. The Implant’s Manufacturer
It’s crucial that your dentist uses an implant made from the best materials possible. A poorly made implant can wreak havoc on your oral health. It can mean that later down the line, it has to be replaced or taken out. A poorly made implant could degrade or deteriorate. Make sure that your dentist works alongside the industry’s largest and most respected companies. Don’t be ashamed to ask your dentist who supplies their implants.
2. Guarantee and Warranty
Another thing that’s worth knowing is whether your implant has a guarantee or warranty. If your implant doesn’t have one, then it might be worth taking out an insurance policy that will cover any costs associated with replacing or repairing your implant if anything goes wrong. In some rare instances, implants fail a few months after they’re installed. While it’s definitely unlikely that your implant will fail, it’s always worth covering yourself in the event that it does. This will save you a lot of money.
3. Surgeon’s Experience
Unless you know the surgeon who’s performing your dental implant surgery personally, it’s advisable that you do your research and find out everything that you can about them. You need to make sure that they’re accredited, qualified, and licensed. You should also try to find out if they have had any malpractice suits taken out against them or any surgeries that they have worked for in the past. Knowing that your surgeon is qualified, trained, and up for the job is a great way to allay any fears you might be having about your surgery.
4. Aftercare
Before you agree to surgery with a dentist or surgeon, make sure you research their aftercare package. Aftercare is very important. If the clinic doesn’t offer aftercare services free of charge, then you won’t have anyone to go to if you experience difficulty or pain in the weeks following your surgery. Aftercare services are something that you need to do a lot of research about. If you’re not happy with the aftercare services that they’re offering, make sure you find another surgery. Alternatively, you can discuss adding aftercare to your dental implant surgery package.
5. Surgeon’s Equipment
Another thing that’s worth thinking about is the equipment that your surgeon and restoration specialist use. While all dentists have basic equipment like dental drills, not all dentists have specialised equipment that’s needed to perform dental implant operations. It’s always worth considering your dentist’s equipment. Don’t feel shy about asking them what they’re going to be using, so you can gauge their experience. Make sure you do your own research before you ask, so you know what equipment your surgeon should be using, otherwise it will go over your head.
6. Sterilisation
It’s very important that your dentist or surgeon sterilises their equipment before they use it. The reason for this is that equipment that hasn’t been sterilised is more likely to harbour germs and bacteria, which can cause infections and diseases. There’s no way that you can know if your surgeon has sterilised their equipment beforehand, so the best thing to do is to remind them before surgery. Just comment, ‘I hope that’s sterilised.’ If it isn’t then they’ll soon sterilise it. Unsterilised equipment can cause infections like sepsis, which can be life-threatening.
7. Handling Complications
In addition to everything else listed above, you need to be sure that the surgeon who’s performing your surgery can handle any complications that could arise. While complications in dental implant surgery are very rare, they can still happen. You need to be confident that the surgeon who’s performing your surgery will know exactly what to do if they find themselves in a situation where a complication occurs during surgery. If you’re seriously doubting the surgeon’s abilities, then find another surgeon to perform your dental implant surgery for you. Ideally, you should find a surgeon who can avoid complications occurring.
8. Bone Grafting
You also need to make sure that the surgeon who’s performing your surgery has bone grafting experience. The most common complication associated with dental implant surgery is that there isn’t enough bone. If your surgeon is truly experienced and a specialist, then they will already know this – because they will have performed a CT scan. If your surgeon isn’t a specialist and hasn’t performed a CT scan, then only during surgery will they realise that you don’t have enough bone? This is why you should find a surgeon with bone grafting surgery beforehand so that you can be confident that if they did take shortcuts and forego a CT scan, that they will be able to continue with your surgery.
9. Medical Conditions
It’s important that you voice your pre-existing medical conditions to the surgeon who’s performing your surgery or the dentist that you see beforehand, so these conditions can be catered to. If you have untreated gum disease, for example, there’s a chance that your implants will fail. Make sure that the dentist you’re seeing thoroughly screens you beforehand. There are lots of other health conditions that can negatively influence the outcome of dental implant surgery. If your dentist doesn’t screen you beforehand or ask you any questions relating to your medical history, ask them what’s going on.
10. Affordability
Something else to take into consideration is the cost of the surgery. While you can find surgeons who will perform dental implant surgery cheaply, you should look for more than savings. A surgeon who will perform the surgery cheaper than their competition might not necessarily be the best surgeon. If you have health insurance, then the surgery will probably be paid for by that.
11. Travelling Overseas
Another thing that you need to avoid is traveling overseas for your dental surgery. Surgeons and dentists in the United States are more than qualified to perform your surgery. When you travel overseas, dentists aren’t bound by the same regulations that surgeons and dentists in the United States are. Because of this, there’s a higher chance of complications arising. If complications were to occur when you’re abroad, you can’t guarantee that you’ll receive the same treatment and aftercare that you would if you were at home. Even if you can save money by going abroad, the quality of surgery isn’t guaranteed.
Finding a Dentist
If you’re going to go ahead and pursue dental implant surgery, then you’re probably also wondering how you can find a dentist who’s right for you. There are lots of ways that you can find a dentist, including:
Reading online forums and blogs is a good way to find dentists. On them, you will find testimonials from people who have had personal experience with dental surgeons. You’re also allowed to ask these people if they would recommend them. Dialoguing with people who have already had dental implant surgery is a great way to learn more about the surgery itself. You’ll be able to allay any fears that you might have about it, by speaking to people who have had the surgery successfully online. Once you’ve found a dentist that’s highly recommended online, make sure you conduct further research and read their online reviews.
Another good way to find a dentist to perform your dental implant surgery is to ask around in your local community. There’s a strong chance that somebody you know or a member of your family has had this surgery before or knows somebody that has. By asking around in your local community, you’re less likely to receive biased reviews. People that know you won’t recommend somebody who’s not up to scratch because it reflects on them badly and may damage their standing and reputation in the community.
If you have a family doctor, then you could ask them to recommend a surgeon to you. Assuming you’ve been with your physician for a long time, there’s no reason for them to exaggerate a dentist’s quality or capabilities. Your family doctor might be able to recommend a former colleague of theirs or somebody that they know in the medical community that’s spoken highly of.
There are lots of reasons why you might want to learn about dental implants. You might be having surgery yourself, a relative might, or you might just be interested in it. By researching it extensively, you’ll be more likely to find a surgeon who’s qualified for the job. You’ll also be able to allay any fears that you’re having about surgery.