What to Know Before Getting Dental Implants

If you're considering dental implants to restore one or multiple missing teeth, there are several things to consider before embarking on your tooth restoration journey with a dentist in Bonita Beach.  

Permanently Restore Your Missing Tooth with Dental Implants

Teeth have two main parts: the root that secures to your jaw, and the crown that appears above your gumline. Dental implants are similar – the dental implant itself acts like an artificial tooth root that holds an artificial dental crown. Unlike your natural tooth, however, a dental implant will never develop cavities or become infected.  

The Dental Implant Procedure

Getting dental implants requires several trips to the dentist over the course of a few months. During your consultation, you and your dentist will determine if dental implants are right for you.  

At your next visit, your dentist will place the dental implant into your jaw. First, they will administer a local anesthetic to numb the treatment area. Next, they will administer some level of sedation to keep you comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure; it may involve intravenous (IV) sedation.  

After administering anesthesia and sedation, your dentist will make a small incision (opening) in your gums and create a small hole in your jawbone to hold the implant. Next, your dentist will insert the screw-shaped metal implant into your jaw and place a stitch or two as needed. Your dentist will then place a temporary crown that protects the dental implant and allows you to eat, speak, and smile while you wait for the next visit.

Over the course of the next few weeks, your jawbone will fuse with the metal implant in a process known as osseointegration. While this process takes time, it creates a sturdy anchor.

Once osseointegration is complete, you’ll return to your dentist for the placement of the dental crown. This visit doesn’t take very long, and you’ll walk out of the office with a new smile!

You can replace one or more missing teeth with a single dental implant

Many people have just one dental implant to replace a single tooth. However, you can replace several missing teeth with a single dental implant; with All-on-4 (or All-on-X), you can replace all of the teeth on your upper or lower arch with just four dental implants.  

Benefits of Dental Implants

Dental implants are growing in popularity

Even though they have been around a very long time, dental implants were once uncommon. More than 3 million people in the United States has dental implants today, according to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, and that number grows by about a half million every year.  

Dental implants are permanent

Unlike dentures or dental bridges that last for only a few years, dental implants are permanent (with proper care, of course).  

Easy care

Unlike dentures that require removal and soaking, dental implants are easy to care for – simply brush and floss as usual, and maintain regular dental check-ups.

Dental implants never slip or slide

One of the biggest complaints about dentures is that they don’t stay in place. Because their dentures slip and slide – or even fall completely out – many people struggle to eat or speak clearly. Dental implants are different, in that they stay securely in place at all times.

Dental implants cost

While it is true that dental implants cost more up front compared with dentures or bridges, they are actually less expensive in the long run. How? The answer is in replacement: dentures usually last only 7 to 10 years before you have to replace them, while dental implants should last a lifetime and never need replacing. This means dental implants are a “one-and-done” solution to missing teeth.

Preserves jawbone

Your tooth roots stimulate the growth of new bone tissue in your jaw. When you lose a tooth, you also lose this bone-building stimulation, which leaves you at risk for losing other teeth. Losing bone mass in your jaw also changes the shape of your face. Dental implants act like tooth roots to stimulate the growth of new bone tissue, thereby saving your remaining teeth and preserving the aesthetic appeal of your face.  

Getting dental implants in Bonita Beach has never been easier

Our dentist in Bonita Beach can help you determine if dental implants are right for you. Make an appointment with Bonita Beach Dental, where we believe that life is beautiful when your smile is too.

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