Dental Implants – Common Questions Answered
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are metal tooth root replacements, placed in the jawbone, allowing your dentist to mount crowns into the area.
What are the benefits of dental implants?
Dental implants provide a far superior experience to other tooth restoration options, like dentures and bridges. Since dental implants are planted in your jawbone, they provide stable artificial teeth that look and feel like natural teeth.
Am I a good candidate for dental implants?
Since dental implants rely on your gums and bone for support, and significant healing time is required for the procedure to be successful, you need to have a thorough consultation with your dentist to determine the options that are right for you.
What steps are involved in getting dental implants?
Dental implants are placed in multiple steps and the whole process typically takes six to nine months.
- Damaged tooth removal.
- Dental implant placement.
- Waiting for the bone to grow and heal.
- Artificial tooth attachment.
How do I care for my dental implants?
- Practice good oral hygiene by regularly brushing and flossing.
- Visit your dentist for regular check-ups.
- Address harmful habits such as smoking and teeth grinding.
Are there any risks to dental implants?
Although the success rate for dental implants is about 95%, a few risks to be aware of are:
- Infection
- Bone loss
- Damage to nearby structures (e.g., teeth or blood vessels)
- Nerve damage
- Implant breakage or failure
- Sinus problems
