What to Know Before Getting Dental Implants

In recent years, dental implants have become a popular treatment for patients who have missing teeth. Implants restore functionality to the mouth by making it easier to bite into foods and chew them properly. In addition, they may restore confidence in speaking and smiling. Implants may not be for everybody, though, and it is important to know what to expect.

Factors to consider before getting implants

Patients must consider several factors before getting implants.

Implants require a certain amount of healthy jawbone

The titanium rod portion of an implant is a screw that requires something to latch onto, just like a screw used in a home would need. In the case of the mouth, the screw must have enough jawbone to latch onto. Unfortunately, this means that some people will not automatically be good candidates for implants. When someone has missing teeth, the jawbone begins to shrink. The longer the person goes without replacing the teeth, the more it will shrink, eventually collapsing completely since it no longer has a job to do. A dentist will perform an X-ray on potential implant candidates to ensure there is enough viable jawbone to do the procedure.

Implants look and function like natural teeth

Because they are embedded in the jawbone, dental implants work just like natural teeth. The titanium rods work like the roots of natural teeth, fusing to the jawbone over time and creating a strong, reliable foundation for the implant. This stability ensures they remain in place and function naturally when the patient is biting, chewing, and speaking. Implants are also created to match the shade of the patient's natural teeth to further ensure they are undetectable.

Implants are a process

Patients can expect to spend several months on the process of getting implants. If the patient has broken teeth, they will need to be removed first. Sometimes, bone grafting is required to ensure the implants will heal properly. If this is necessary, the graft will need to heal completely before the implants can be placed. After the titanium rods are placed, they will need time to heal and fuse to the jawbone before the teeth themselves are placed. Typically, a patient will wear removable dentures while the rods and bones fuse, so there is little pain or disruption to daily life until the permanent teeth are placed.

Implants require the same care as natural teeth

Implants are meant to be a permanent solution to missing teeth, but that does not mean that the patient will not need to take care of them. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Implant patients will need to brush their teeth at least twice per day and floss at least once per day. It is a good idea to avoid coffee, cola, or other dark-colored drinks or foods that could stain the teeth. Additionally, visit the dentist at least once per year.