Dental Implants

Dental Implants – Why You Might Need Dental Implants

If you are one of several million Australians who is missing at least one tooth, then your dentist might recommend a dental implant at your next check-up. While it might not seem like a significant problem to lose a tooth, it can be quite detrimental to your oral health.

You can have difficulty eating, notice changes in your speech, and lose your confidence as well. One missing tooth can even be responsible for premature aging, chronic headaches, and damage to your other teeth. If your dentist said getting dental implants is an excellent option for you, then it might pay to listen to them.

A dental implant is a post with a screw in it that goes into your jawbone. An artificial tooth then goes on top, looking like and operating as your old tooth would have. There are many instances when your dentist from Dental O So Gentle, might recommend a dental implant.

You might have one or more missing teeth, a fully-grown jawbone, and enough bone to secure your implants. If there isn’t, there could be a possibility of a bone graft.

Other signs of dental implants being suitable is if you have healthy tissue, no health conditions to prevent healing, and you want to improve your speech. If you are against dentures and you don’t smoke cigarettes, then you’re on your way to filling those confidence-draining gaps in no time.

What’s Next?

If your dentist believes a dental implant is right for you, then you can get the process underway. They will start with x-rays and 3D images so your dentist has a clear picture of how they will carry out the procedure. They will then review your medical history, understand any drugs you’re taking, and go through risk prevention criteria as well.

Finally, your dentist will talk through a treatment plan with you. This plan factors in the number of implants, the structure of your jaw bone, and the teeth you are going to get.

It’s important to know that a dental implant can take many months to complete. Each stage requires weeks of healing. Your dentist has to remove any damaged teeth, prepare your jawbone, install the implant, and allow for bone healing and growth.

Once your jaw heals, they will take care of the abutment and artificial tooth, all before you walk out with a gap-free smile on your face.

Even though a dental implant can take a long time to heal from start to finish, it can be well worth it. It operates and looks like a natural tooth, meaning no one ever has to know it’s not. If you are missing a tooth or teeth, then that’s a clear sign you might need a dental implant. Talk to your dentist to find out more about the procedure.