Perhaps your dentist has recommended dental implants, or maybe you’re inquiring about them because you have a missing tooth or teeth. The first step is to learn as much about dental implants and your options as possible. Below you will find a list of the most popular questions regarding this dental procedure.
Dental Implants FAQs
What Is a Dental Implant?
Dental implants are metal frames or posts surgically placed into the jawbone beneath your gum line. Once the tissue heals and the implants fuse to the bone, the dentist can install replacement teeth. First, we will attach an abutment to the implant that connects the replacement tooth to the implant. It may take several appointments to fit the artificial replacement properly.
What Happens If I Don’t Get Dental Implants?
Tooth roots fuse and intertwine with the tissues in both the jawbone and the gums, acting as a stimulus for solid bone and healthy gum tissue generation. Without the stimulation, gums and jaws can recede. Which then affects the alignment of your other teeth and makes you more prone to oral health problems later on.
Will an Implant be Right for Me?
Implants can help guard against several other problems, such as shifting teeth, creating gaps, malocclusion, a bad bite. Consider scheduling a dental exam to determine whether you are a candidate for dental implants. If you have been missing a tooth for a long time, the bone may already have degenerated, and we may have to perform bone grafting before we can begin.
Will I Need a General Anesthetic?
The dental implant procedure is a form of oral surgery and does not necessarily require general anesthesia. In many cases, only local anesthesia is necessary. The anesthetic used is similar to when you have a filling or crown placed.
How Long Will it be Before I get my New Tooth?
Implants need time to settle in and fuse with the jawbone. The specific amount of time you’ll need depends on individual factors, and your dentist will be best able to tell you how long you need to wait for your implant to be ready for a replacement tooth.
What’s the Success Rate for Dental Implants?
It is scarce for dental implant procedures to fail. An implant maker found that over 92 percent of its implants successfully integrated with the bone after placement. Thus, implant failure is not unheard of but is unusual.
Caring For My Dental Implants?
Artificial replacement teeth look and feel like natural teeth. Proper brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups are all important. In addition, our dental team will need to schedule follow-up appointments to make sure your bite is correct and that the tooth is not loose.
Are Implants a Permanent Solution?
Like regular teeth, the tooth that goes onto an implant can break. However, the implant itself is perfectly safe. In addition, there are records of patients with 40-year-old implants that are still as strong as ever. We can therefore say that they are a permanent solution.
See Your Dentist for Answers That Fit Your Unique Circumstances
You may have a few additional questions about implants. For example, if your teeth have already begun to move to fill a gap caused by a missing tooth, you might wonder whether you’ll still be able to get a successful implant. Again, your dentist will be able to give you a comprehensive evaluation and help you move to the next step.
Schedule A Comprehensive Dental Examination
If you’ve fallen behind on your dental health routine, we’re here to help you get back on track. Schedule a comprehensive dental examination at your trusted Port Coquitlam dentist.. Located at 2663 Shaughnessy St., Port Coquitlam, BC, V3C3G7, we offer top-notch care and convenience for patients from Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, and beyond. Our approachable team, personalized care, and advanced technology ensure you receive the best service. Call us at 604-464-4131 or click here to request an appointment.
