Who Is a Good Candidate for a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are replacements of missing teeth and they consist of the tooth-root and crown. When placed properly, dental implants are as strong as the original tooth. Tooth loss is a common problem in people despite massive campaigns for dental hygiene. Getting an implant, however, will help you to have confidence in your image and have an easier time chewing and with speaking.

Placement of a dental implant may involve a couple of visits to the dentist and involves various steps like removal of a tooth that has a problem, preparation of the jaw followed by the dental implants in Falls Church being placed, and finally given time to heal and allow bone growth. An abutment is then placed followed by the artificial tooth.

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Replacing a missing tooth with a dental implant helps to improve your appearance which is a permanent benefit when the procedure is done by a qualified dentist. Getting a dental implant will also help to boost your self-esteem and give you as radiant of a smile as you had before. Gaps in the mouth can distort your speech but dental implants help to correct this problem.

Dental implants also help you to chew food comfortably without pain and they are also well-spaced, allowing you to maintain your oral hygiene because plaque does not easily stick in between. Because dental implants are permanent, they will save you money that you would likely have spent on many dental visits. Dental implants also have more benefits than dentures because you do not have to keep removing them and they are more comfortable than dentures.

What Risks Can Be Caused by Dental Implants?

An infection can occur during the procedure presenting itself with pain and pus and may complicate further and cause an abscess that needs surgical drainage. The infection may also spread through the bloodstream to distant areas like the heart causing infectious endocarditis. It is therefore important to take prophylactic antibiotics before the procedure to prevent infection.

There may also be an injury of surrounding structures like the maxillary sinus and gums, risking infections in these areas. The bone between the implant and the original tooth may be lost causing the implant to become poorly supported and therefore weak. The implant may also break but this can be managed by replacement.

The nerves around the tooth may also be injured resulting in numbness and pain in the gums. There may also be excess bleeding during the procedure and delayed wound healing leading to wound dehiscence or necrosis of the tissues. The gum may recede or undergo hyperplasia after the procedure.

Who Qualifies for a Dental Implant?

You qualify to get a dental implant if you have a missing tooth and a mature jawbone. You also qualify if you are generally healthy without dental diseases or systemic conditions that weaken immunity like diabetes. You should also have strong bones to hold the implant and be willing to complete the whole procedure with multiple visits to the dentist.

If you desire to improve your confidence, if you want to improve your speech and ability to chew but do not want to have dentures, dental implants could be a good fit for you. Dental implants are also better for non-smokers because of the way smoking delays wounds from healing by limiting blood supply to the area.

Dental implants are used to replace missing teeth in people with impaired speech or the inability to chew properly, and who want a permanent solution without dentures. Implants are suitable for healthy individuals who do not smoke and have mature and strong jawbones. Sterility should be maintained during the procedure to prevent complications like infections.