Losing your natural teeth can impact your confidence and the ability to enjoy your favorite foods. If you are missing more than a few teeth, you have two options – dentures and dental implants. An implant is not a replacement tooth. It works like a replacement tooth root and offers a base for your replacement tooth. Before you look for Tukwila implants, here are some aspects to know.
Getting dental implants requires oral surgery
A dental implant is placed surgically inside the jawbone. The jawbone and surrounding gums will eventually heal and secure the implant in place. Note that not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants. If you lost your teeth a while ago, the chances are high that there is a decrease in bone mass, for which you might need a bone grafting procedure. Your dentist will check your health history and complete an exam to determine if you can benefit from the procedure.
Different restorations are available
If you are missing one tooth, your dentist will fix a crown on the dental implant with the help of an abutment, which works as the connector. For two to three missing teeth, a dental bridge, which has crowns on both ends, is more useful. The third option is implant-supported dentures, which are ideal when you are missing a few teeth. For patients who have lost all their natural teeth, dentures can be used on two dental implants to replace an entire set of teeth on each arch.
Healing can take time
It can take up to 12 weeks or more for the jawbone to heal and secure the dental implants, and therefore, you will have to wait for that time to replace teeth using crowns, bridges, or dentures. Your dentist will order these restorations from a lab, which can take some time.
You will not feel any pain
Your dentist may recommend IV and local anesthesia before inserting the dental implants into the jawbone. The procedure does not hurt, and you can expect less discomfort compared to a tooth extraction. There is no downtime, and you can go home after a couple of hours.
The success rate of dental implants is around 98%, and there are fewer risks and concerns. If you have a history of heart disease or have been an avid smoker, let your dentist know. They will help determine the best line of treatment, especially if you cannot get implants.