Despite the advancements in dental care, millions of Americans suffer tooth loss. It is a common problem that may result from periodontitis, tooth decay, or injuries. If you miss one tooth or more, you may notice a difference in your appearance, and sometimes eating hard and chewy foods like steak may be challenging. While tooth replacement options like dentures may help, Dr. Ivis Hernandez recommends dental implants due to their strength and stability.

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are metal, screw-like posts made of titanium that replace missing tooth roots. They offer a strong foundation for your teeth since they fuse with your jawbone and eventually become part of your mouth. Dental implants are a better alternative to dentures or bridges that don’t fit well and can also be an option for people who lack natural teeth to support the bridgework. Placement of dental implants requires a surgical procedure for an oral surgeon to implant the screw posts. For this reason, implants may not be an option for everyone.

Who is a good candidate for dental implants?

Usually, anyone healthy enough to undergo oral surgery or routine tooth extraction may be eligible for dental implants. A good candidate should be willing to commit to several months of treatment, regular dental visits, and oral hygiene. Although surgery is generally safe, oral surgeons caution against implants if you have uncontrolled health problems like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Such conditions may impede healing after surgery and cause complications such as infection. Specialists also advise against dental implants if you are a heavy smoker.

If you are considering dental implants, consult with your dentist to ensure that they are a suitable option for you.

Risks of dental implants

Since the placement of the implants requires surgery, there are several risks the procedure poses. For example, the surrounding structures, including blood vessels and nerves, may get damaged during surgery. Nerve injury or damage may cause symptoms such as pain and numbness in your teeth, gums, chin, and lips. You may also develop an infection at the implant site, and when a dental implant is placed in your upper jaw, it may protrude into a sinus cavity, causing sinus problems.

Benefits of dental implants

• Comfortable. Over time, dental implants become a part of you and feel like your own teeth. They are permanent and eliminate the discomfort of removable dentures.

• Prevent bone loss. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that restores jaw stimulation. Usually, you send pressure to your jaw as you chew, preventing bone loss. However, you may suffer bone loss in your jaw when you don’t have roots.
• Convenient. Dental implants are permanent, meaning that you don’t have to remove them before you can eat. Therefore, they eliminate the embarrassment of removing dentures in social places.
• Improved speech. Replacement options like dentures fit snugly in your mouth and may cause you to slur your words. But dental implants allow you to speak well without the fear of them falling off your mouth.
• The goal of dental implants is to restore your teeth, improve your appearance, and boost your self-esteem.

If you want a replacement for your missing teeth, consult your dentist at The Dental Design Studios to know whether dental implants are a good option for you.