THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS – PART 1 – Kanata Dental Implant Carleton Place

THE MOST COMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT DENTAL IMPLANTS

Keywords: denture, missing teeth, the best option for missing teeth, loose dentures, best replacement for missing tooth, dental implant, implant crown, implant bridge, implant denture, implant tooth

Have you been considering a replacement for your missing tooth? Our teeth and gums are the cornerstones of our smiles. They are crucial to how we feel about ourselves and are one of the keys to maintaining our confidence. When a tooth is lost, we look for ways to fill the gap or space. The single best way a dentist can restore a smile is with dental implants.

Dental implants can provide you with a welcome alternative to a bridge or dentures that feel awkward and don’t fit well. Implants are the go-to option when the remaining natural teeth are not structurally adequate or when your dentist is unable to fabricate a bridge or denture.

If you’re thinking about getting dental implants, you probably have a lot of questions you’d like to ask. In the hopes of answering these questions, we’ve put together the following dental implant FAQ list.

 

ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS PAINFUL?

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The simple answer is absolutely not! Breaking down dental implants should be done in two parts. The first part is the surgery itself, and the second part is the recovery. Dental implants are surgically placed by your dentist. This requires them to open the gum. This may sound painful, but before your dentist gets started, they will use a local anesthetic. This is very similar to what you would get for a filling procedure. After the area is completely numb, the dentist can make an incision to isolate and visualize the bone beneath the gum. You will feel no discomfort, as the area is entirely anesthetized.

After making the area more accessible, a space is made for the placement of the implant. While dental drills may sound painful, your jawbone has no nerves to feel any pain. The most you would ever feel is the pressure from your dentist’s fingers. You won’t feel any of the preparation. The dental implant can then be placed. The process of numbing the area, making the incision, drilling, and installing the implant usually takes no longer than half an hour! Once your dentist is satisfied with the placement, he or she will close up the incision. While the local anesthetics still in effect, the patient will feel no pain at all. Your dentist may give you pain medication before starting the procedure so that when the anesthetic wears off, you have sufficient pain relief, just in case. That’s when the healing process begins.

 

WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN HEALING?

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Implant recovery time is faster than you think! Sometimes it can be dependent on how many implants are placed and the level of your overall health, but most patients will fully recover a day or two after the procedure.

Although it is expected to still experience minor discomfort the next day, a follow-up appointment is made to remove stitches a week after the procedure. The risk of infection after an implant placement is almost zero! Post-operative infection after an implant placement is exceedingly rare. Here are some things you can do to mitigate and protect against infection and help in the healing process:

First things first, it is imperative that you follow your dentist’s advice, avoid smoking and maintain good dental hygiene:

• Avoid straws for 24-hours following surgery.
• Minor swelling in the implant site can be seen 2 to 3 days, but very rare.
• The day following rinse with salt water 3 to 4 times daily.
• Avoid overly hot or spicy food in the first 48 hours.
• Stick to a liquid diet for 24-48 hours, or just chew on the other side of your mouth.
• Avoid smoking for at least three days following surgery.
• Use Tylenol® or Advil® for any discomfort. No major pain meds are needed!

 

Recovery and healing will be different for everyone. The consensus is that you should not have much pain throughout either the procedure or recovery. If you are having pain, especially days later, you should call your dentist, or schedule an appointment with your dentist for a follow-up. The surgery and recovery is generally completely pain-free, making dental implants one of the more accessible and routine procedures in dentistry.

 

ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS COVERED BY MY PLAN?

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Dental coverage for implants varies based on your dental plan. Obviously, a good plan will help with the cost of dental cleanings, regular check-ups, repairs, and any extensive dental procedures such as a dental implant. It is now becoming more commonplace to see implant coverage in many people’s dental plans.

Most dental plans cover regular dental care such as: routine dental check-ups, cleanings, cavity fillings, x-rays, root canals, tooth removal, restorations, preventive care and dentures. Some more superior plans cover, to some extent, dental implants, bridges, crowns, veneers and orthodontic procedures. Prior to commencing treatment, your dentist can send a predetermination to your insurance carrier, so that you will know exactly how much coverage you have for the implant procedure.

 

ARE DENTAL IMPLANTS SAFE?

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Performed for more than 50 years, dental implants are considered a safe tooth replacement procedure. For the majority of patients in good health, implants are extremely successful when performed by a suitably qualified professional, and with the advances in modern technology, dental implants are suitable for almost all patients. In some cases, this might mean that an additional procedure may need to be completed to strengthen the jawbone.

To be eligible for safe implants you should have healthy gums and good bone density to support the implant. Your mouth should be cavity-free and your level of dental hygiene should be good. It will also work in your favour if you are a non-smoker.

 

SHOULD YOU CONSIDER DENTAL IMPLANTS?

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If you’ve been thinking about getting dental implants, the first step is talking to your dentist. At Marchwood Dental, we can provide you with in-depth information about the procedure, what to expect, and aftercare instructions. Your dentist will also give you cost comparisons between different replacement solutions. Dental implants aren’t right for everyone. Some patients will require additional procedures. Bone grafts and sinus liftsare two simple standard procedures patients need for improving jaw bone quality and volume.

Those that have worn dentures for many years may find it necessary to have such additional procedures to improve the condition of the bone. Bone loss is a significant problem for denture wearers and a common cause for seemingly making someone not an ideal candidate for dental implants. But these issues can easily be dealt with. During an initial consultation, your dentist will look at the quality of your remaining teeth, gums, and jawbone to determine if dental implants are right for you. Even if you think that you are not a good candidate, you aren’t entirely excluded from getting dental implants. Your dentist can develop a treatment plan to include the above procedures, bone grafts, and sinus lifts, to prepare the area for the successful placement of implants.