Despite the various developments in dental health care, a lot of people still suffer from tooth loss. Most of these cases are a result of tooth decay, while others suffer from periodontal infection or even injuries.
For the past couple of years, the only solution available to fill in the empty gaps were dentures, as well as dental bridges. But now, experts have developed a new solution to solve the problem of tooth loss.
Understanding dental implants
So, to be more precise, dental implants are metal frames surgically placed into a person’s jawbone to act as a tooth replacement. It helps fuse the jawbone and stabilizes the replacement tooth. What makes it a great alternative to dentures and bridges is that it will stay in place without any worries of slipping or changing its position.
For a few others, dentures and bridges aren’t as comfortable as they’d expect it to be. That’s because wearing one for long periods can cause sore spots. It can also cause them to experience a bit of gagging, too. One benefit of having dental implants is that there’s no need to prepare any adjacent teeth so that it can hold the artificial tooth steadily.
It also helps improve speech and makes it easier to eat, too. Having dental implants also significantly improves oral health as well as your comfort.
What it takes to have implants
So that you can have implants, an oral surgeon from Kokomo, Indiana, will check your gums to see if they’re healthy. Also, they’ll ensure that you have enough bone mass to carry the dental implant.
Patients can undergo either two types of implants available. These are endosteal implants and subperiosteal implants. Each has their differences based on how the dental surgeon will place the implants in your jaw bone.
For endosteal implants, the surgeon will have to implant it towards the patient’s jawbone surgically. Meanwhile, with subperiosteal implants, the surgeon will place the implant below the person’s gums, and as it heals, the metal frame becomes part of the jawbone itself.
Are dental implants painful?
Most of those who’ve had the procedure say that it only involves minimal distress while undergoing the procedure. The surgeon will put the patient under local anesthesia so that he or she wouldn’t feel any pain. However, patients will feel mild soreness once the procedure is complete. To help relieve the slight discomfort, pain killers like Tylenol can do the trick.
Caring for dental implants is almost the same as you’d do with your regular teeth. It would be best if you still practiced daily dental hygiene to protect it from bacteria. You should also rinse your mouth with an antibacterial gargle to get rid of any microbes inside.
These are only a few of the things that you need to remember if you’re about to have dental implants. If you have any other questions, it’s best to ask your dentist or dental surgeon about it. Also, don’t forget to visit your dentist regularly for proper check-ups.
