I have always envied those around me who seem to always have perfect smiles without even trying, because I feel like I was born with "bad teeth." While my teeth are in great shape now, it is only because I take great care to visit the dentist every six months for a check-up and cleaning and maintain good oral hygiene habits at home. While I used to get a lot of cavities, even though I thought I was doing "everything right" to keep them away, I am proud to say that I have been cavity-free for a couple of years now! I put a lot of research into what daily habits can wreak havoc on my teeth, and I thought it would be a shame not to share what has helped me with others who need the advice. I plan to post many oral health tips on my new blog!
The prospects of going through life permanently missing a tooth can be extremely embarrassing and worrisome to most people. Luckily, tooth replacement procedures have undergone revolutionary changes in recent decades, which can help patients to have more natural looking and feeling smiles despite having suffered tooth loss. Dental implants have become among the most commonly recommended tooth replacement options, but patients may be uninformed about this type of dental procedure.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Having a Dental Implant?
As with any cosmetic procedure, patients are often extremely concerned about the long-term effects that they can expect. Luckily, dental implant services can provide patients with numerous long-term benefits. One of the most important will be the implant's ability to reinforce the jaw bone. After a tooth is lost, the jaw bone may be especially prone to suffering atrophy. Dental bridges and dentures will fail to provide this type of support, which can lead to future tooth loss or shifting of the teeth in response to the weakening jaw bone.
Will a Dental Implant Feel Uncomfortable in Your Mouth?
Patients that wear dentures will often struggle to achieve a comfortable fit. This may lead to individuals assuming that dental implants will also be extremely uncomfortable. However, you will adapt to the sensation of having the implant in your mouth fairly quickly. Due to the fact that the implant will be permanently attached to your jaw bone, it will not shift positions or experience other issues that could lead to discomfort. For this reason, dental implants can be among the most comfortable tooth replacement option for patients.
Why Does It Take So Long to Have a Dental Implant Placed?
The entire process of placing a dental implant can take months. Patients will often grow impatient at the thought of waiting this long, but it is unavoidable. The dental implant is made of titanium, which has the characteristic of being able to bond to your bone. This will provide an extremely strong and durable placement of the implant, but it will take time to fully heal. Luckily, there are many dental implant providers that will offer their clients temporary teeth. These will attach to the implant while it is going through the bonding phase. While it will not be as strong as the permanent artificial tooth, it can limit the embarrassment of being without a tooth while the implant bonding process is underway. Due to the fact that this tooth will be weaker than the permanent replacement tooth, it is vital to closely follow the dentist's usage restrictions to avoid disturbing the implant while it bonds.
Share28 September 2018
