How Exactly Do Dental Implants Work?
For over three decades, dental implants have been one of the most outstanding success stories of modern dentistry. They have an overall success rate of around 99% and are considered among the safest and most predictable dental procedures by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry.
A dental implant is essentially a titanium rod that fuses to the bone tissue below your gum line by a process called osseointegration. Titanium is safe to be in contact with bone and other human tissues, which is why it is used for modern implants.
After taking X-rays and administering a local anesthetic, your periodontist will create a socket for the implant rod to fit into so it can contact the bone and fuse to it over time. It can take 4 to 6 months for osseointegration to be complete, and a temporary crown or denture may sometimes be worn in the interim. Later, a permanent dental crown will be placed on the implant during a follow-up visit – or, all-on-four permanent implant-supported dentures may be placed on the rods.
The total process of getting one or more dental implants can take 3 to 9 months, including healing, depending on how many implants you are getting and the condition of your mouth. If bone grafts or soft tissue grafts must be done first, the process tends to be on the long end of the spectrum. By contrast, those who qualify for same-day dental implants are on the short end of the spectrum.
What Are The Distinctive Benefits Of Dental Implants?
There are many distinctive benefits of modern implants that make them attractive to people pursuing teeth restoration options. Here are the most important ones that often convince people to contact a local periodontist for dental implant surgery:
- Implants match the color of your natural teeth, feel natural, and function just like a regular tooth. You can almost forget you have them in your mouth, and others won’t be able to tell the difference when you smile.
- Caring for dental implants is easy. Just brush, floss, and use an antiseptic mouth rinse like you would for natural teeth. Periodic checkups with your periodontist are also recommended.
- The pressures exerted by implants on your underlying bone tissue prevents bone resorption and can even prevent facial disfigurement due to long term, widespread tooth loss.
- You won’t have to change your lifestyle, as often happens with those who wear removable dentures. Implants do NOT require a special diet or avoiding vigorous exercise and/or sports activities.
- Implants are usually a permanent solution. They are strong and durable, typically lasting for decades.
If you have any questions about dental implants not addressed here, contact the experts at Ormond Beach Periodontics & Implant Dentistry in Central Florida today for a free initial consultation!