Dental implants may be an ideal treatment for anyone who is missing one or more of their natural teeth. Getting dental implants can restore your ability to chew and speak and may also enhance your overall appearance, especially if you’re replacing front teeth.
If you’re considering getting dental implants, knowing what to expect can help you determine whether this treatment is right for you. Below are some basics to know before having this procedure performed.
Your Candidacy for Dental Implants
Consult with your dental provider if you’re thinking about getting dental implants. Your provider can perform an exam, review your medical history, and discuss your lifestyle in greater detail to determine whether you’re an ideal candidate.
You may be a good candidate for dental implants if you:
- Are in good general health
- Have healthy gums
- Have sufficient bone structure to support the implants
- Are committed to maintaining good oral hygiene
- Understand that the healing process may take several months or longer
- Do not smoke
- Do not grind or clench your teeth
- Do not have diabetes
The Benefits of Dental Implants
Dental implants have the potential to improve your quality of life, given how they may restore your ability to chew and speak and enhance your smile and overall appearance. Other benefits of dental implants to take into consideration include the following:
- They may prevent your jawbone from shrinking due to bone loss.
- They may help preserve the health of surrounding bone and gums.
- They may help stabilize nearby teeth.
- They are permanent.
- They work, look, and feel similar to natural teeth.
- They are 85% to 90% effective.
Potential Risks of Dental Implants
Like any other medical or dental procedure, dental implants do come with some potential risks. Risks associated with dental implants include:
- Damage to nearby natural teeth during implant surgery
- Injury to nearby tissues in the mouth during implant surgery, such as sinus perforation
- Injury to bone during surgery, such as fracture in the jawbone
- Poor or inadequate functioning, such as having a misaligned bite
- Loosening of the abutment screw in the implant, which can make it feel as though the artificial tooth is loose or twisting
- Implant body failure, which means the implant body may be loose after surgery (this risk is greater in patients who have uncontrolled diabetes, who have an infection in the bone and/or gums, or who smoke)
- Difficulty cleaning the gums around the dental implant
- Untreated gum disease
- Nerve damage or impingement during surgery, which may cause numbness
After you receive dental implants, you should always inform healthcare providers and imaging technicians about your implants. Dental implants may interfere with and distort images produced by imaging tests such as X-ray and MRI.
How Dental Implant Surgery Works
Your dental provider will likely talk to you at length regarding ways to prepare for dental implant surgery and what to expect during and after the procedure.
Before your dental implant surgery, your provider may ask you to do the following:
- Make a list of all medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements you are taking. Some medications may interfere with anesthesia or sedation and may need to be temporarily stopped until after your surgery.
- Wear comfortable clothing to your appointment.
- Take antibiotics exactly as prescribed.
- Arrange for a ride to and from your appointment, as anesthesia or sedation can affect your ability to drive safely.
- Adhere to any directions regarding what you can and cannot eat and drink before surgery. In some instances, your dental provider may ask you to fast for several hours beforehand.
The exact steps and nature of your surgery may vary depending on the ways your dental provider performs this procedure. Generally, you can expect the following to occur during dental implant surgery:
- You may be asked to rinse your mouth with an antiseptic shortly after arriving for surgery.
- You may be given anesthesia or a sedative to help you relax and avoid feeling pain during the procedure.
- A local anesthetic may be administered to numb your jaw and gums.
- An incision will be made in your gum line to expose the jawbone.
- Your surgeon will drill a hole into your jawbone to fit the implant.
- The implant will be placed into position using a tapping or twisting method.
- The incision in your gum line will be closed with stitches.
Caring for Your Teeth After Getting Dental Implants
Taking care of your teeth is essential after getting dental implants. This can help you maintain the functionality and lifespan of your new artificial teeth. Practicing good oral hygiene can reduce your risk of developing gum disease, which can gradually lead to bone loss and weakened gum tissue. If you have gum disease, these symptoms may cause your implant to loosen and fall out or lose its functionality.
Care for your dental implants the same way you care for natural teeth. Brush twice a day, floss daily, and see your dental provider for routine cleanings and exams to ensure you maintain good oral health.
If you are interested in getting dental implants, ask your dental provider about whether you are a potential candidate. If your provider clears you for this procedure, it may be what starts you on the path to improved oral health and new teeth.
Resource Links
- “Dental Implants: What You Should Know” via U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- “Dental Implants: Your Surgical Experience” via U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- “Dental implant” via Delaware.gov