Are Dental Implants For You?

If you are missing one or more teeth due to decay, disease or an injury, you have probably already considered or even tried the option of a bridge to fill in the gap of missing teeth and realized the many short comings of this orthodontic device. Bridges are meant to fill in the gap caused by a missing tooth by using an artificial device that holds one or more teeth in the appropriate location and is worn when you are awake. But bridgework can come out unexpectedly if you eat the wrong food and thus can severely hinder your diet. Plus over time, bridge work and dentures can both work to wear down your jaw bone which results in the appliance not fitting correctly. An ill fitting device can be painful to wear and defeat the purpose it is intended for. This means constantly be refitted for a new bridge and the expense of having a new bridge costume made. Since bridges simply are not a good option for every patient, there is another option that may fit your long term needs better. Dental implants are not new but the awareness of them is rapidly growing.

Dental implants are surgically implanted false teeth that are attached to a titanium screw that is then screwed into your jaw bone. The result is a tooth that looks and acts in every way like a natural tooth. Because it is surgically implanted into the bone it doesn’t come out if you eat the wrong foods and there is no need to take it out at night to clean it. A dental implant is a permanent answer and requires the same care and up keep that your natural teeth do.

If you are considering the option of dental implants to replace one or more missing teeth you should start by having an assessment done by an oral surgeon who can tell you whether or not you are a good candidate for success with this type of surgery. Your doctor will start the assessment by taking x rays or having a CT scan done to look at the quality and depth of your jaw bone to make sure your bones can hold an implant properly.

The oral surgeon will also screen you for life style choices that may impair your ability to heal properly such as smoking. If you are a smoker you may be screened out by your oral surgeon as a viable candidate because you will be more inclined toward infection, rejection of the implant and a longer and more painful recovery time.

If you plan to have dental implants in the future and are a smoker, now would be the time to quit since you will need to show you have kicked the habit for a set amount of time before the surgery and understand that it can’t be a habit to be resumed once your implant surgery is complete.

Talk to your oral surgeon and see if this is the right choice for you.