Help Deciding About Dental Implants

Dental implants, specifically speaking, are artificial roots created using titanium, which can go a long way towards making your replacement teeth much stronger and more durable than they otherwise would be. Many experts in oral health have begun recommending them for individual replacements, above and beyond partial dentures. Of course, this doesn't mean that you'll be able to find them through every dentist. Medical application is still behind the times in many a dentist's office. Is the procedure for everyone? Not necessarily. Use this information to decide if it's right for you.

Insurance

If you're relying upon insurance to cover your oral health care costs, you may want to look at another option. Insurance companies generally regard dental implants as cosmetic in nature and will therefore not cover the cost of the procedure. Considering how expensive the applications are, this isn't something you want to pay for out of your own pocket until you have plenty of money set aside for an occasion such as this. While preferable to other options in many ways, it's important to make sure you don't let it put you in a financial hole. Talk to your dentist about financing options if you really want to move forward with the procedure.

The Procedure

Before you decide whether or not dental implants are for you, try and familiarize yourself with the procedure itself. While doing your research online is not a bad way to do this, a better way is through your dentist. Simply reading about the procedure can sound scary, particularly to those with phobias regarding oral health care. A good dentist will be able to walk you through the steps, while setting your mind at ease regarding everything you'll be facing. Some pain and swelling will be expected as you recover, but you should be given a prescription for painkillers to help you cope with the discomfort.

Oral Health

While this is a decision that should be made by a good dentist, you will need to have good overall oral health to be a candidate for dental implants. If you are dealing with gum disease or bone issues, it may not be the right procedure for you. The application itself has to be drilled into the jawbone, so you need to have a strong foundation for it to work. Have a frank discussion with your dentist about whether you have a strong enough base. Moving forward with a sketchy health situation could result in complications.