Top 5 Questions Asked about Dental Implants
Tooth loss affects quality of life, making it difficult to eat and embarrassing to smile. Dental implants provide permanent tooth replacement, helping those with missing teeth enjoy their favorite foods and smile with confidence.
Patients often have many questions when considering dental implant treatment. Dr. John Goodman takes the time to answer his patient’s dental implant FAQs at his Kansas City, MO, practice. For answers to your questions, we welcome you to schedule a consultation. Here, we’ll take a look at five of the most commonly asked questions about dental implants.
1. What Are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a screw-like titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone to act as an artificial tooth root.
Dental implants can support different types of dental restorations to replace one or more missing teeth. For example, individual teeth may be replaced by attaching a dental crown to the implant. Several teeth may be replaced with an implant-supported bridge or a full set of teeth may be replaced with implant-supported dentures.
2. What Is the Dental Implant Treatment Process?
Dental implant treatment begins with a consultation at our Kansas City practice to determine candidacy. If dental implant treatment is recommended, patients will undergo dental implant surgery.
Dental implants are placed by making an incision in the gums to expose the underlying jawbone. A hole is then drilled into the bone. The dental implant is screwed into the hole where it will act as an artificial tooth root.
Patients must wait some time for the jawbone to heal around the implant before the next surgery can be performed. Once healed, the next surgery is performed to place the abutment piece, which connects the implant with the dental restoration.
Once the gums are healed from the abutment placement, which takes about two weeks, the restoration can be placed to complete treatment.
It should be noted that some patients will require a bone graft prior to dental implant placement. If a bone graft is needed, it will add time to the treatment process.
3. How Long Is Recovery?
Dental implant recovery varies by patient and is affected by personal healing times as well as how well patients care for their implant after surgery.
With this in mind, a full recovery can take several weeks to months. In order for dental implant treatment to be successful, the jawbone must heal and bond to the implant in a process called osseointegration. Osseointegration can take three to six months.
4. Does Dental Implant Treatment Hurt?
Undergoing dental implant surgery is generally not painful because patients are sedated and comfortable with pain medication.
Patients may feel some discomfort for the first few days of recovery, but most find over-the-counter pain medication sufficient to alleviate discomfort.
Most patients feel well enough to return to work a day or two after surgery.
5. Do Dental Implants Require Special Care?
Dental implants should be cared for just like the natural teeth. This means twice daily brushing and flossing, along with regular dental exams and cleanings.
With proper care, dental implants can last a lifetime.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are missing teeth and would like to find out if dental implants are right for you, please call our Kansas City practice at (816) 842-8585 to send us a message.