Having a full and beautiful smile is crucial for your overall confidence and self-esteem. Unfortunately, many people are missing teeth or are wearing ill-fitting dentures that take away from their confidence in the way that they look. For this reason, implants are a viable choice for anyone and everyone who is a candidate for the procedure. These small rods of titanium are incredibly long-lasting and safe for surgical use, making them a beneficial option for your oral health.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a small metal rod, often made with titanium, that are implanted underneath the gums and into the bone. Over the course of roughly three months, the implant is going to fuse naturally with the bone, creating an abutment for a crown or prosthetic to be placed. People who wear dentures can also benefit from implants because they can attach onto the denture and keep it more firmly in place. Implants are also great for patients who would otherwise benefit from bridge work but who do not want to compromise the surrounding teeth just to fit the bridge.
How to Begin the Procedure
The first step to getting implants is to speak with your dentist or an oral surgeon. They will do a consultation with you to see if you are a candidate for the implant procedure. Some patients just aren’t the right fit for implants, especially if they have bone or jaw issues. If the implant does not fuse with the bone, it is considered a failed implant and will need to be surgically removed. Because of this, a consultation and series of x-rays is crucial for determining if you should even begin the process of having the procedure done.
What to Expect
Once you have had the consult with the dentist or oral surgeon, it is a matter of having the implants placed at your own convenience. Some people choose to stay awake during the procedure while others choose to go to sleep with general anesthesia. This is obviously something that you will need to discuss with the oral surgeon before having the implants placed. You will love what this particular option is able to do for you and the fact that it can improve the quality and look of your smile without the headache of going through more extensive or compromising procedures.
There are millions of people now who have gone for the dental implant procedure. Some people just have one implant in their mouth while some have two or more. Depending on what your unique needs are, this particular option is essential for reclaiming your confidence and getting the smile that you want and need. This procedure is also a lot easier and more quickly done than you might think, so it pays to consider it for yourself if you want to make a change to the way that you look. The first step is to talk with a dental provider in your area and get information on how to go about having the surgery done and what you need to expect before, during and after it has been completed. They will be more than happy to answer any and all of your questions so that you can be fully prepared for what the implants will do for you.
