Are you considering dental implants but aren’t completely sure if you should take the next step? Improving your oral health with these prosthetics isn’t a decision that should be made lightly. If you’re heading to your first consultation but are still feeling uncertain about whether or not to invest in yourself, here are some important questions to help you get a better understanding and make a more informed choice.
What Is the Success Rate?
If you’ve heard anything about dental implants, you might have heard that in some cases, they can fail. In previous years this was a bit more common, but thanks to today’s improved implantation procedures and better training for dentists, nowadays this is very rare. In fact, most implants have a 95 percent success rate.
Should your dentist believe that you are not a good candidate for them, he or she will either recommend a bone grafting or sinus lift procedure first, or you simply will be informed if you are not a good fit.
What Can I Expect from Recovery?
Recovery from dental implant surgery is not a one-size-fits-all, however, the process is still quite similar whether you have one implant or a full mouth of them. Following the procedure, you will need at least one day to recover, and you will likely need to wait several days before you can enjoy soft foods again. Overall, the entire healing process could take several months, however your dentist can give you a better idea of your specific timetable.
Can I Still Get Dental Implants if I Smoke?
Smoking and dental implants aren’t a great mix. That’s because it thins the blood and makes osseointegration (when the bone heals around the implant) difficult. It can also cause oral health problems such as gum disease that could make your implants fail. Thus, if you are a smoker, it is best that you quit prior to your procedure.
What Makes Dental Implants Better Than Dentures?
This is an easy one! Not only are dental implants much easier to maintain than dentures, but they also have a stronger biteforce, look and feel just like natural teeth, and they can even help maintain the bone structure of your face.
As for value, because they are permanent you won’t need to replace them every five to ten years like you would dentures, so they are much more affordable over time.
Remember, it’s normal to have a lot of questions for your dentist when considering dental implants, but don’t let uncertainty hold you back from making such an important decision about your oral health.
About Dr. Parét
Dr. Katherine Parét believes in taking a total-body approach to oral health. She is trained in many different facets of dentistry as well as yoga and other elements of wellness and believes in integrating these into her patients’ care. These important connections help patients find greater balance to improve their overall health.
To schedule an appointment at Mind Your Mouth, please visit our website or call us today at 207-200-4106.