Hawthorne Dental Implants – When should you get Dental Implants?
As you age, sometimes, you will automatically lose a tooth or teeth. You can also drop your permanent teeth either through an accident or a periodontal disease that leaves your teeth damaged beyond repair. When you have a tooth or teeth missing, you may want a more permanent solution by getting dental implants to replace these teeth. These implants are artificial teeth made to resemble your natural teeth and improve your general appearance.
However, one of the crucial things to do when you feel you are a candidate for dental implants is to identify an experienced dentist. If you are in California, visit Hawthorne Dental Implants to get a comprehensive exam and implants that work best for you.
Overview of Dental Implants
As earlier stated, dental implants are a permanent way of replacing missing teeth. This means that for the artificial root to be fixed in your jawbone, a surgical procedure is involved. These artificial roots resemble screw posts that are deeply embedded in your jawbone, just like your natural roots. These metallic posts are what a dentist will use to fix the crowns and give you a natural-looking tooth.
Before the surgery, your dentist will look at your jawbone condition, which is critical in the success of your implants. For the fitting of implants, several procedures are involved that may include fitting of the metallic post or grafting of the jawbone if required.
Similar to other medical procedures, the surgery to have dental implants poses risks to your health as well. Although these are rare, they do occur and can easily be dealt with. These include:
- Infections – If you fail to maintain excellent oral health, you can easily have the area with the implant infected. This will ultimately cause the implant to fail. Following your dentist’s recommendations on caring for the implant area is critical to its success and your overall health.
- Injuries – There is a risk of damaging surrounding tissues and structures such as blood vessels and teeth. Typically, a dentist will be careful when performing the procedure, and if this happens, it is easily corrected.
- Damage to the nerves – This is also another risk to this procedure, albeit being rare. It is likely for your nerves to get damaged during the process, causing a tingling effect or numbness and pain in your other teeth, chin, gums, or lips.
- Sinus issues – This risk is only possible with upper jaw implants. An implant may accidentally get to your sinus cavity damaging or affecting it. However, this is also easily corrected, just like the other challenges.
When you should get Dental Implants
As earlier stated, dental implants are artificial teeth designed to replace your missing teeth permanently. They mimic your natural teeth because they have a root deeply fitted in your jawbone to hold the crown, just like natural teeth are secure. However, missing a tooth or several teeth due to age or accident or a dental disease does not automatically qualify you for dental implants.
When you feel you need your missing teeth replaced, the first thing is to visit your dentist, who will examine, question you, and determine the right procedure for you. In general, however, you qualify for dental implants if:
- You are missing a tooth or more
- Your jawbone has fully grown
- Your jawbone is sufficient to hold an implant securely, or bone graft can be done on you
- Your oral tissues are healthy
- You have no underlying conditions that affect your healing
- You cannot or do not want to have dentures on
- You have a problem with your speech and want to improve it
- You are ready to go through the whole process that could take months
- You are not a smoker of tobacco
The reason you must visit a dentist is to establish all of the above for you to get dental implants.
Most people consider dental implants, and it is advisable when they need to:
- Preserve or restore their appearance – One of the things that give you confidence is your perfect smile. When something has happened to interfere with this, it can greatly affect your confidence. Dental implants are necessary when you want to maintain or restore your smile to its original state after losing your teeth.
- Preserving your jawbone – When you have gaps in your mouth due to missing teeth, your jawbone can deteriorate as a result. This weakens the underlying bone, but with a dental implant, the deterioration is eliminated, thereby protecting your jawbone.
- Stopping the shifting of teeth – When you lose a tooth, it can result in the other teeth shifting from their original position and taking an unnatural look. This can result in your teeth getting crowded, affecting your overall dental hygiene. Additionally, your face can begin to sag and sink. Having dental implants installed will help prevent this and maintain your youthful look.
When to Have Mini Dental Implants
Mini implants are similar to traditional dental implants, only that they are smaller in size. They have been developed for persons that do not want the conventional way of replacing missing teeth, which may require invasive surgery. The reasons for having mini implants are similar to those of traditional implants.
When you have missing teeth due to any reason or you want to improve your smile and general appearance, you can opt for mini implants. Sometimes if you have dentures and you feel they are loose, you can opt for mini implants to replace the teeth or hold your dentures in place. If you have challenges with your speech due to missing teeth, mini implants will work to improve your speech.
Mini implants are ideal and less expensive than traditional dental implants. You can have the implants completed in a single visit, whereas with conventional dental implants, you require several visits. If your dentist establishes that you need bone grafting, it means your implant will take longer, and the cost increases. However, with mini implants, you do not require much bone to hold the implants in place. In this case, you will avoid bone graft and reduce the cost.
When Should Children Get Dental Implants?
Children lose their permanent teeth too, either through sporting activities, gum disease, or other forms of accidents. When your child is missing a permanent tooth, they may feel embarrassed, and as a parent, you will want a solution to replace the tooth.
Although dental implants provide the best way to replace missing teeth in adults, it is, however, not ideal in children. Most children are still growing, meaning their bones are also growing. Dental implants are ideas in persons whose jawbone has finished growing, but in children, it interferes with the growth of their jawbone.
However, a teenager at a certain age can qualify for dental implants. For instance, girls can get implants at a minimum age of 15 while boys at 17. The age difference for the two genders is because bone growth in boys and girls is completed at these different ages. In most cases, boys and girls at these ages have completed their bone growth, making it safe to have dental implants.
Advantages of Dental Implants
There are many different ways to replace a missing tooth or teeth. However, there are advantages of opting for dental implants to replace your missing teeth. These include:
- Aesthetics – Improving your smile and general appearance is essential to you and many people. Dental implants offer an excellent choice in achieving this. The implants appear and feel like your natural teeth, and unless you tell someone you have an artificial tooth, it is impossible to notice.
- Bone health – Generally, an implant is fitted deeply in your jawbone to act as a root for your new tooth. This means the process of losing your bone is significantly decreased or unlikely.
- Longevity – One key advantage of having dental implants is their ability to provide a permanent answer to your issues. Because the implant is deeply fitted in your jawbone, it provides a strong base for your artificial tooth. With proper care, dental implants can last as long as your other teeth can. Compared to dentures that last between five and eight years, having dental implants is an excellent choice when you want a long-term solution.
- Boosting your confidence – Other forms of teeth replacements are not permanent and can easily embarrass you. Dentures can fall as you eat or talk or even misplace them when you have to remove them. With dental implants, however, you are confident that the teeth are securely fitted and will not fall or embarrass you in any way.
- Improving your speech – Teeth are not just for eating or enhancing your smile when you have missing teeth, your speech can be impaired. Dental implants help in improving your speech that was affected by your missing teeth.
Disadvantages of Dental Implants
Before settling for dental implants, it is essential also to know the downside of the procedure. Some of the factors that you must consider and can be disadvantageous are:
- Lengthy process – The time it takes to get your implants fitted is long. Typically, for your implants to fully fuse with the underlying jawbone, it may take six months. Additionally, for the procedure to be completed, multiple steps are involved. If you need a quick fix to your missing teeth, dental implants may not be your best choice.
- Infections – Complications out of dental implant installations are rare. However, sometimes after inserting implants, your gums can get an infection. When the case is extreme, periodontal disease can result, leading to the loss of bone.
- Additional procedures – Some people may require more methods to have dental implants. This is, however, determined after your dentist carries out a thorough exam on you. For instance, if it is established that your jawbone is insufficient to carry the implant, you must have a graft done. If your sinuses are positioned very close to the jawbone, you may also require their lifting. All these additional procedures require time to perform and heal from, delaying the installation of your implants. Additionally, the processes increase the cost of having dental implants for you.
- Cost of dental implants – Dental implants are a bit pricey to have. Even when your insurance provider covers part of the cost, you will be required to pay a portion of the bill from your pocket. How much you pay typically depends on your plan and the procedure carried out.
Preparing for Dental Implants
After consulting with your dentist and going through the advantages and disadvantages of dental implants, you decide to have them installed. Before having them installed, there is the preparation process. At the planning stages and even during the procedure, various specialists may be required. Some of these specialists may include periodontists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, prosthodontists, and sometimes, ENT specialists.
Because of the surgical procedures required for dental implants, a comprehensive evaluation is critical to the success of the implants. The preparation process will include:
- Extensive dental exam – This will consist of having X-rays done as well as images of your mouth in 3D. Additionally, you will have models of your jaw and teeth made.
- Discuss your medical background – Your dentist will want to discuss your medical history to determine if you suffer from any underlying medical conditions that can affect the success of your implants. For instance, some orthopedic implants and heart conditions may require your doctor to prescribe antibiotics to be taken before surgery to avoid infections. Additionally, if you are taking any over the counter medications or other drugs, you must make it known to your dentist.
- Treatment plan – This plan is specially designed in line with your situation. Various factors are considered when formulating your best plan that includes the number of teeth needing replacement. Your jawbone’s condition and that of your remaining teeth are also taken into consideration.
During the surgical procedures, a lot of pain is experienced that will require sedation or anesthesia. Discussing the various options available and settling on the best choice for you is necessary. Another preparation will involve receiving instruction on what you can eat or drink before the procedure. This will also depend mainly on the anesthesia type you settle for or sedation. Planning for someone to care for you and drive you home will also depend on your choice of anesthesia.
Expectations During Dental Implant Procedures
Typically, all the procedures in dental implants are outpatient, meaning you do not require a hospital stay. Each process is performed at its time, with intervals in between to allow healing. Getting dental implants involves multiple stages or steps that include:
- Removal of the damaged tooth
- Preparation of your jawbone for grafting if necessary
- Placement of the dental implant
- Healing and growth of the bone
- Placement of the abutment
- Placing of the prosthetic tooth
The process in totality can take several months, from when it starts to when it ends. A lot of this time is for healing and the growth of the new jawbone. However, some stages can get combined based on your needs, the particular procedure, or what is used.
Bone Grafting
When dental implants are the best way to replace your missing teeth, but you lack sufficient bone to support the implants, you require grafting of the bone. An adequate and robust jawbone is necessary because, as you chew, you exert immense pressure on your jawbone. If the bone is not strong enough to hold the implant securely, the implant will fail. A graft is, therefore, necessary in creating a more substantial base for your dental implants.
In rebuilding your jawbone, various materials can be used in grafting. Some may include picking a bone from another part of your body and using it instead, or using a synthetic one. Your doctor will discuss the various options available for you to decide on the best one for you.
The growth of a transplanted bone can take some months for it to support an implant. However, if your doctor establishes that you require minor grafting, the procedure can be carried out together with the surgery to install an implant. Your jawbone’s condition determines what would happen next.
Installing a Dental Implant
During the surgical procedure, a tiny incision is made on your gum that exposes the underlying bone. Holes, as required, are drilled for placing the metallic dental implants. These posts are the base of the tooth and mimic the natural roots of a tooth; hence they are deeply implanted.
After installing the implant, you will be left to go home and wait for some time for the healing. However, a gap remains where the tooth gets replaced. To make you feel more comfortable, your dentist will give you a kind of temporary denture that hides the gap. This denture is removable, especially when eating, cleaning, or going to sleep.
Bone Growth
After the placing of your implant post, a process of fusing the metallic post and your bone begins. This process involves your jawbone growing to attach itself to the metallic implant. The time taken in this process is several months and is necessary for ensuring you have a solid foundation for your prosthetic tooth.
Abutment Placement
When the fusing of the metallic post and your bone is completed, additional surgery for abutment placing may be required. This is where a crown is attached to complete the tooth replacement process. This is, however, a minor surgery performed under local anesthesia, and you go home the same day as with previous procedures. The method of placing the abutment involves:
- Reopening your gum to bring out the implant
- Once the implant is exposed, the abutment is attached to it
- Closing of the gum is then done without covering the abutment
Sometimes, the process of installing the implant and the abutment is combined. This means, if your doctor recommends this, you will skip the other surgical procedure. When your mouth is open, the abutment will be visible until the dentist finishes the process of replacing your teeth. This may take a further two weeks as your gums heal, and the prosthetic tooth is placed.
Deciding on your New Teeth
After your gums are healed, more impressions of your mouth and other teeth are made. These models are necessary for the making of your artificial teeth where care is taken to ensure they resemble your natural teeth. Before placing the teeth, however, the dentist will examine to see if your bone is strong to support or hold the tooth once it is replaced.
Your dentist will discuss with you the artificial teeth to choose from, either fixed or removable. Sometimes, you may opt to combine both options.
- Removable teeth – This kind of teeth look like conventional removable dentures and are either full or partial. The denture is made of white teeth with a pink plastic gum surrounding it. The teeth are fitted on a metallic frame that gets fixed to the abutment, snapping securely. When cleaning the dentures, they can be removed easily or when they get damaged for repair.
- Fixed – These kinds of artificial teeth are permanently cemented or placed on the abutment implants. These are not removable for cleaning or when you go to sleep. In most cases, each tooth has its implant to attach to. However, due to the strength of dental implants, one implant can support several teeth when bridged together.
Expectations Post Surgery
Regardless of the number of procedures you go through to have your implants fitted, after the process, it is common and normal to experience some discomforts. These may include:
- Swollen gum tissue and face
- Some slight bruising of the gums and surrounding tissues
- Pain at the location of the implant
- Slight bleeding
After dental surgery, you may require pain medications to relieve the pain or antibiotics to prevent infections. If these discomforts persist or get worse, you must report it to your dentist. Additionally, following each surgical procedure, you will be advised to consume soft foods as you heal from the process.
Caring for Your Implants
Just like your natural teeth, you need to care for your implants as well as your general oral hygiene. The long-lasting success of the implants and your other teeth depends on your dental health. Some of the practices include:
- Regularly visiting your dentist – Having regular dental appointments is crucial to your general dental health. Your dentist will check to ensure your implants are functioning as they should, and clean your teeth thoroughly. Your dentist will also be on the lookout for any signs of dental diseases that will compromise your dental health and treat them before they get worse.
- Practicing excellent oral care – The way you keep your natural teeth healthy is the same way you should care for your implants. Ensure your gums and teeth are always cleaning by brushing severally in a day with a soft-bristled brush. Ensure to floss at least once a day to remove any food particles that may be between the implants or teeth. Using a fluoride toothpaste and mouthwash is also recommended.
- Avoid habits that damage your teeth – If you want excellent dental health, you must also avoid practices that destroy your teeth and implants as well. Avoid chewing on hard stuff like tough candy, ice cubes, and others that would cause your crowns to chip. Caffeine products and tobacco will stain your teeth and implants. Avoiding these is also critical in enhancing your dental health.
Find a Dentist Near Me
Having a healthy mouth and a smile is vital for most people. When you have missing teeth irrespective of how they got lost, one of the best methods of replacement is dental implants. Even with the benefits of the procedure, finding an experienced dentist is critical to their success. At Hawthorne Dental Implants, you will find a qualified dentist that understands your needs and works toward giving you the best smile possible. Call for an appointment at 310-878-0911 and have your smile back.