Dental implants have a host of advantages. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, a dental implant has a 98% success rate. Therefore, you don't have to worry about fixing the implant or replacing it, provided you take good care of the implant. No wonder dental implants are very popular in the US. Nearly 3 million people in the country have dental implants because of the treatment’s reliability and durability.

A dental implant is a screw-like device placed in your jawline. It’s placed to replace the tooth root where the dentist places a crown that looks like your natural teeth over the dental implant. A dental implant is permanent, and it looks like your natural tooth, and it’s very difficult to tell the difference between the implant and your natural teeth. The implant is advantageous since you won’t need constant adjustment, as is the case with dentures. Read on to understand more about dental implants.

What Are Dental Implants

A dental implant is made up of three parts—the post, abutment, and respiration. The post is the screw which the dentist inserts into your jaw bone which acts as the root. Next, the dentist attaches the abutment to the screw or post, and finally, they place the restoration or crown on top. The dental implant is realistic looking, and it’s very difficult to tell the difference between it and your natural teeth. The procedure is also very effective at replacing missing or damaged teeth. However, you might wonder under what circumstances should you opt for an implant.

Below are the circumstances which might make you consider dental implants:

When You Have Missing Teeth Or Tooth

Dental implants are a great solution when you’re missing a tooth or teeth. You no longer have to feel self-aware as you smile or laugh due to your missing tooth. The dental implant will fill the gap or gaps left by your missing tooth or teeth. Additionally, the implant restores your esthetics as you smile.

Additionally, the implants look natural, and it will be difficult to tell them apart from your natural teeth. Finally, a dental implant restores your smile since it’s an artificial tooth screwed where your natural tooth or teeth used to be. The result is a sturdy and long-lasting set of teeth.

A dental implant will generally last for a lifetime, provided you take good care of the implant. Although a dental crown is a great choice for tooth replacement, it takes about three months for your jaw to heal before the dentist places the permanent crown over the implant.

However, you might wonder if you’re a good candidate for dental implants when you’re missing your tooth? You need to know a few things before you opt for dental implants. One of the most important factors is the amount of bone to support the implants.

The amount of bone in your jaw is one of the most important factors for an implant.  The bigger the jaw bone, the more room the dentist will have to place the implants. The problem with many dental patients is they have small jawbones and therefore may not have enough space to place the implant.

If you have a small jaw bone, you’re better off with a combination of implants and dentures. If you don't have enough space for the implants, a combination of implants and dentures is the best solution. In the long term, you’ll have better stability with implants.

To Help Fix Loose Dentures Or Partials

Dentures are false teeth that should fit snugly into your mouth. At times though, they become loose, which is uncomfortable and might cause embarrassment should they fall off.

The problem with loose dentures is a common one amongst people who have lost their natural teeth. This is usually because the gum around the missing teeth has shrunk away from the bone so that the teeth no longer attach correctly. It is important to have a dentist insert dental implants to anchor the old denture into the jaw. The implants offer retention and stability.

The dental implants themselves are small titanium cylinders that are similar to the root of a tooth. Once the dentist inserts them into the jaw bone, they anchor the denture.

The implant procedure is a simple operation and normally takes between two and four hours to complete. To ensure a successful operation, the dentist removes the denture from the mouth for some time to allow them to have a clear view of the area. After that, you might decide to go for the standard or mini-implant to secure your dentures. The implant works the same way as when replacing a missing tooth. However, instead of fixing the upward part of the implant on a tooth, the dentist fixes it on the denture. By doing so, the lower part, which is inserted into your jaw bone, or the post, offers stability to the denture.

A variety of tightness exists on the dentures, and you can choose how tight you want the implant to hold the denture. It would help if you chose the optimum tightness, and you can do so with the help of your dentist. Additionally, with the mini-implants, the dentures are easily removable. However, you might decide to use more permanent implants. The choice is yours.

On the day of the operation, the dentist will administer an anaesthetic to numb the areas of the mouth they will work on. It's also important you take any medication you need on the operation to avoid any unexpected side effects.

After the procedure is complete, you will have a few days of pain and swelling, which should be well controlled by the medication you have been given. Generally, you should be able to eat and drink after a short while, depending on the mouth's condition.

When Your Tooth Has Been Infected, And The Dentist Needs To Pull It Out

It is possible to save an infected tooth using various procedures. However, the damage is too much at times that it becomes impossible to save the damaged tooth, and the only option is extraction. Some of the circumstances that can lead to tooth extraction include losing most of your enamel, making it difficult for the tooth to support an artificial crown. Your damaged tooth might also pose a danger to the nearby teeth, and the only solution is to pull it out.  In such cases, the best cause of action is to have a tooth implant to replace the extracted tooth.

Once the dentist extracts the tooth, they can use a dental implant to replace the tooth. The implant will also be as durable and as natural-looking as the extracted tooth. However, to ensure the longevity of the implant, you should take care of it as you do your natural teeth.

The dentist can extract your tooth and replace it with a denture on the same day. This means the dentist can perform the tooth extraction and dental implant procedures on the same day. To make the procedure successful, your dentist will consider at least three factors. First, they will consider removing your tooth or root, the placement of the implant, and finally, the placement of the crown. The crown is the top part of the tooth that becomes visible.

During the procedure, your dentist will carefully remove your tooth from damaging its socket or the bone that supports your tooth root. The tooth root becomes the receptor of the dental implant. Therefore, maintaining its integrity during the tooth extraction procedure is of utmost importance to the dentist. If the bone surrounding the tooth socket is damaged, the dentist might not carry on with the implant operation since the results might be extremely poor.

After the tooth extraction, the dentist will carefully place the implant into the socket such that it is immovable and stable. The healing process occurs when the bone grows around the titanium-made implant. The dentists will place the right-sized implant at exactly the right position in the tooth socket to ensure the procedure is successful. Additionally, it's critical for the dentist to place the implant in the right position to give the crown a lifelike appearance of your tooth. If the dentist misplaces the implant, it will be challenging to fit the crown in the right position.

Once the dentist inserts the implant, they will place a temporary crown to heal the jaw. However, the crown is free from any biting force so that it doesn’t displace the implant as you heal. In addition, movement of the implant, no matter how minute, may hinder the proper bonding of the implant and the surrounding bone. Once the wound heals and the implant has fused well and completely, the dentist can remove the temporary crown and place the permanent crown.

Replacing your tooth immediately after the dentist has extracted it has some risks. If the crown receives too much pressure or force, the implant may not attach well to the surrounding bone, and the wound won’t heal properly. Therefore, it's critical to be careful for the first six to eight weeks after the procedure. Make sure you follow your dentists’ instructions.

Having a dental implant placed is a simple procedure. After the dentist removes the tooth, they place an implant under your gum line. Next, they attach a fixture that looks like a small metal cylinder. This fixture has a hole in the top. Lastly, the dentist attaches a crown to the fixture, which resembles your normal tooth.

You Can Use Dental Implants To Fix Crooked Teeth

Dental implants are also a great option to fix crooked or broken teeth. The idea of having straight, beautiful permanent teeth is an appealing one, especially for patients with crooked teeth. However, orthodontic treatment, or the use of braces, to straighten your teeth, might be inconvenient for some people. Therefore, you might wonder if a dental implant can offer the solution to your crooked teeth. First, you have to understand dental implants are a permanent replacement for your natural teeth. Implants function much better than dentures or bridges. The anesthetic dentist can replace one, two, or a full set of your teeth through dental implants.

Braces continuously exert pressure on your crooked teeth to realign them slowly. On the other hand, dental implants replace your crooked teeth with an artificial crown that looks like your natural teeth. Although dentists prefer braces to correct crooked teeth, your teeth may be so damaged that using braces will not fix the problem. However, the dentist might recommend using dental braces to fix your crooked teeth or tooth in such a case.

Previously, the dental implant procedure was lengthy and difficult. But thanks to advances in technology, the process has become faster and easier. It's possible to walk in the morning and have the dentist perform the procedure in one dental visit.  

You Can Use Dental Implants To Fix A Loose Bridge

Dental bridges are critical in helping your teeth stay in position. However, the bridges become loose over time. You might realize the bridge moves if you touch it with your tongue or while chewing or drinking. The bridge may become loose due to dental trauma. It might also have become weak due to age. Your teeth might also begin to decay, which affects the integrity of the bridge. Fortunately, it’s possible to use implants to fix loose bridges. You can use dental implants to replace the damaged teeth, which will support the loose bridge.

To Deal With Sunken-In Facial Appearance

Teeth play a critical role in your facial appearance. If you lack some teeth, your face may have a sunken-in appearance. Although dentures are a great option to restore your smile, they don’t stimulate the regrowth of your jawbone. Your jawbone continues to regress or become smaller due to bone loss as you grow older.

On the other hand, dental implants are a great option to prevent you from having a sunk-in appearance. The titanium dental implants encourage jaw bone growth as the jaw fuses with the implant. Additionally, the implants look exactly like your natural teeth.

Although dental implants are a great solution to prevent a sunken appearance, they can have side effects, especially if the dentist doesn’t carry out the procedure correctly. The two major issues with dental implants are gum infection and incorrect placement of the implant.

The gum disease which can result from the dental implant procedure is known as peri-implantitis. The symptoms of the disease include bleeding of the gums while brushing, sensitive gums, the gums change color, and it also swells. If the condition is well advanced, the implant can become loose. The wound can have pus, and the threads of the implant become visible. You can also experience pain. If you notice any of these symptoms, it's critical to see your dentist immediately.

Complications of the implant can result from dental cement leakage and wrong placement of the implant. If the cement that attaches the crown to the implant leaks, it can irritate the gum. Once the gum is irritated, bacteria can form around the wound and cause an infection.

Fortunately, it's possible to correct or treat any infection which might occur on the wound. If the crown is not well fitted, the dentist will place a new crown that will fit better. If the crown on the implant doesn’t fit well, it might trap food particles that can attract bacteria. If the implant is not well placed, you might lose some bone. To rectify this problem, the dentist performs a graft so that the bone can regenerate. If the wound is infected, the dentist will remove the infected tissue. They will also remove any plaque which might have accumulated around the implant. If the implant is damaged beyond repair, the dentist will replace it with a new one.

It Becomes An Issue To Chew Food Due To Missing Teeth

Chewing food becomes an issue when you have missing teeth. At times, it becomes difficult to bite hard on certain foods, and you have to avoid eating these foods as a result. A dental implant offers an excellent solution because the dentist replaces the missing teeth or teeth with lifelike crowns which function just as well as your natural teeth.

Call A Hawthorne Dentist Near Me

Losing teeth isn’t fun for anyone. Luckily, you can replace your teeth using dental implants. The implants are natural-looking and permanent. They also don’t require any specialized care as you take care of them like you do your natural teeth. The process isn't complicated, and the dentist can perform it in one visit.

If you or your loved one is in Hawthorne and needs any dental procedure, including dental implants, do not hesitate to contact Ganji Dental. At Ganji Dental, our dentists are ready to help you explore various tooth treatment and replacement options, including dental implants. Therefore, don’t hesitate any longer. You can give us a call at 310-643-8045, and we will be more than willing to schedule an appointment. We are always here to help.