4 Questions To Ask Before Getting Dental Implants

6 January 2017
 Categories: Dentist, Articles

Share

A healthy diet, brushing, flossing, and visiting your dentist regularly are necessary tasks to keep your smile healthy and appealing. Unfortunately, certain issues or injuries may occur, affecting the function and look of your mouth, teeth, and gums. An estimated 178 million people in the United States are missing one or more teeth, but there are numerous options to restore smiles back to a complete state. If you have lost one or more teeth due to an injury or dental condition, you may be considering implant dentistry. It is a common option in smile restoration, but most people do not truly understand the implant process. Here are a few things to consider before getting dental implants.

Is Everyone a Good Candidate for Implants?

Placing implants is considered a surgical procedure, so patients should be in good general health. Healthy gum tissue and adequate bone in the jaw is also essential. Without healthy tissue and bone, the implant will not fuse to the jaw properly, resulting in an implant failure.

Dentists do not recommend implants for young children, who are still developing. Also, pregnant women and individuals with chronic illnesses should avoid implants, since successful implantation will require a healthy immune system.

Implant dentistry is also not recommended for addicts or individuals who use tobacco products. The chemicals in drugs, alcohol, and tobacco can harm the mouth, teeth, and gums.

It is also important to avoid implants if you grind your teeth or clench your jaw. Known as bruxism, this constant grinding and clenching can break the implant.

Are Implants Always Successful?

Dental implants require an investment in time, money, and discipline. Thankfully, a full and healthy smile is worth the investment. While they do have a 95 percent success rate, dental implants may fail in some cases.

If you lack strong gum tissue and a healthy jaw bone, the implants will not fuse into the bone properly. This will cause your implants to fail. Also, using your teeth as tools to open packages or bite nails can cause the implants to break.

Your dentist will make sure you are a good candidate before placing the implants. However, following dentist's orders to continue eating right, brushing, flossing, and scheduling checkups will increase your chance of implant success.

How Much Do Implants Cost?

There are many factors that go into determining the cost of your implant dentistry. Your dentist, the number of artificial teeth you will require, anesthetic options, and whether you have underlying issues that need to be addressed before placing implants are all factors to consider when pricing the restoration process.

Fortunately, most dental insurance policies will cover part of the cost. You or your dentist can contact your insurance company for more information regarding specific benefits. In some cases, the insurance company will not pay for implants, but they will cover the cost of replacing a tooth with dentures or a bridge. Ask your insurance company if you can use the denture/bridge benefit towards the cost of your implants instead.

How Long Do Implants Last?

While shocking to learn, dental implants have been known to last up to 40 years. Of course, prolonging the lifespan of your implants will require a healthy diet and proper care of your mouth, teeth, and gums.

Reduce your risk of developing tooth decay and gum disease, which can cause your implants to fail. Avoid sugary food and beverages and quit using tobacco products. Brush twice a day, floss, and visit your dentist regularly for checkups an cleanings.

Implant dentistry is an innovative option in smile restoration. However, you should have full understanding before getting implants. By asking these questions, you will learn if implants are the right option for you. For more information, contact a dental clinic like Tijeras Dental Service.