Missing teeth can be difficult to live with when you’re concerned about how they impact your appearance or daily diet. Fortunately, dental implants can restore your smile, helping to bolster your self-esteem and oral health. Here are a few common questions about receiving dental implants.

5 Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants

What Are the Benefits of Dental Implants?

Unlike other tooth restoration options, dental implants function like tooth roots and eventually fuse with the natural surface of the bone. This creates a strong and stable base for the crown(s), while simultaneously providing needed stimulation to the jaw. Dental implants retard bone loss and the cutting down of adjacent teeth is eliminated.  The tooth replacement can provide support to your cheeks, protecting the shape of your face.

What Does the Procedure Entail?

Your dentist will need to confirm that your jaw bone is wide and deep enough to accommodate a dental implant. This is easily done with a CBCT scan or sometimes plain X-rays.  If your jaw bone is too small to house an implant, you may need a bone graft to increase the bone volume in the area. After that has healed, your dentist can install the initial implant post, which will then be left to heal until it is stable. The last step is fabricating a crown on top of the implant.   On occasion the implant can be placed simultaneously with a bone graft decreasing the number of surgical procedures needed.

How Should I Care For Dental Implants?

After they have fully healed, dental implants require the same brushing and flossing as the rest of your teeth. Your dentist will also want to check your implants frequently in the weeks and months following your procedure to make sure the implants are comfortable and healed properly. It is imperative to make sure your bite is properly adjusted otherwise your implant will fail.

How Long Do Implants Last?

A dental implant is the most successful implant placed in the human body.  When implants are placed and housed with adequate bone support and a proper occlusion (bite) is maintained, lifetime success rates in the mid-90% range are reported. As a tooth restoration option, dental implants cost less overall than other replacements, including bridges and dentures. 

Does the Brand of the Implant Matter?

Not all brands are made to function equally.  It is also important to ask what brand implant your doctor is placing then do your homework and compare.  The surface of the implant and the connection (how the tooth is attached to the implant) are probably the most important.  Some surfaces take to the bone faster while some connections resist bone loss.  

If you are considering dental implants, consult an experienced oral surgeon who has the skills and training to do the job, like Lyle C. Yanagihara DDS, MS in Honolulu, HI. He and his staff can help restore your teeth in the safest way possible for an affordable price. Call (808) 973-1433 to schedule an appointment, and visit them online to learn more about the dental implant procedure.