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What You Should Know About Dental Implants

Healthy White Teeth

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

A smile says a lot about a person. It’s the first thing seen by other people and will either invite or detract them from interacting with you. Not only this but you can tell a lot about someone’s personality by the way they smile, often indicating things like how happy they are or if they’re friendly, trustworthy, and compassionate. That’s an awful lot of information just from a smile so it would be silly to think we don’t need to look after our dental health. Some are lucky enough to have a perfect set of gnashers, but the majority of people don’t have this luck so turn to the professionals to lend a helping hand. As we get older, dentures are a popular choice but it’s not something a younger person might be interested in. For those people, there are other options and we’re going to take a look at what you should know about dental implants. 

What Are They? 

A dental implant is a prosthetic tooth that replaces the root of a struggling or failed tooth. Exactly the same as a human tooth, a prosthetic one will be anchored into the jawbone. They are used to secure the visible part of the tooth also known as the crown and act as an anchor for any others you might need. The implants are made from titanium, a very strong, lightweight metal that is also known as biocompatible (the body won’t reject it). If you’re interested in getting dental implants, be sure to book your appointment with the Dentist in Ballwin.

How Much Do They Cost?

Dental implants are similar to plastic surgery for the mouth, and as we all know, plastic surgery isn’t cheap. There are, of course, cases where insurance will cover the costs involved but for the most part, you will have to front the money yourself. A crown can cost anywhere up to $20000 in the most extreme of cases but you’ll find prices ranging anywhere from $900 dollars to $3000 for a single tooth. A full mouth reconstruction can cost anywhere up to $96000 so be prepared for a hefty dental bill. 

Getting Prepped 

After you have your initial consultation with your dentist to see if you are able to have a dental implant you will go through some preparatory treatment. Assuming your mouth health and bone strength is good enough to support an implant the dentist will suggest if you need to go through any extra work in order to get your mouth completely ready. Any rotten or broken teeth will be removed to make room for your implants. If there is any sign of decaying bones then you may need to undergo a bone graft. Are same-day dental implants safe , with same-day dental implants, you can get your implants the same day you have your unhealthy teeth removed. 

The Process 

The first thing that will happen when you sit down in the dentist chair, apart from some slight awkward small talk, is the anesthesia. You’ll be given a local anaesthetic to numb your mouth so the dentist can cut open your gum and drill a small hole into your jawbone. This is the hole the implant will be slotted into. You shouldn’t feel any pain, only mild discomfort, and if you do then talk to your dentist and make them aware. They can always give you more anaesthetic.

Once you have your implant then it’s time to add your brand new tooth. In some cases, you will be able to have your tooth straight away but in others, you might have to wait for the implant to fuse to the jawbone. This can take anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months, but it’s worth it in the end. 

Post Op 

The part everyone dreads is coming out of an operation and recovering from the anesthetic because they aren’t sure how much pain they are going to be in. Straight after the installation of the dental implant, it’s advised that you stay away from food for a while, your dentist will advise the correct amount of time.

You might experience some pain, swelling and tenderness of the gum and jaw in the following weeks but that’s nothing out the ordinary. Try to only eat soft foods in this stage until you are fully healed. It’s also imperative that you keep your dental hygiene at the very highest standard, no skipping any steps in your dental routine. 

Once you have your brand new set of teeth you’ll most definitely have something to smile about. Keep checking in with your dentist and make appointments every 3-6 months to ensure they have taken well and solid and stable. It’s also worth noting that just because your teeth are now fake, doesn’t mean you don’t have to clean them, keep to cleaning your teeth twice a day to avoid gum disease. Take care of your pearly whites and they will last forever.

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