An Experienced Implant Dentist Answers FAQs

An Experienced Implant Dentist has the answers to all of your questions if you are currently considering dental implants. These oral restorations have emerged as a popular way to replace missing teeth thanks to their ability to preserve jawbone tissue and their low maintenance requirements.

An experienced implant dentist goes over dental implant FAQs

Here are some of the more popular questions people who are interested in dental implants ask:

1. What is a dental implant?

An implant is a small screw or post. It is often made out of titanium, but it can also be made from other materials like zirconium. The implant serves as an artificial root that provides support for the crown that is used to replace the missing tooth. The crown that is placed on the implant is color-matched with the patient's remaining teeth for a natural look.

2. Why are dental implants so popular?

There are many reasons why a growing number of people are opting for implants. For starters, implants are the only missing-teeth solution that replaces the missing tooth's root. This keeps the jawbone properly stimulated as bite forces are transferred to it via the implant. In addition, implants look and feel natural when worn, and there is no need for specialized cleaning.

3. Who can install dental implants?

Dentists who install implants typically have lots of experience doing so. For best results, patients should look for before-and-after photos of previous patients to evaluate a prospective dentist's expertise. People interested in getting implants can use the American Academy of Implant Dentistry's database to narrow down their search.

4. How long does the process of getting dental implants take?

The average time it takes to complete the process of getting implants is six months. The procedure often involves three steps: implant installation, abutment installation and adding the crown. The first two stages have a recovery period, so how fast the patient heals can shorten or lengthen the process.

People who do not have the bone tissue needed for implants will have to get bone grafts before getting implants. This can add an additional three months to the total time.

5. Are dental implants safe?

Dental implants have been around for over a century, and there is lots of data that indicates these oral restorations are perfectly safe. Implants have a 95% success rate, and getting the procedure performed by an experienced implant dentist reduces the odds of any complications developing. The dentist will thoroughly evaluate the patient's general and dental health to verify that they are healthy enough for implants.

6. Does getting dental implants hurt?

The patient will be given a shot of anesthetic during the treatment, so the patient will not feel much as the dentist inserts the implant into their jaw. Some discomfort might be experienced when the anesthetic wears off. This can be managed with over-the-counter pain medication in most cases.