FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR DENTAL IMPLANTS?

What Is A Dental Implant?
When you lose a tooth due to decay, gum disease or trauma, it can be replaced by a titanium screw that is placed in the bone and can replace the root of a tooth. After about 3 months of healing in the bone, a crown is made and goes on top of that titanium screw to replace your missing tooth.

Why A Dental Implant?
A dental implant can replace missing teeth and hence helps you to chew better, speak better and give you back that confidence when you smile! It helps to maintain the jawbone and prevents it from shrinking, just like your muscles are maintained when you constantly use them. It helps to keep the bite and adjacent teeth in proper position and overall improves the quality of your life.

Am I Suitable For A Dental Implant?
As long as you are in good health and not taking any bone-altering medication, you are a suitable candidate! Your dentist will take some x-rays and measurements to ensure that you have sufficient bone before recommending this procedure to you. In the event that you do not have enough bone, some bone augmentation procedure can be performed to help you overcome the lack of bone at certain areas in your mouth. Smoking affects the bone and gum health as well, so if you are thinking of getting a dental implant, you might want to cut down on smoking or even better, give it up all together!

How Long Is The Entire Procedure And How Long Must I Wait Till I Can Have My
Full Set Of Teeth?
If no bone graft is needed, the procedure takes only about 20 minutes. You then leave it to heal in the bone for about 2.5 to 3 months, then return to have an impression of the implant taken so that the lab can make a crown to be fitted on about a week or two later. From start to finish, it’s about 3 to 3.5 months. If you do need a bone graft, the graft has to stay in your bone for an additional 5 to 6 months before we can complete the entire procedure.

If I Don’t Have Enough Bone To Do An Implant, What Other Options Are There For Me?
Fret not! Alternatives to implants include dentures and conventional bridges. If you have some bone available in the front part of your mouth and are missing a lot or all your teeth in one arch, sometimes we can even make implant-supported dentures. These are also very firm and enable you to eat and speak with greater comfort compared to normal dentures.

Speak to your dentist today to find out more!

1 June 2022, Tooth Stories Team