Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
Posted on: 29 January 2021
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Missing teeth, especially the front teeth, may change your appearance, making you shy away from smiling or even socialising; this is because your teeth play a huge role in how you look.
Your teeth also help you chew and talk clearly, which you might have noticed you have difficulty doing with a few missing teeth.
When you visit a dentist, he or she will carry out an examination that may involve X-rays, blood tests and a series of questions to find out more about your medical history. After the examination, the dentist will highlight dental treatment options like dental implants, dentures and denture implants.
Why Are Dental Implants Considered the Best?
They give the best appearance compared to dentures and denture implants — the same, almost or better than natural teeth. They are also low maintenance; you only need to brush them as you do your natural teeth. Dentures may require you to take them out for cleaning and before sleeping, meaning they require a little extra maintenance. Denture implants may also require special cleaning and a regular dental visit for inspection and professional cleaning.
Why Are Dental Implants Expensive?
Dental implants are made from titanium, which is expensive. A dental implant procedure also requires surgery. Therefore, the more teeth needing replacement, the higher the cost.
Are Dental Implant Procedures Painful?
As indicated above, dental implant procedures require surgery, especially if more than one dental implant needs to be placed in your jawbone. Surgery means you will be put under general anaesthesia, meaning you won't feel a thing or know what is happening. You will only wake up after the procedure feeling a bit sore and some slight discomfort or pain. If you are in severe pain or discomfort, you can always ask the dental surgeon or nurse for pain medication.
How Long Is the Healing Period?
You might have heard people mention that a dental implant procedure may require months to heal from. This is true, but it also depends on how fast your body heals. After surgery, you need the dental implant to fuse with your jawbone and your gums to heal around it. This usually takes somewhere between four to eight weeks; after which you are required to go back to the dental clinic for dental crowns to be attached to the dental implants.
There are, however, some special cases where you might require another dental treatment procedure to be performed before the dental implant procedure. In this case, your dental treatment may take a few months.