Answers to Frequently Asked Questions About Dental Implants
Losing a tooth can feel embarrassing. You may find yourself covering your mouth when you smile or avoiding smiling all together. You may not be comfortable speaking, just in case someone can see the new gap in your teeth. Perhaps your lost tooth impacts your speech, drawing even more attention to your missing tooth. While these are very uncomfortable aspects of losing a tooth, social stigma is not the worst side effect.
The whole structure of the mouth is designed to use all of your teeth, and losing a tooth means that this structure is off balance. Your other teeth work harder to chew, causing extra wear and tear. Your teeth may shift in the areas around the gap, throwing off your bite and leading to chipped teeth and discomfort. Without a root system supporting your gums, a portion of your jawbone can resorb, creating complications for the other teeth, including potentially losing more teeth down the road.
Dental implants are procedures that replace lost teeth and reconstruct the integrity of your jawbone and gums. If you’re ready to replace your lost tooth, dental implants might be the best option for you.
What are dental implants?
Dental implant surgery is a procedure that replaces natural teeth with artificial teeth. The artificial teeth are imbedded into your jawbone with metal posts resembling screws. These posts replace the root structure of your missing or decaying tooth.
Dental implants are one of the alternatives to dentures and bridgework, which typically require a robust root structure to function properly. Dental implant posts are made of titanium, designed to fuse and osseointegrate with your jawbone. Because of this, dental implants avoid the aggravating and sometimes painful problems of dentures of bridgework. They don’t slip, make noise, or require specialized care beyond regular brushing and flossing. Plus, they stabilize the surrounding tooth structure. Gum tissue does not continue to recede or decay, and the surrounding bone is restored.
Once installed, dental implants function exactly like natural teeth.
How do dental implants work?
Prior to surgery, the surgeon needs a clear view of your teeth and bone structure. You begin by getting x-rays. The condition of your bone structure is assessed in 3 dimensions, and a unique plan is created for your dental implant installation.
The surgery itself consists of local anesthesia or IV deep sedation while a titanium screw is surgically inserted into the bone. This portion of the surgery typically heals in 8-12 weeks, during which the titanium posts begin to fuse with your jawbone. Once you are fully healed, artificial teeth, also called crowns, are attached to the implanted posts. After that, maintain your recommended dental checkups, at least every 6 months.
What’s the average cost of dental implants in Boise, Idaho?
The cost of dental implants in Boise is highly dependent on the condition of your gums and jawbone, and how many teeth you need replaced. It is impossible to identify how much work you may need prior to visiting a surgeon. Some patients need a bone graft procedure to strengthen the jawbone prior to dental implant surgery.
How long do dental implants last?
Good oral healthcare is critical in extending the life of your dental implants, as well as your natural teeth. With regular brushing, flossing, and dental exams, the post can last a lifetime. Crowns have a typical lifespan of about 10-15 years before they may need to be replaced.
Keep in mind that some of your teeth experience more wear and tear than others. Implants to the back of the mouth, such as molars, are far more active with chewing than your front teeth and could have a shorter lifespan.
How old do you have to be to get dental implants?
You can get dental implants as long as your jawbone has fully developed. Most people have a fully developed jawbone by the time they turn 18-20. Your surgeon will perform x-rays to determine that your jawbone is in a healthy condition to support dental implants.
What are the risks of dental implants?
With any medical procedure, it’s important to weigh the benefits against the risks before you make a final decision. Complications from dental implant surgery are rare. When they do happen, they are usually minor and easy to treat. The risks of dental implants include infections or prolonged bleeding at the implant site, damage to surrounding structures, and nerve damage.
At Alpine Surgical Arts, your surgeon will discuss the possible risks and what to look for prior to the surgery. Keeping up with dental exams after your surgery is a critical part of caring for your implants and ensuring that everything is healing properly. Prioritizing your post-surgery exams ensures that any problems can be caught early and be easily fixed.
Are dental implants right for me?
This question can only be answered after you’ve visited an oral and facial surgeon. In general, dental implants may be right for you if you:
Are missing teeth
Have a jawbone that is fully developed
Have healthy tissues in your mouth and don’t have health conditions that would delay bone healing
Can commit several months to the installment and healing process
Don’t smoke tobacco
If you’re tired of missing teeth, ill-fitting dentures, or bridgework, dental implants could be the right solution for you to get your smile back. To find out more, visit Alpine Surgical Arts to meet with oral and facial surgeons Dr. Arman Haghighi or Dr. Brian Rowan or give us a call to discuss your options.