Everything You Need to Know About Dental Implants

Loss of teeth is an extremely common problem. In fact, 69% of the people between the age of 35 and 45 have at least one tooth missing, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. But for the most part of history, we have not had a great solution to this common problem. That was until 1952, when a Swedish orthopedic surgeon, Per-Ingvar Brånemark, invented dental implants.

Today, these are considered as the standard care in case of loss of teeth, whether due to decay or injury. The procedure has become so common that you can even get it done by your family dentist in Houston, say experts at Generations Family Dentistry.

Not sure if this is the right way to go? Here’s what you need to know about this procedure.

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are metal frames or posts that are placed surgically beneath the gums, in the jawbone. These posts allow the dentist to place replacement teeth in specific places. Unlike teeth whitening and Invisalign, dental implants require a surgical procedure.

Some of the benefits of these implants are:

1.   Better Appearance

With implants, your jaw can look and feel as if you have all-natural teeth. The implants fuse with the bone, becoming permanent.

2.   Enhanced Speech

In the case of dentures, the false teeth can slip within your mouth. This can cause you to slur or mumble your words. But with implants, the teeth are fixed to the jaw bone and your speech isn’t affected.

3.   Increased Ease of Eating

Chewing can be extremely difficult with dentures or missing teeth. Implants act natural teeth. They do not slip or shift, making it easy to chew. They allow you to eat whatever you like, without feeling any pain.

4.   Better Oral Health

With these implants, you don’t need to get any other teeth pulled out. In addition, brushing your teeth remains a natural process. This improves the health of your mouth in the long run.

Types of Dental Implants

Whether you are in Houston TX or New York, a cosmetic dentist will generally offer 2 types of dental implants:

1.   Endosteal Implants

In this, the implants are placed surgically into the jawbone. After the gum tissue of the surrounding area has healed, another surgery is conducted. In this surgery, the original implant is connected to a post. After this, the artificial teeth are individually attached to the post.

2.   Subperiosteal Implants

Here, a frame made of metal is fitted below the gum tissue, on to the jawbone. The frame gets permanently attached to the jawbone, as the tissue heals. The posts attached to the frame protrude from the gum tissue so that artificial teeth can be placed on these posts.

Are Dental Implants Painful?

Most people who have received dental implants say that they experienced only slight discomfort during the procedure. In fact, tooth extraction is reported to be more painful. The use of local anesthesia reduces pain.

How Successful are Dental Implants?

The success rate can vary, depending upon the individual case. But generally, the success rate is between 96% and 98%.

Getting implants has become extremely easy these days. You can even get them from a cosmetic dentist in Houston, TX, whom you might have visited earlier for teeth whitening.