Are you missing any teeth? Dental implants have become one of the most popular tooth replacement solutions because of their natural look and feel as well as their long lifespan. Dental implants are tiny titanium posts that are placed in your jawbone to act as artificial tooth roots. If you’re considering dental implants, you may be wondering about the process and whether or not it hurts to get them. Keep reading to learn the answers from a trusted dentist.
The Process of Getting Dental Implants
Receiving dental implants is a process that takes months to complete because the implant has to integrate into your bone. First, an incision is made in your gums and the implant is placed in your jawbone.
Next, your dentist will stitch up your gums, and then allow your implant to integrate with your bone and heal. This can take 3 to 6 months. During this time, your dentist will provide you with a temporary crown to help with eating, chewing, and your appearance.
After, your dentist will place an abutment (connector) on top of your implant. Then your dentist will create a beautiful tooth restoration and mount it onto your implant.
Is There Pain During Surgery?
Placing something in your bone may sound painful, but your dentist will use anesthesia, so you won’t feel a thing. Your bone also doesn’t have any pain sensing nerves, which is another reason why dental implant surgery is typically painless.
Is There Pain After Getting Dental Implants?
After surgery, you will likely experience some discomfort for the next few days. Bruising and pain around the implant is completely normal, and you can use over-the-counter pain medication to ease any discomfort.
What Happens if I Don’t Replace My Tooth?
If you don’t replace your teeth with dental implants, you may be at risk for more serious issues. Not only do missing teeth leave a gap in your smile, but they can seriously affect your oral health. Here are some of the common ways that missing teeth can impact your smile negatively:
- Crooked teeth: Your teeth use each other as support, so even when one tooth is missing, the surrounding teeth can drift into the gap. This can cause your whole smile to become misaligned.
- Wear and tear: Because of misalignment, certain teeth may stick up farther than others. This causes grinding and more wear and tear on parts of your smile.
- Bone deterioration: Dental implants provide your jawbone with the stimulation it needs to stay healthy. If you don’t replace your missing teeth, your jaw can shrink and deteriorate.
Now that you know more about the dental implant process and how it’s a comfortable surgery, does it sound like you could benefit from this tooth replacement option? Contact your dentist in Scituate to get started on a beautifully complete smile.
About the Practice
At Pearl Dental Associates, we have a team of 3 expert dentists who have a passion for quality care. They take pride in offering dental implants to their patients for a long-lasting and healthy tooth replacement. For any questions, they can be contacted through their website or by phone at (781) 545-9244.