Answering Your FAQ About Dental Implants

If you are new to the idea of dental implants, you may be wondering what all the hype is about. More importantly, you may have several questions that you need answered before you can commit to this life-changing investment. Here are some FAQ that may help:

What are dental implants?

Dental implants are tiny titanium posts that are surgically placed into your jawbone to replace the roots of missing teeth. After the implant heals and fuses to the surrounding bone, a permanent crown restoration is attached to the implant to act as your lifelike replacement tooth.

How many teeth can be replaced with dental implants?

Dental implants are highly versatile. Patients can replace just one missing tooth, several teeth or a full arch of missing teeth. In fact, just a few implants can secure a full denture set.

Is dental implant surgery painful?

In general, patients report that implant surgery is tolerable with any post-operative pain effectively managed with over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen. Ice can also soothe swelling and discomfort immediately after surgery.

Are dental implants expensive?

There is no hiding the fact that dental implants come at a notably higher price tag than other forms of tooth replacement. However, this upfront expense should be strongly weighed against the longer-term return on your investment. Dental implants are permanent, and they offer lasting benefits towards your smile, your facial appearance and your overall health.

How do you care for dental implants?

A question we love to answer – your dental implants can be cared for just like your natural teeth. You can simply follow your routine dental checkups and brushing and flossing habits. With dental implants, you can avoid the expense and inconvenience of adhesive creams and denture cleaners.

Is there a chance my body will reject the dental implant?

The titanium of which your implant is made of is completely biocompatible. Allergies are very rare. The cause of implant failure is usually due to an infection around the implant due to poor hygiene. Overall, implant dentistry carries a remarkable success rate of over 95%!

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

Dental implants do require that you be in good overall health and have adequate jawbone structure to support the implant. In some cases, bone grafting is needed prior to surgery. The only surefire way to know if you are a candidate for dental implants is to schedule an evaluation with Dr. Wayne Suway of Marietta. We will take appropriate x-rays of your mouth and jaw, as well as discuss the entire process to ensure you are confident in your restorative dentistry investment.