Dental Implants Are An Effective Way To Replace One Or Several Missing Teeth

Dentist Blog

If you have missing teeth, dental implants might be the solution. A dentist can evaluate your mouth to see if implants are suitable, and if so, they can determine how many implants you need and if you need any bone grafts. Here is more information about dental implants

Implants Keep Your Teeth From Shifting

One reason it's important to get implants where you have gaps caused by missing teeth is that your teeth can shift if you don't have a full set of teeth. This can affect your smile if the gaps are in your front teeth.

You not only have unsightly gaps, but your other teeth may shift and look crooked. That's bad for your appearance and oral health. Dental implants prevent this by placing a crown in each gap so your other teeth are held in place.

You May Not Need An Implant For Each Tooth

A gap that's created from a single missing tooth needs an implant since only one crown will fit in the gap. If you have a row of three or more teeth missing, you may only need an implant on the first and last tooth. The dentist might attach a bridge with multiple crowns to just two implants.

If you need to get dentures and have all of your original teeth removed, the dentist might be able to attach a full arch of teeth to just a few implants. Not getting an implant for each tooth could save you a lot of money.

You Might Get A Temporary Crown The Same Day

Getting dental implants is often a long process. Your bone needs time to heal after an implant is put in, and you need to have each crown custom-made at a dental lab. That could mean you'll need to live with the gap in your teeth for a few weeks or months after the implant is put in.

However, if the gap is visible when you smile, the dentist might make a temporary crown that's put on the same day you get your implant. You'll still need to come back later and have the permanent porcelain crown put on.

Health Is More Important Than Age For Implants

There's no upper age limit on getting implants, so you don't have to worry about being too old to qualify. Instead, your dentist considers your general health and your oral health. If you have gum disease, your dentist will probably treat it first so your mouth is healthy before putting in implants.

You Don't Always Need General Anesthesia

You'll receive some sort of anesthesia when you get dental implants so you won't feel pain. However, you may not need general anesthesia. Your dentist might give you a local anesthetic with an injection, or they might also give you IV sedation to keep you comfortable if you'll be having a long procedure.

Let the dentist know your preferences and concerns so they can talk you through your options and explain which type of anesthesia is best for the number and type of implants you'll be getting.

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18 October 2022

Coping With Dental Emergencies

My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.