Losing one or more teeth due to trauma, injury, or dental disease can be stressful. If you are not a fan of regular dentures, you may want to consider dental implants, which offer a more permanent and comfortable solution for missing teeth. If you are visiting a Roanoke, Virginia prosthodontist for dental implants, here’s what you need to know.
What is an implant?
An implant looks like a screw that’s surgically implanted into or on top of the jawbone. Dental implants become a part of the mouth structure and can be used to replace an entire arch of teeth. In fact, there are options to get a complete set of missing teeth with just four implants. All dental implants are made of titanium.
What are the advantages of dental implants?
There is a rapid and steady decline in bone mass after a tooth is extracted, which may cause the jawbone to shrink. This can alter your facial structure and make you look older. With dental implants, you can retain the shape of your face and mouth. It is best to consider implant surgery immediately after extraction, but if you missed that due to other reasons, you could still get implants after bone grafting. Because there are no loose parts, your replacement teeth will not move around. Also, dental implants don’t need extensive care, especially after the initial healing process.
What’s the success rate of dental implants?
The success rate of dental implants is around 95%. Of course, not everyone is an ideal candidate because the procedure involves surgery. If you have been an active smoker or have diseases like cardiovascular conditions and diabetes, you must talk to your dentist in detail.
What’s the cost of dental implants?
Compared to dentures, dental implants are expensive. The cost depends on several factors, including the number of teeth being replaced, the number of implants required, and whether there is a need for bone grafting. Your dentist can do a comprehensive oral exam to determine the exact work involved, based on which they will share an estimate.
Can older people get dental implants?
The short answer is yes. You may consider the treatment if you have healthy gums and enough bone mass. Someone who can withstand an extraction is usually a good candidate for dental implants too.
If you have any questions or want to know whether you would benefit from dental implants, talk to an experienced dentist now.
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