Top 10 Important Facts About Dental Implants

Dental implants are great alternatives to traditional dentures and bridges when replacing teeth. With the ability to imitate the form and function of natural teeth, dental implants are excellent ways to enhance your appearance and bite function and protect your oral health.

Since dental implants require surgical intervention and multiple procedures, it can feel scary and stressful for some patients. Fortunately, learning about dental implants can help you feel confident and relaxed about your treatment. In this guide, let’s explore important facts about dental implants in Raynham, MA.

Common Facts about Dental Implants

• 1. Dental implants are custom-made to imitate your natural teeth

Unlike alternative replacement treatments, dental implants are designed to imitate the look and feel of your natural teeth. The implant post is implanted in the jawbone to act as a root. Then, an outer crown is placed over the implant to mimic the feel and color of your natural tooth. These two things give the implant excellent stability, natural appearance, and durability.

• 2. Dental implants require a healthy jawbone

The success of dental implants primarily relies on the health and quality of the jawbone. Enough jawbone density is essential to create a solid support for the implant. If not, the implant may not integrate with the jawbone properly, causing complications like poor bite and implant failure. If your jawbone is insufficient, bone grafting may be necessary to rebuild and repair your bone to provide a solid base for your implant.

• 3. Dental implants promote jawbone health

Since dental implants are designed with roots like your real teeth, they continuously stimulate the jawbone, preventing deterioration. When a tooth is lost, no root stimulates the jawbone, causing it to get resorbed in the body.

Unfortunately, jawbone loss attracts other issues. For instance, an insufficient jawbone causes your facial muscles to collapse, leading to facial sagging, wrinkles, and premature aging. Dental implants promote jawbone health and enhance your facial appearance.

• 4. Dental implants involve multiple stages

Dental implant treatment is typically completed in phases over several months. This process can include initial consultation and planning, tooth extraction and bone grafting (if necessary), implant placement, abutment placement, and artificial tooth placement. The longer timeline is dedicated to healing, ensuring the long-term success of your restoration.

• 5. Dental implants can’t develop cavities

Dental implants are made from high-quality artificial materials like titanium, zirconia, and porcelain. These materials are highly resistant to acids and harmful oral bacteria. Hence, your implant can’t get cavities.

• 6. Dental implants require excellent oral hygiene

While dental implants won’t develop cavities, you still have the rest of your mouth to care for, including the gums, teeth, and jawbone. Poor oral hygiene can cause a buildup of plaque and tartar around the teeth, implant, and gums, increasing your risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and peri-implantitis. Peri-implantitis is the infection and inflammation of the tissues surrounding dental implants.

• 7. Dental implants have a high success rate

Implants have over 95% success rate. Proper oral hygiene and care, routine dental checkups and cleanings, and proper diet can help promote long-term success. Other factors impacting implant success include oral health, implant location, and lifestyle habits like smoking.

• 8. Dental implants can last a lifetime

Dental implant materials are highly robust and durable. Dental implants can last long with excellent care and maintenance, making them highly durable. You may only need to replace the outer crown every few years.

• 9. Dental implants are suitable for everyone

While implants offer numerous benefits, they aren’t always ideal for everyone. Unstable health conditions like diabetes, severe gum disease, and cancer can affect the success of your implant surgery. Similarly, lifestyle habits like smoking can inhibit implant healing, disqualifying you from the procedure.

• 10. Dental implants enhance your smile, bite function, and quality of life

Besides causing unsightly gaps, missing teeth can cause challenges in chewing food, brushing, or flossing, significantly affecting your quality of life. Implants replace missing teeth, giving you a more aesthetically appealing smile and improving comfort, bite function, speech, and oral health.

Get Dental Implants Near You

Ready to renew your smile with dental implants? Contact and book a dentist appointment at Raynham Dental Group, the Office of Dr. Michael Scanlon, today.