What to Know Before Considering Dental Implants?

Dental implants are an effective tool to replace missing or damaged adult teeth. If you are looking for a healthy option for one or more implants, then considering the safety of these implants comes first. Dental implants are a perfect choice for replacing one or more missing teeth, and they can prevent various oral problems that may arise from missing teeth.

Are dental implants safe? Well, the answer is yes. They have been used in dentistry for over 30 years and are considered very safe.

Background:

Losing a tooth due to any kind of disease or injury can cause health problems such as rapid bone loss, difficulty speaking, and discomfort from changes in chewing patterns. It is where replacing a tooth with artificial dental implants can help to improve the quality of life and health.

Dental implants are made up of an implant and an abutment, and sometimes a screw to fix the abutment. The implant is placed in the jawbone as a substitute for the root of a lost tooth. The abutment attaches to the implant by means of the screw and extends through the gums to hold the replacement teeth.

Advice for patients: You need to talk to your dental doctor and weigh the pros and cons of dental implants before going ahead. Based on certain parameters, your dentist will determine if you are an ideal candidate for the procedure, such as:

Your overall health is a good indicator to find out if you are an ideal candidate for dental implants.
How long it takes to heal, and how long the implants will stay.
Ask your dentist about the kind of dental implants and brands of implants they use.
Smoking can decrease the chances of long-term success of implants and can also hamper the healing process.
The implant may take a few months or more to heal, and during this time, you usually have a temporary abutment to replace the tooth.

After the dental implant procedure:

You need to follow the oral hygiene instructions of your dentist carefully. Also, pay close attention to cleaning the surrounding teeth for the long-term success of the implants.
Visit your dental care provider regularly.
If you feel your dental implant is painful or loose, you must contact them immediately.

How Do Dental Implants Work?

If you have one or more missing teeth, your dentist might recommend a dental implant. You will get a long-term replacement for your missing tooth. They are a long-lasting solution and work like natural teeth. Here are the steps of a dental implant:

Tooth removal: If your tooth is damaged, then your dentist might extract it, and you may need time to heal before the procedure.

Jaw preparation: After you recover from the removal, your dentist will review if your jawbone is sturdy enough to support an implant. There’s a chance you might require a bone graft to boost bone density and encourage more bone growth. If you get a graft, you’ll have to wait for some time before proceeding to the next step.

Implant placement: In this step, your dentist will perform a surgical procedure and cut open the gums to reveal the jawbone. Then, they will insert the metal base of the implant. After this, you need to wait for several months so that the implant can hold its place firmly.

Abutment placement: After the implant is integrated into your jawbone, your dentist will implant an abutment over your gum line. They will open the gums and attach a short metal rod. Sometimes, the abutment is placed while implanting the implants. This rod is used to hold the artificial tooth.

Placing the artificial tooth: Your dental provider will create a mold of your teeth to fashion a custom-fit cap that resembles your current teeth and fits snugly in place. In the last step, your dentist will attach your crown to the abutment.

Benefits and Risks of Dental Implants

Dental implants can certainly improve the quality of life for those who receive them. But complications can occur. Some of the complications may result from the failure of the implants. This type of failure can result in another surgery or procedure that may need another implant or fixture procedure.

How Dental Implants Can Help You:

Restoring the ability to chew
Improving cosmetic appearance
Dental implants also help prevent the jawbone from shrinking due to bone loss.
They preserve the health of the nearby bones and gums.
Promote stability in the adjacent teeth.
Improving the patient’s quality of life.

Risks Associated with Dental Implants:

Implanting a tooth can lead to surgical risks, such as a fractured jawbone or difficulties with biting caused by malfunctions.
It may also cause harm to nearby teeth or tissues, resulting in injuries such as a perforated sinus.
Implant body failure may lead to infection in patients with uncontrolled diabetes.
Delayed healing in patients who are likely to smoke.

Feeling post-surgical numbness due to damage or nerve impingement.

Always inform your healthcare providers and imaging technicians that you have dental implants before undergoing any MRI or X-ray procedures. Dental implants can distort or disrupt these images. The FDA has not received any reports of negative events associated with MRI or x-ray procedures involving dental implants.

Ways Dental Implants are Evaluated for Safety:

Dental implants follow international standards such as International or the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). These guidelines provide information on what constitutes a safe material. Most dental implants are made from zirconium oxide or titanium. Other materials like gold alloys, titanium alloys, cobalt-based alloys, or ceramic materials are also used. The safety of these materials is time-tested.

Dental implant systems follow global standards. The process includes biocompatibility testing to ensure patient safety and prevent allergic reactions or skin irritations from physical contact with the device. Biocompatibility testing helps verify that the dental implant system materials are safe and do not produce negative outcomes during the implantation process.

Conclusion:

Dental implants are the top option to replace lost teeth. They are safe and long-lasting substitutes for natural teeth. You can be assured of the safety and success of dental implants.

We provide the best-in-class materials for missing tooth replacement at Versailles Dental Clinic, a trusted dental clinic in Dubai. Get in touch with us if you have any questions related to the safety of dental implants. Our experts will guide you through every question that you may have.