Approximately 69 percent of Americans between the ages of 35 and 44 have at least one missing tooth. One in four individuals over the age of 74 have lost all of their natural teeth. With incredible numbers like these, plenty of people are considering dental implant procedures. Dental implants are continually growing in popularity as a solution to missing teeth; instead of putting up with gaps in your smile, you do have options.
Getting teeth pulled is not a fun procedure, so you may worry that having dental implant procedures will be painful, hard to recover from, or ineffective. But the people getting partial dental implants, a single tooth implant, or a full dental implant are on to something. Let’s review three key points you should know before getting a dental implant procedure.
What Are These Procedures?
Dental implants are essentially an artificially created tooth root. The implant is inserted into your gum line, bonding with your jawbone and creating a sturdy, supportive base for the crown – the new tooth – to inhabit. A connector piece, called an abutment, attaches the crown to the new implant, allowing the new tooth to function just like a natural tooth.
The crown is custom-created to fit the shape of your mouth, to match your teeth, and to ensure the health of your teeth will continue for years to come. The dental implant procedure is completed over the course of several months, allowing the implants to settle into your gums, gums to grow up around the abutment, and then the attachment of the crowns. It’s a long procedure, but the results are well worth it.
What Do These Procedures Do?
To put it shortly, dental implant procedures fill gaps in your smile. It sounds simple enough, but the benefits of these procedures are immeasurable. Gaps in teeth can cause some serious problems with your oral health, so having a dental implant procedure helps protect your gums and your teeth.
Not only do implants help maintain your oral health, but they can offer a serious confidence boost as well. Gaps in your smile can cause feelings of low self-esteem and even keep an individual from smiling. But once those gaps are filled, the feeling of a flawless smile can be a game-changer.
What Should You Prepare For?
If dental implants are the solution for you, you may have some questions about the recovery period. The procedure does take several months to complete, as it requires the body to heal naturally in between procedures. However, most patients report that the pain level is quite manageable. It’s reportedly comparable to having a tooth pulled, but even less painful. Your dentist or oral surgeon should be able to answer any questions about specifics of the procedure.
Dental implants may not be for everyone, but for plenty of people, this procedure solves their problems. Talk to your medical professional today for more information about this procedure and how it can work for you.