Dental Implants
Lost teeth have a significant impact on your oral health. Not only can they make it hard to eat and talk, but over time, they can contribute to problems with your bite. The dental team at Truax Downtown Dental, your dentist in Fort Myers, FL, provides a permanent solution with a dental implant. Let our team restore the look and function of your mouth through a dental implant.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants replace missing teeth through metal posts that hold false teeth. These metal posts are permanently attached to the jawbone, ensuring the artificial tooth stays firmly rooted in place. Implants can hold just one tooth to replace a missing one, or they can be the support for a bridge or full dentures. Either way, they provide stability for your artificial teeth, so your smile will be brilliant and your teeth and jaw functional.
What to Expect from Dental Implants
Dental implants require multiple procedures done in several stages. Each one is an outpatient procedure, but it is considered an oral surgery. Your dentists in Fort Myers, FL, will ensure you understand every step of the process.
First, if necessary, our dental team will remove any portion of the damaged tooth that is still in your mouth. Then, we will prepare the jawbone using grafting procedures, if required. Once the jawbone is ready, we place the implant into the bone.
To ensure the implant is permanent, you will need to wait several weeks for healing. The bone will grow around the implant, making a solid connection that keeps it from moving. Once the implant has healed, we will add the abutment, which is the connecting piece. You will need a bit more time for healing, and then finally you will receive your artificial tooth.
Caring for Your Implants
Once you have your implants, you need to care for them well to keep them functional and protected. Thankfully, implants are pretty tough, so as long as you keep up with routine oral health, you should have few problems with your implants. Here are the steps the team at Truax Downtown Dental recommends:
- Practice good oral hygiene: Brush and floss your teeth regularly. You can also use an interdental brush to clean more effectively between your implant and your natural teeth.
- Keep up with dental visits: Do not neglect your twice-a-year appointments with your dentist in Fort Myers, FL. These will help keep your teeth, gums, and implant clean.
- Stay away from dangerous foods: Tobacco, hard foods, and tooth-staining foods are all best avoided when you have an implant.
- Learn to stop grinding teeth: If you know that you grind your teeth, talk to Truax Downtown Dental about strategies to help you prevent or protect your teeth from damage.
Advantages of an Implant Over a Bridge
Both bridges and implants can replace missing teeth. Bridges may not require surgery to place, but implants offer some specific benefits. First, dental implants replace the root of the damaged tooth, which helps protect the jawbone against deterioration. Second, single-tooth implants are often more aesthetically pleasing and easier to take care of than bridges. Finally, they can protect the mouth from gum recession, which is also common with bridges.
Risks of Dental Implants
Because dental bridges are surgical procedures, they carry the risk of infection, swelling, bruising, and blood loss. These risks are minimal, but possible. Additionally, there is a risk that your implant may fail.
If you have missing teeth and want to discuss implant surgery, our team is ready to answer your questions. Schedule a consultation today to discuss implant surgery with our team.
