Sunday, November 17, 2013

What You Need to Know if You Are Considering Dental Implants



Having teeth missing, whether it is through injury, illness, age or bad dental health, can be something that really affects the way you look, and subsequently how confident you feel. While dentures can give the appearance of those missing teeth still being there, they can be uncomfortable, can be a pain to look after, and also can't be worn 24 hours a day. For many people, the solution is to have a cosmetic procedure that implants new false teeth into the jaw, leaving them with permanent, natural looking teeth. This kind of procedure is not something to limit to lightly, as it has a significant cost involved, however for many people it can be truly life changing. Here are some of the things to consider if you are thinking about getting implants yourself:
How Are They Implanted?
A titanium implant is placed in the hole left in the jaw by your old tooth. This is then left in place while the jaw heals and fuses around it. It can take around 12 weeks for this process to finish, but once it does, a new fake tooth can be mounted on the implant. This tooth would be fashioned by professional experts based on your existing teeth, and things like the shape of your bite. The colour can also be made to match your real teeth. The implants are intended to give the most realistic appearance possible, so you will have your old healthy smile back.
Do They Always Work?
There is a very high success rate for dental implants when applied by a professional cosmetic dental team. While some implants don't take, as with any case where something foreign is implanted into the body, it is estimated that about 98% of procedures are a success.
Can Anybody Have Them?
If your gums are in good condition and you are healthy enough in general to undergo a procedure under local anaesthetic, there is a good chance you'll be a suitable candidate for dental implants. If you have damaged gums, have had surgery on your head and neck, have lost some of your jaw bone or are a heavy smoker, you will need your case to be assessed on an individual basis as it may not be possible to use implants on you at all, or until your condition improves.
Do They Hurt?
Surveys on people who have undergone this kind of procedure have shown that the discomfort isn't too serious, compared with other dental procedures. It is usually performed under a local anaesthetic, which prevents pain during the procedure, and the soreness experienced afterward can be managed with normal over the counter pain killers for most people. The surrounding natural teeth don't need to be worn down to have implants put in either, unlike with other tooth replacement methods like bridges.
If you are interested in finding out more about your own suitability for implants and the kind of cost your case would involve, then the best thing to do is talk to a cosmetic dental clinic. Most offer free consultations to look into whether or not implants will be possible for you, and will also be able to suggest alternative ways to improve your smile if they are not.
Hayley Barker wanted to find out more about cosmetic implants so she visited a cosmetic dental Adelaide clinic.  She decided to go ahead with the procedure and is very happy with the end result.