For the longest time, many people who have lost one or several teeth were resigned to the most common replacement and restoration treatments, like dentures and dental bridges—or worse, live with gaps in their smile, potentially impacting long-term oral health. But while these fixes have helped close gaps, none of these were permanent, until dental implants.
What are dental implants?
Currently the gold standard in tooth replacement and restoration, dental implants are the leading and only permanent way to replace missing teeth. Dental implants that function as the new roots of artificial dental crowns. With replacement teeth securely anchored in place, they’ll look, feel, and function just like natural teeth.
Are you a good candidate for dental implants?
These lifelong benefits of dental implants are unparalleled, making them the best way to close gaps left by missing teeth, and restore a strong and healthy smile. But while everyone deserves to regain their full smile, a periodontist first needs to confirm that you are a good candidate.
This means examining your jawbone and surrounding tissues, your oral and overall medical history, and your needs and lifestyle. The success of every dental implant procedure starts with ensuring that they’re right for you so that you can enjoy them.
Are you or a loved one considering dental implants? Read more to find out if they’re right for you.
How Periodontists Determine if Dental Implants are Right for You
During your consultation with our periodontist in Mississauga, they will examine your missing teeth and jawbone, and assess your overall oral health to determine if you are a suitable candidate for dental implants. They will check:
- The number and location of missing teeth
- Whether you have enough remaining bone in the jaw that can support the implant
- Whether the surrounding teeth, tissues, and gums are healthy
- Your general oral health
- Your lifestyle habits, particularly if you are a smoker (and whether you have quit at least a few weeks prior, in preparation for receiving dental implants)
- Your overall medical history to avoid any health complications.
Do you need a bone graft?
A missing tooth that goes untreated for some time can eventually cause the affected part of the jawbone to deteriorate, resulting in loss of bone density or strength. This can also be exacerbated by factors like aging, which generally weakens the bones.
But the good news is periodontists can place a bone graft, which still allows you to receive a dental implant and ensure its success. This added step to the dental implant procedure strengthens the jawbone, supporting implants.
Keep in mind, though, that it can take a few weeks or months for the jawbone to heal before you’re ready for the next step of the procedure. Once your jawbone heals and is restored to optimal strength, only then can your periodontist proceed with placing the dental implant.
How Bone Grafts are Done
Wondering what exactly a bone graft is? There are typically two types of bone grafts: a section of bone taken from a different part of your body, or a special bone grafting material. Your periodontist will then graft this bone to the impacted part of your jawbone. This corrects any deterioration that has occurred over time, making the jawbone strong enough and stable to support dental implants.
When Dental Implants are Not Right for You
While dental implants are widely recommended for many people who have one or several missing teeth, they are not always suitable for everyone. The most common factor that prevents others from receiving implants is severe jawbone deterioration.
Often, periodontists will recommend a bone graft to restore deteriorated jawbones, but some patients prefer not to undergo this added step. In this case, you may need to explore other tooth-replacement methods, like dentures and dental bridges.
Weighing the Costs vs. Benefits of Dental Implants
Cost of Dental Implants in Mississauga
The reality is a lot of potential candidates balk at how much dental implants cost—and it’s completely normal. But upon a closer look, you’ll find that the benefits of receiving dental implants certainly outweigh the upfront costs.
Typically, they can range from $1,500 to $6,000 in Mississauga. Depending on your dental insurance plan, the full or partial cost of the implants may be covered. And since these are made of titanium—a very strong material—fused with the jawbone, they remain securely in place. Compared to dentures and dental bridges that only last up to 15 years, dental implants are the clear, cost-effective choice.
Length of Procedure and Recovery
Another factor that keeps people from receiving dental implants is the time it takes for the entire procedure, from consultation to final fitting.
Dental implants consist of a series of procedures that require recovery time in between, such as after a bone graft and during osseointegration (the process of the implant fusing with the jawbone). These can take place over a few months, depending on how long it takes for your body to heal.
The good news is you might not even need a bone graft. If your periodontist finds sufficient jawbone density, you can skip this step, and proceed with the actual implantation right away. This cuts down your total dental implant procedure time by a few months. Plus, once the implant is in place and the new dental crowns are attached, however, you can quickly resume normal eating, talking, and lifestyle habits.
Should you get dental implants? Talk to our periodontists in Mississauga
You deserve a full life—and that includes being able to eat, talk, and smile with ease and confidence. These are only possible with a full, healthy set of teeth. And it’s why at Periodontal Associates, we bring you the most advanced and only permanent way to replace missing teeth.
At Periodontal Associates, our periodontists in Mississauga are dedicated to restoring your complete smile with dental implants. To do so, our first step is to confirm that dental implants are right for you.
During your consultation with us, our periodontists will provide a complete overview of the procedure and recovery. Then, we’ll assess your jawbone, tissues, gums, and overall oral health to make sure that you are a good candidate. Through this comprehensive consultation, we can ensure the success of your dental implant procedure—and the lifelong benefits of a restored smile.
Want to find out if dental implants are right for you? Book a consultation at Periodontal Associates in Mississauga today. Talk to our periodontists to learn more about how dental implants can help you.
