Dental implants.
Two simple words, but when combined, they have the power to make even the most burly-man shudder. Why is that?
According to Dr. Quyen Su, a top female periodontist in Mississauga, it is the fear of the unknown. There is a perception that any invasive dental procedure will result in pain; however, the truth is, with the advancements in dental care, there are techniques your trained periodontist can, and will, take to limit discomfort and healing time.
The truth is that dental implants have very little recovery time and are the best treatment option to create strong teeth that look, and feel, natural. To help alleviate your concerns and answer your questions, we have compiled a list of most commonly asked questions. If you have additional questions, our Periodontal Associates
Our Periodontist Answers Your Dental Implant Questions
Q. Who can get dental implants?
A. Dental implants are meant for those who have one or more tooth missing. It is recommended for those in reasonably good health, with healthy gums and enough bone volume and density to hold the dental implant. If your periodontist finds that you do not have enough bone volume to successfully hold an implant, they may suggest a bone graft first. Your periodontist will do a thorough health history before proceeding with any treatment.
Q. Is a dental implant a tooth?
A. Dental implants are tiny titanium posts placed in the jawbone where the tooth (or teeth) is missing. The bone quickly bonds with the titanium implant creating a solid foundation to which the artificial teeth, typically crowns or bridges, are attached. They are designed to provide replacement teeth that look and act like natural teeth.
Q. Do dental implants last?
A. According to research, and from our experience with dental implants, there is an over 95% success rate; however, it is highly dependent upon a person’s overall health, oral care routine and lifestyle. Those who abuse their oral health with activities such as smoking, can expect less overall success. Most patients’ dental implants last a lifetime with good after-care.
Q. What are the possible side-effects post-surgery?
A.Patients rarely experience adverse reactions from their dental implants. In some rare cases, patients may experience infection around the implant site, which may require additional care. Generally speaking, patients recover quickly, but may experience general tenderness around the site and bruising or swelling of the gums as they heal. If there are any unexpected adverse reactions, you are to reach out to your periodontist immediately.
Q. Can I get dental implants if I have partial dentures?
A.The short answer is absolutely. The longer answer is that as partial dentures rely on adjacent teeth for support, dental implants create a strong base to which you can fasten your partial dentures. Another option, if supported by your Mississauga periodontist, is to replace partial dentures with dental implants.
Q. What if I choose NOT to get them done?
A.If you have been told that they are recommended to address your particular periodontal disease and you choose not to move forward, you do risk natural shrinking of your jaw bone, drifting of adjacent teeth, and the overgrowth of the tooth/ teeth opposite the missing tooth/ teeth. This can decrease the stability and health of your oral function. There are non-surgical treatment options that can be examined, but likely less effective.
While this may answer only a few of your questions, we hope this gives you some insight into dental implants. We invite you into our Periodontal Associates Mississauga practice for a more detailed conversation
Your comfort matters to us, so we invite you to visit our periodontal practice in Mississauga and speak with our team of experts in periodontal disease. As experts in periodontal treatments, specializing in dental implants, gum recession, crown lengthening, bone and gum grafting, the Chao pinhole surgical technique and more, we’d love to help you address your dental and smile concerns. Call us at 1-800-341-7471 or connect via email at [email protected]. Until then… keep smiling!
