Missing or failing teeth can make life difficult in many ways. Dental pain, not being able to eat, and social worries are just the tip of the iceberg.
Full mouth dental implants are a permanent solution to missing and failing teeth that may be just what you need to put these struggles in the past. However, not all dental implants are created equal.
Don’t make the mistake of getting dental implants without knowing these 5 things!
#1 Dental Implants Need Good Bone!
If you’re ready to get a brand new smile, you’ll need enough good bone in your jaw for the dental implants to be placed in.
Dental Implants have threads just like a screw. They are installed very similarly to how a drill would fasten a screw into a wall or a piece of wood.
As with any screw, it is important that it is being positioned into something solid to allow for maximum strength. The same applies for dental implants.
When teeth start to go missing, the bone in the jaw will begin to deteriorate. It is important to replace the roots of your teeth with something else such as dental implants before you lose too much bone and can no longer get a permanent solution.
Bone loss can wreak all kinds of havoc in the mouth. And, if left for too long, it can deteriorate so much that the bone becomes similar in comparison to rotted wood; this is not a safe structure for dental implants to be placed into.
HEADS UP! Temporary solutions like dentures and dental flippers do not help prevent against bone loss. If you want to live without the drawbacks of dentures, don’t put your bone health at risk by waiting too long with a temporary solution.
Worried about bone loss? Take the 60-second quiz to see if you may be a candidate for dental implants
#2 Dental Implants are Made From Titanium
Titanium is one of Earth’s natural gems. It is a relatively common metal and is lightweight in comparison to other metals, not to mention a very strong and durable material.
This is what dental implants are made of.
Titanium has been found to work very well within the human body and is used for a lot of different medical procedures or even to hold bone together. You name it, shoulder, hip, knee, back, and even ear implants are made from titanium.
Titanium implants are coated with a special substance called Hydroxyapatite (Hi-drox-ee-app-eh-tight. This helps the body to accept the implant and can reduce the risk of the implant being rejected.
.jpeg)
#3 Dental Implants Need to Be Cleaned and Maintained
Just like natural teeth, dental implants and the fake teeth attached to them need to be taken care of.
The mouth has a lot of bacteria and is an environment that supports the growth of bacteria.
While some bacteria in the mouth isn’t harmful, plenty of it is. Without proper care, bacteria in the mouth can grow into plaque, irritate the gums, and result in gingivitis or worse… periodontal disease.
The good news is that caring for your dental implants by flossing between implants and brushing along the gum line offers great protection against gum disease.
Flossing between dental implants is a slightly different experience than flossing between natural teeth. For more details on how to use a waterpik or superfloss, read here about flossing dental implants.
#4 Your Treatment Will Be Custom to Your Situation
Single dental implants and full mouth dental implants are two different ball games. Typically single dental implants are used to replace one or two teeth while full mouth dental implants are used to replace 5 or more teeth.
But even in a full mouth dental implant procedure, there are also a lot of different factors that determine what kind of approach to take.
As mentioned previously, depending on the damage caused from bone loss, different approaches may be needed for full mouth dental implants.
If there is enough bone lost in the upper jaw, a traditional approach to dental implants may not be an option.
Luckily, there’s still hope for the brand new smile you want! A sinus lift or zygomatic dental implants are a couple options for people with limited healthy bone.
Sinus lifts are as they sound. Bone is placed in the sinus cavities in order to reinforce the upper jaw bone. The downside to this is that after the bone has been grafted, the area will need to heal for 6-12 months before a dental implant can be safely placed.
For some patients who do not want to wait 6-12 months or are not a candidate for a sinus lift, zygomatic implants could be an option.
Zygomatic implants go into the bone in the cheek, called the zygomatic bone (your cheekbone).
Zygomatic dental implants can allow someone with severe bone loss to be able to have dental implants placed in their upper jaw.
Curious what your custom treatment plan might cost? Read about factors that impact the cost of dental implants, available financing options, and answers to common cost questions with the dental implant cost guide.
Download the Dental Implant Cost Guide Here
#5 “Teeth-in-a-Day” Isn’t What It Sounds Like…
Now this is a HUGE factor when it comes to getting dental implants!
You’ve likely heard of dental implant treatments referred to as “teeth-in-a-day”.
Although this process sounds like you’re able to get your new smile in one day, what it actually means is that you’ll get temporary teeth the same day that your dental implants are placed.
It may still take up to 10+ months for you to get your permanent teeth with this method. That means months of wearing an uncomfortable bulky set of temporary, acrylic teeth that could chip, break, or need repairs.
Surely there has got to be a better way of doing this! Are temps the only option out there?
Well, to answer that question, we decided to give you a BONUS TIP
#6 (BONUS TIP) You Can Get New Permanent Teeth in 24 Hours
You just read about “teeth in a day” and the uncomfortable temps patients are forced into the same day the dental implants were placed..
Well… we have some good news! You can actually get your permanent teeth 24 hours after your dental implant procedure.
Although permanent teeth in 24 hours sounds similar to “teeth-in-a-day”, they couldn’t be more different.
Rather than getting a potentially uncomfortable, temporary denture immediately after your implants are placed, you’ll return 24 hours after your dental implant procedure to get your final, permanent teeth.
It’s as simple as that. 24 hours until your permanent teeth.
See if you may be a candidate for permanent teeth in 24 hours with this 60-second quiz.
…And welcome to The Nuvia Family!!
