You may have seen amazing dental implant transformations, but a picture can only tell so much of the story. What’s life really like after dental implants?
Duncan, a patient who got his dental implants 4 years ago shares the honest truth. From all the unexpected good parts to the reality of the bad part of dental implants.
If you’re wondering if this procedure will change your life (for good or worse!), you won’t want to miss his story.
*Actual NUVIA patient(s) who may have been compensated for sharing their story. Not all those who come in for a consultation are eligible for this treatment. Results may vary in individual cases.
What to Expect After Dental Implants: The First Few Weeks
The first few weeks after dental implants are an adjustment, but Duncan insists that your mouth figures it out quicker than you may think in.
“At first, I found myself biting my tongue or biting my cheek because all of a sudden, I had a full mouth of stand-up teeth. And I didn’t have that before.”
Your brain is used to working around missing or damaged teeth. When you all the sudden have a full, strong, properly aligned set of teeth again, your mouth needs time to adapt. Duncan said it took about two weeks before everything felt normal.
“Don’t overthink the adjustment. Your brain’s gonna tell your mouth not to bite your tongue anymore. Put it in the right place. It takes care of itself. Relax, breathe, get a hug. It’ll work.”
If you’re worried about speech, Duncan experienced a slight lisp at first. This was a big deal for him because a big part of his job is talking. This turned out to be a good thing for Duncan.
With all the practice he got speaking, his slight lisp was gone within 2 weeks. Your body is designed to adapt—just give it time after dental implants.
How is Eating Different?
This is one of the biggest concerns for people considering dental implants. Will it feel the same? Will I be able to eat whatever I want?
According to Duncan, the transition wasn’t difficult. Once the initial adjustment period passed, he didn’t even think about his teeth when eating.
“After four years, it feels like they’ve been in my mouth my entire life. I don’t have any memory of my old teeth because these are such a positive experience.”
He now enjoys every food he couldn’t eat before—including apples, steak, and corn on the cob.
“I’ve got pictures of me eating an apple, eating a pear, eating corn on the cob, and it’s like, oh my gosh. I hadn’t been able to do that forever.”
So if you’re worried about being limited in your food choices after dental implants, don’t be. After the healing period where you eat a soft-food diet, you’ll be able to eat anything you love—without the pain, loose dentures, or fear of breaking another tooth.
Taking Care of Your Teeth After Dental Implants
Another common question is about maintenance. How do you take care of your new, permanent teeth? Is it hard to keep them clean?
For Duncan, it was actually easier than before.
“The difference for me was, I seldom brushed my teeth before getting these because they were so crummy. It didn’t matter.”
With his old teeth, brushing was just a reminder of how bad things were. With his new smile, he actually enjoys taking care of his teeth—something he never experienced before.
“It’s so cool to open my mouth and go through that process. It’s a pure joy, something I had not experienced before.”
As for flossing? He uses a Waterpik to clean between his implants, and while it took a little getting used to, it’s now second nature.
“When I first got a Waterpik, I sprayed either the mirror in front of me or my face because as I was learning how. My hope for you is you're not as clumsy as I am. If you are, just put a big smile on your face and realize it's worth every lick of water on your face.”
Are Dental Implants Durable? What About Long-Term Wear?
Duncan’s experience getting permanent teeth right away is unique. The traditional approach typically involves patients wearing a temporary set of dentures for what could be up to 10+ months before getting their permanent teeth. However, at Nuvia, patients get their custom, permanent set of teeth in 24 hours.
If permanent teeth in 24 hours is possible, why are others still doing dental implants the way they were done 20 years ago? Nuvia stands apart because of the millions of dollars and decade of research put into the 24 hour process. With in-house labs at every Nuvia location and highly skilled technicians, not only can you get a fast new smile, you can trust that it’s a beautiful, high-quality one.
Whether you get your permanent teeth in 24 hours or after months of waiting, you want to know—will they actually last?
Not only is Duncan’s answer is YES, studies show that with proper care, dental implants are designed to last a lifetime.
“I think they’re going to last the rest of my life. Do I know that? No. But if something were to happen, my first call would be to Nuvia. And I know they’d say, ‘Come in, let us look at it.’”
He’s four years in and hasn’t had a single issue. He’s never experienced anything after dental implants to make him question whether his teeth will hold up.
The Team Approach
Not only was Duncan uniquely able to get his permanent teeth so fast, his experience at Nuvia was different from what a vast number of other providers can offer.
He had a team that consisted of an oral surgeon, a restorative dentist, and a CRNA. Why this approach? Nuvia values patient safety above all else. Rather than have one provider try to multi-task and juggle every role during dental implant surgery, Nuvia patients are kept comfortably and safely sleeping by a CRNA while an oral & maxillofacial surgeon performs the procedure.
Oral & maxillofacial surgeons are expertly trained as they complete an additional 4-6 years of residency after dental school. Who would you rather trust your smile with? A doctor with 8-10 years of experience in dentistry and surgery or a general dentist who took a weekend class on how to place dental implants?
The Cost of Dental Implants: Was It Worth It?
Duncan doesn’t sugarcoat it—yes, dental implants are an investment. But when he looked at alternatives, the decision was clear.
Before Nuvia, he was told he’d need a year and a half of dental work just to patch things up. He’d already had 15 root canals, and he knew more were coming.
“What I realized when I looked at Nuvia was I wasn't going to have to go back over and over and fix another tooth right next to the last one they fixed. I was going in to fix everything in my mouth. And to me, that was priceless.”
He also loved that the price never changed, there were no hidden fees, and what he was told was what the cost was: total transparency. Unlike traditional dental work, where costs keep adding up with every visit, his investment at Nuvia was one and done.
Find out for yourself what a new smile could cost with the dental implant cost guide.
Final Thoughts: Would Duncan Do It Again?
Duncan’s story shows what life is really like after dental implants—from the initial adjustment to four years down the road. And if you’re on the fence, he has one last piece of advice for you:
“Do whatever it takes to allow yourself to get yourself in the position that you can embrace the joy, that Nuvia gives you in teeth like this.”
4 years later, Duncan is still sharing about how his new smile has changed his life. The real question isn’t “Are dental implants worth it?”
The question is “Can you afford to live another year without them?”
If you’re ready to stop hiding your smile, struggling to eat, or spending thousands just to patch up failing teeth, it’s time to take the next step.
See if you may be a candidate for full mouth dental implants with the 60-second quiz below.
P.S: Want to know more about something Duncan didn’t touch on? Other patients have shared their stories after dental implants below. Or, you can search on the blog for anything and everything related to dental implants.
- Pros and cons of full mouth dental implants (Leslie’s story)
- How dental implants changed changed their marriage (Eric’s story)
- Disadvantages of dental implants
- Side effects of dental implants
- Frequently asked questions about the dental implant process
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