Oral Healthcare: How to Get a Full and Beautiful Smile With Dental Implants

Do you have missing teeth? Are you interested in getting dental implants to improve your smile? Dental implants are a great way to restore your smile. Here’s everything you need to know about dental implants, including how they work, the benefits, and the cost.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are placed in your jawbone to hold replacement teeth. They are an alternative to bridges and dentures. They are made of titanium, which is a metal that is compatible with the human body.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
The first step is to have a consultation with your oral surgeon. During the consultation, your oral surgeon will examine your mouth, teeth, and gums to determine if you are a good candidate for dental implants. Once it is determined that you are a good candidate, your oral surgeon will take X-rays and 3D scans of your mouth.
Surgery
After the consultation, you will have the surgery to place the dental implants. The surgery usually takes place under local anesthesia, though you may be given sedation if you are nervous about the procedure. During the surgery, your oral surgeon will make incisions in your gum to expose your bone. Next, holes will be drilled into your bone where the implants will be placed. Once the implants are in place, your oral surgeon will close up the incisions with sutures.
Healing Time
You will need to wait for the dental implants to fuse with your bone, which can take several months. Once the fusing process is complete, you will return to your oral surgeon so they can attach an abutment (a connector piece) to the implant. Finally, a crown (artificial tooth) will be placed on top of the abutment.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- There are many benefits of dental implants, including:
- They look and feel like natural teeth
- They allow you to eat and speak without worry that your teeth might fall out
- They are long-lasting – with proper care, they can last a lifetime
- Their success rate is very high – over 95%
Cost of Dental Implants
The cost of dental implants varies depending on factors such as how many implants you need and whether or not you need a bone graft (a procedure where bone from another part of your body is transplanted into your jaw). According to healthline.com, “the average cost of a single implant in the United States is $2,000-$3,000.” However, they also note that “dental insurance typically doesn’t cover dental implants because they’re considered cosmetic surgery.” As always, it’s best to consult with your dentist or oral surgeon about payment options before proceeding with implant surgery.
Dental implants offer many benefits over other tooth replacement options such as bridges and dentures. They look and feel like natural teeth, they allow you to eat and speak without worry, they are long-lasting, and their success rate is very high. While dental insurance might not cover dental implants, many dentists or oral surgeons offer financing options. Consult with your dentist or oral surgeon about payment options before proceeding with implant surgery.