If you have a missing tooth, or several missing teeth, have you thought about how you are going to replace them? One of the first things a patient should consider when they receive an extraction or knock out a tooth is how they should replace it. If you don’t replace your missing tooth, you might suffer a few consequences. Before you write off dental implants as your tooth replacement option, take a look at what you need to know about dental implants in Walnut Creek from your trusted dentist at Pope Dental.
What are Dental Implants?
What exactly are dental implants? Dental implants are surgically inserted posts that are meant to replace the roots of your extracted tooth. The bone mass in your jaw begins to grow around the dental implants as soon as they are inserted. As a result, they are held in place, allowing the perfect anchor to attach a dental crown, bridge or even dentures too. This gives you a strong anchor to keep your restoration in place allowing the most comfortable for eating, smiling and feeling confident in your smile. Dental implants will give you the most natural feeling for your tooth replacement and provide an abundance of benefits.
What are the Benefits of Dental Implants?
When it comes to replacing your missing teeth, no restorative procedure will provide you with as many benefits as dental implants. Dental implants offer an upper hand on a number of different things. For example, if you choose not to replace your missing teeth at all, this can result in your adjacent teeth moving into the empty spot. As a result, your teeth can become crooked. In addition, the bone mass in your jaw will begin to disappear if you opt for no restoration, a dental bridge or dentures. With dental implants, you will be able to maintain the bone mass in your jaw, resulting in a more youthful appearance and a higher likelihood that your other teeth will stay in place.
The last benefit of dental implants is the comfort and security of having your restorations locked in place. This means you can chew, speak and brush your teeth in a natural way. You never have to worry about your restoration falling out at the wrong time when you opt for dental implants in Walnut Creek.
Who is a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
Unfortunately, not every patient at Pope Dental is a good candidate for dental implants. First, we require that patients have enough bone mass in their jaw to perform the surgery. We check this by taking a CT scan of your mouth. If we find there is not enough bone mass, you can always choose to have a bone graft in your mouth. Next, we require patients to be free of gum disease. Gum disease can affect the success rate of dental implants. You must have your gum disease treated and resolved before you can receive dental implants.
In addition, patients who have certain medical conditions or diseases that will affect the healing process will not be able to have dental implants. Good candidates for dental implants must also be willing to take proper care of their dental hygiene. This means following their surgery, they don’t ignore their dental hygiene and let plaque and tartar build up. If they let their dental hygiene go, it’s possible that the dental implants fail.
To find out if you are a good candidate for dental implants, set up a consultation with our Walnut Creek dentist. He will give you an exam and perform the necessary tests to find out if dental implants are right for you.
Dental Implants Surgery in Walnut Creek
If you find out that you are a candidate for dental implants, our Walnut Creek dentist will schedule a dental implants surgery with you. Before the surgery, you will require a CT scan so that we can plan where to place your implants for best results. On your surgery day, you can ask for sedation dentistry to feel more comfortable. Once you’re ready, we will numb up your mouth and then drill the dental implant into your gums. For the next few months, you will wear a temporary restoration while your gums heal. It may take anywhere from 3 to 6 months for your gums to be completely healed. From there, we will attach your permanent restoration to the abutment that is attached to the dental implant. It cannot be removed without a dentist.
Dental Implants Recovery
The recovery process for dental implants surgery is quite lengthy so it’s good to know ahead of time what to expect. In the first hour after surgery, you will have gauze covering the surgical area. It’s important to keep them in place to control the bleeding. They can be removed after an hour to be replaced with new gauze for another 30 minutes. If your bleeding persists, continue applying new gauze to the surgical site. Make sure you do not smoke or disturb the surgical site in any way while it heals. We recommend rinsing the mouth with salt water 2 to 3 times a day 24 hours after your surgery time. Make sure you take it easy and do not partake in any strenuous activities. Avoid exercise for the first 3-4 days following your surgery.
It’s normal to experience pain and swelling following your surgery. We will provide you with some prescription pain medicine to help with the pain for the first few days. Following that, you should be able to relieve your pain with over the counter pain meds. Applying ice to the side of your face can help with the swelling. During the healing process, stick with soft or liquid foods. When chewing, avoid the side of your mouth with the dental implant. If you feel like you’re not healing well or your pain is especially bad, talk to your dentist.
Schedule a Consultation for Dental Implants in Walnut Creek Today
If you think dental implants might be a good solution for you, get in touch with our Walnut Creek dental implants dentist at Pope Dental today to schedule a consultation. Fill out our online form or give us a call and we will help you as well as we can!
