Do You Need Dental Implants_ What You Need to Know

old woman on her laptop

An emergency dentist can use dental implants to replace any broken or missing teeth due to injury, disease, decay, or any congenital disability. Many people prefer them over traditional dentures because of their durability and lower failure rate. Moreover, titanium dental implants get stronger over time due to a process called osseointegration一the process by which titanium fuses to the jaw’s bone.

What Do Dental Implants Look Like?

When dentists do dental implant surgery, they replace your entire tooth, including the roots, with artificial materials. The dental implant itself replaces the tooth’s roots with screw-like posts. A dental crown—usually made from several types of materials, such as metal alloys, ceramics, or porcelain—will then go on top of the abutment and replace your damaged tooth. 

If done correctly, these implements will be just as strong, if not stronger, than your natural tooth structure. A dentist will also colour-match the dental crown to your other teeth so that they don’t look any different. 

Who Can Get Dental Implant Surgery?

Dentists will recommend dental implants if you have already lost the tooth or have one beyond saving via less-invasive methods, such as dental fillings or a simple dental crown installation. While they are typically more expensive than dentures, dental crowns, or bridges, they offer longer-lasting protection. 

Unfortunately, not everyone can get dental implants. To evaluate your condition, your dentist will order a computer tomography (CT) scan to review existing bone and its depth, along with the location of nerves. This helps dentists place dental implants with the least discomfort and eliminate any complications. 

When evaluating if you’re the right candidate for dental implants, your dentist will consider the following: 

- Jawline Bone Density

Your jawline needs to contain enough bone to hold the implants in place. If your jawline’s bone density is lacking because of previous dental work, infection, or other health conditions, your dentist may opt to add bone grafting material.  

- Gum Health

Your gums need to be free of infections before a dentist can perform the procedure. This is because dental implant surgery is an invasive procedure that can take at least three weeks to recover fully. With healthy gums, there will be less chance of an infection prolonging or hampering the healing process. 

- Presence of Chronic Disorders

People who have diabetes, heart disease or those who have undergone radiation therapy in the head or neck area may still get dental implants. However, these patients will need to get approval from their attending physicians to ensure that they are healthy enough to undergo dental implant surgery. 

- Oral Health Habits

People already committed to maintaining good oral health habits are good candidates for dental implant surgery.  As mentioned earlier, the invasive (though minimal) nature of dental implant surgery means that any presence of infection nearby will prolong recovery time. In extreme cases, infections due to poor oral hygiene can also result in bone loss, which often complicates the procedure. 

Conclusion

With a success rate of 95%, dental implants are the next best thing to your natural teeth and can even prevent bone loss by stimulating the bone and re-involving it in your bite. Provided that a patient maintains healthy oral habits and sees a dentist at least twice a year, dental implants can last longer than ten years—making it a long-lasting solution for your dental refurbishment.

There’s no need to suffer in silence, as 24/7 Emergency Dental Clinic caters to dental emergencies in Calgary and elsewhere in Alberta. Our practice includes various dental solutions, including dental implants, porcelain veneers, fixed bridges, and more. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!