Dental implants are replacement tooth roots that are used to provide a solid foundation for permanent or removable replacement teeth. Dental implants are made to look like your natural teeth and are often indistinguishable from real teeth, even when presented side by side.
What are the Advantages of Dental Implants?
Dental implants solve many dental problems and are implemented for several reasons including:
Improved Speech
Where temporary fixtures are often poor fitting and can slip causing speech problems, dental oral implants offer a permanent solution that stays fixed in place, preventing errors in speech.
Improved Appearance
Temporary solutions are often clearly distinguishable from regular teeth. This is where dental implants have a clear advantage, as it is difficult to tell the difference between them and regular teeth.
Improved Comfort
Oral implants look and feel like your real teeth. Comfort and aesthetics are key.
Improved Eating
Dental problems often result in it being more difficult for the individual to consume food.
Improved Health
Oral health is preserved in the fact that other teeth do not need to be altered in order to support the implant. This generally is a long-term improvement to oral health.
Durability
Dental implants have the capability of lasting a lifetime if they are cared for properly.
Convenience
Removable dentures require adhesives and the inconvenience of having to take them out once in a while. A permanent solution offers the convenience that dentures do not.
Success Rates of Oral Tooth Implants
Tooth implants have an overwhelmingly positive success rate. General statistics quote a success rate as high as 98%, with dentures lasting a lifetime with proper care. This is one of many reasons why patients not only consider dental implants to be a worthwhile consideration but also why they are most likely the only solution you will ever need for your dental problem.
Can Anyone Get Dental Implants?
In most cases, anyone healthy enough to undergo a routine extraction or oral surgery is qualified to receive dental implants. Your dentist will need to evaluate your unique health needs to make the most accurate determination, but in most cases, dental implants are not only a good solution, but the best option out of a multitude of options that may be more expensive and/or less successful.
Some additional considerations include your personal dedication to healthy oral hygiene, and whether or not you are a frequent smoker, suffer from uncontrolled chronic disorders, or if you’ve had certain kinds of radiation therapy. Depending on your individual circumstances, these considerations may be factors in whether or not dental implants are a potential solution for your concerns.
Are Dental Implants Covered by Insurance?
Generally, dental implants are not covered by insurance. However, you will need to consult with your dentist and insurance provider to determine if your unique situation may provide coverage. The cause of the tooth or teeth loss as well as the coverage you have will make a difference in whether or not you may be eligible.
Completing the Implant Process
The first step is developing a unique treatment plan based on your individual situation. Your dental team develops a clear picture of what you need for your unique situation.
Next, your dentist implants the tooth root. This titanium implant fits into the bone socket of the missing tooth. As the jawbone heals, it grows around the implanted metal post, permanently anchoring it in the jaw. The healing process generally takes 6 to 12 weeks.
Once the implant has securely bonded to the jawbone, an abutment, or small connector post, is attached to securely hold the new tooth. The dentist will make a new tooth or teeth based on a model of your bite that takes into account your teeth, including type and arrangement. The replacement tooth developed, called a crown, then attaches to the abutment.
Depending on the situation, some patients may have attachments placed on the implant that retain and support a removable denture. Only your dentist can advise you if this is the best solution for you.
How Painful are Dental Implants?
Very little discomfort is associated with dental implants procedure in most patients. Local anesthesia is used and most patients who have undergone a tooth extraction report less pain is involved. Following the procedure, mild soreness is usually treated by over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol or Motrin.
How Do You Care for Dental Implants?
Dental Implants are like regular teeth, and as such, cared for much the same. Keeping up on your oral hygiene with such basic habits as regular brushing and flossing is very important, but this is much the same as it should be whether you have dental implants or not.
Choosing a Dentist for Dental Implants Procedure
Choosing the right dentist is essential in undergoing dental implants procedure. While the success rate is generally high at 98%, this statistic assumes that you have done your due diligence in selecting a professional dentist with a strong reputation in successful oral surgery.
City Dental Centers is proud to offer oral implants to our patients in several Southern California locations. We pride ourselves on ensuring our patients receive the highest level of care and attention to their unique needs. Dental implants are a convenient, proven method of success for many individuals and we are happy to take into consideration your needs to determine whether or not it is the right solution for you.
Whatever your dental problem, we are happy to assist you in finding a solution. Contact City Dental Centers today!
Convenient Dentist Offices in Southern California
Doctor Sam Shahovesi and the team at City Dental Centers are here to provide our patients with the best dental services and dental surgeries for children and adults of all ages. From toddlers to seniors, City Dental Centers offers six convenient dentist offices in Southern California.
Need checkups? X-rays? Braces? Bonding? Whitening? Sealant? Root canals? Implants? City Dental Centers is here to make the process as easy and comfortable as possible.
Ready to experience the best dentists in Los Angeles? Choose one of the convenient dental offices we have surrounding LA. We have dental practices in Azusa, Corona, Lake Forest, Montclair, Pico Rivera, and West Covina. You can call our main line at (888) 624-8933 or reach out to an office directly with the information below. We’re so happy you’ve chosen City Dental Centers. We can’t wait to help you along your dental journey and brighten your beautiful smile!