4 Questions To Ask Before Undergoing A Dental Implant Procedure
Would you like to get dental implants? If you have lost a few teeth over the years, your self-confidence may have plummeted. You might feel like people are always looking at your teeth when you talk and noticing the missing ones from your mouth. If it makes you feel uncomfortable and you would love to have a full, beautiful smile again, dental implants are likely a good choice. Before undergoing a dental implant procedure, you should talk to the dentist and ask a few important questions that will help you prepare for the procedure.
What Steps Are Involved in the Procedure?
If you are getting dental implants, you are going to need to make multiple trips to the dental office to complete this process. The first visit involves an examination of the gums and the jawbone. The dentist needs to make sure that you have enough bone before getting started with the procedure. If you can have the procedure performed based on the condition of your gums and the rest of your teeth, the dentist will then need to carefully make incisions in areas where the dental implants will be installed. Upon making those incisions, the dentist has direct access to the bone and will drill into it while placing a titanium rod beneath the gums. The purpose of the rod is to act as a root for the implant. The area needs time to heal. When it has healed, the dentist can take several impressions, have the crowns designed, and attach them to the gums.
Does It Take Long to Heal From Dental Implant Surgery?
The dental implant procedure is slightly invasive. Just like any surgery, it will take some time for you to heal from getting these dental implants. Although pain starts subsiding within a few days, it often takes up to six months for patients to completely heal from the procedure. You should regularly notice improvements as the weeks start to pass by.
Are There Any Food Limitations?
While there are no exact limitations or restrictions on what you can eat, patients are always advised to avoid sticky, hard, and crunchy foods for a few weeks after getting their dental implants. You do not want to cause any damage to the implants. You can keep the implants in great condition and avoid unnecessary discomfort by eating foods that are not rough, such as soup, gelatin, sandwiches on soft bread, pudding, and mashed potatoes. If there are other soft foods that you enjoy, you can eat them as well.
Will the Implants Cause Any Pain?
The dental implant procedure is not as painful as many people expect it to be. The dentist will numb areas of the mouth to keep you comfortable during the procedure. You might experience some discomfort immediately after getting your dental implants, but that discomfort should start to gradually get better within a few days. If you do feel any pain that is hard for you to manage, you should talk to the dentist about it. The dentist may recommend using over-the-counter pain medication to get quick relief.
If you would like to get dental implants, you should learn a bit more about the procedure and what the recovery process is like before you have it done. When meeting with the dentist, make sure to ask these essential questions to get more information on what it is like to go through the dental implant procedure. When you have all this information available, you can then decide if the procedure is right for you. When you have missing teeth and would love to feel confident again, a dental implant procedure can truly change your life.
To learn more about dental implants, contact a dentist.