Everything You Need To Know Before You Go For Dental Implants

Getting implants can be a real game-changer for a lot of people. Rather than wearing dentures or suffering through missing teeth, an implant can bring your oral health back to normal. The issue is that they are commonly misunderstood and can be expensive if it isn’t covered by your dental insurance.

It takes understanding what implants are all about and what to expect if you decide to get them. Although they can have a positive impact on the life of a person who gets them, they may not be the best option for some. In this article, we will go over what you need to know before you go to the doctor and get implants.

How long does it take to heal?

Besides the cost of the procedure, people want to know how long the healing process is before they sign up to have it done. The aftercare and how it impacts your ability to eat is something that is necessary to understand before you take it on.

According to Nolensville Dentist, the initial healing process is only a couple of days. What that means is how long it takes to get back to your normal eating routine without pain or discomfort. The entire healing process takes up to six months, however.

The implant is drilled into the jawbone with an anchor to keep it in place. For the anchor to properly fuse with the bone, it takes time. However, this process, called osseointegration, doesn’t impact your ability to eat and is going to go unnoticed.

The initial healing process is what is going to vary from person to person. Some people will be fine after a couple of days and others will report that it is difficult to eat for a couple of weeks afterward.

In fact, some people have intermittent bleeding for up to 48 hours after the initial surgery when the anchor is implanted.

How long do implants last?

Nothing is forever, so people rightly want to know if their implants are going to last for the rest of their life or just a few years. It could be a very expensive proposition if they need to be replaced frequently.

The key to remember is that there are two components to the implant. There is the anchor and the crown. The crown goes over the top of the anchor and is the tooth part of the implant. The crown is the part that gets the wear and tears from chewing, brushing, and other factors.

It generally will last from ten to fifteen years depending on your overall oral hygiene. When it needs to be replaced, you will only replace the crown. The anchor is permanent and will not need to be replaced.

Dentures vs implants

The most obvious difference between the two is the price. Most often, dentures are covered by insurance and cost very little out of pocket. However, they need to be fitted and can be uncomfortable.

Implants are not usually covered by insurance except in some cases so the cost out of pocket will be much higher. The other difference is that they act like normal teeth with no discomfort or problems with eating.