Damaged or missing teeth can leave you reluctant to share your smile. Restorative dentistry can replace them with dental implants. Implants provide the most natural-looking result and offer high long-term survival rates. They increase your quality of life and enhance your oral health.
Understanding what to expect from dental implants before and after can help you determine if they’re right for you.
The health of your mouth has a significant impact on your quality of life. It affects your general health, ability to eat and speak, and mental health.
Chewing on a bad tooth or where you have lost a tooth can cause extreme pain. Heat, cold, and hard bits of food irritate the nerves that are no longer protected.
Your tongue, teeth, and lips work together to make the sounds associated with speech, and missing teeth can interfere with that.
You may be ashamed of your teeth and reluctant to speak or smile in public. You may lose out on job opportunities because of your reluctance to talk, smile or laugh in professional settings.
There are some things patients can do to prepare for dental implants that increase the chances of success, including:
If you have any level of gum disease, you must treat the problem with scaling and root planing, or flap surgery, before getting dental implants. Periodontitis causes bone loss, which can impact the osseointegration process.
When you get your scans, your dentist determines whether you have sufficient bone density or thickness for a dental implant. If not, you may require a bone graft or sinus lift. Both procedures add to the width or depth of the bone to ensure the dental implant has adequate support.
Tobacco use interferes with the healing process. Whether you smoke or chew tobacco, your dentist may recommend quitting in advance of your surgery.
Start eating a nutrient-rich diet that supports healing. Include foods like dark leafy greens, eggs, salmon, cruciferous vegetables, berries, shellfish, sweet potatoes, and poultry.
The bulk of recovery comes after placing your dental implants, though there is also a short recovery after the abutments are attached.
You need to avoid anything crunchy or hard and avoid chewing where your dental implants are placed.
Most people can take over-the-counter pain medication to control post-op discomfort. Sleeping with your head elevated on a pillow helps reduce swelling.
Contact your dentist if the pain around your implants doesn’t stop or gets worse, you experience heavy bleeding, the swelling gets more extensive after the first day, you notice heat or redness, or your bite is uneven or uncomfortable.
A 2018 study that examined the quality of life for dental implants, before and after, found that dental implants drastically improved patients’ quality of life.
You will have more confidence in dealing with customers, coworkers, and bosses when you have a healthy smile.
Talking and laughing with friends and family won’t cause any embarrassment with a dental implant.
The dental implant procedure allows custom-made crowns to blend seamlessly with your existing teeth.
Dental implants prevent bone loss and can lead to better gum health than some other restorative dentistry options.
You don’t need to do anything special to care for your implants. Treat them like your natural teeth by brushing and flossing twice daily and using mouthwash once a day.
Eating and speaking are directly affected by damaged and missing teeth, but those functions come back with dental implants. There is no need to modify your diet so you can enjoy all the food you love.
If you’re ready to restore your smile, contact Townsend Family Dental & Implant Centre online or at (07) 5235 5879 to book an appointment today. Our caring, award-winning team is happy to answer any questions you have about dental implants or any of our other general, cosmetic, or restorative services.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
Comparing the Quality of Life of Patients Requesting Dental Implants Before and After Implant
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29114333/
Long term clinical performance of 10 871 dental implants with up to 22 years of follow-up: A cohort study in 4247 patients
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/cid.12994
Everything to Know About a Dental Implant Procedure
https://www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/dental-implant-procedure
Dental implant surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622
Dental implant procedure
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/dental-implant
The effect of smoking on bone healing
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3686151/
Tobacco smoking and surgical healing of oral tissues: a review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19075440/
10 of the Best Foods to Help You Heal
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/foods-that-help-you-heal#:~:text=%2010%20of%20the%20Best%20Foods%20to%20Help,should%20talk%20to%20your%20healthcare%20provider...%20More%20
