Gateway Family Dental Blog
What Do You Need To Know Before Getting Dental Implants?
Your teeth are an important part of your overall health and self-confidence. So what happens when you unexpectedly lose a tooth?
Whether you’ve chipped a tooth during an accident or gotten a tooth pulled due to a health condition, the experience can leave you feeling deflated. A missing tooth can make you self-conscious. It can also affect your self-esteem in your personal life and in the professional world.
If you’re searching for ways to replace one or more lost teeth to correct your smile, one option is getting dental implants.
Today, we’re discussing what dental implants are and what to expect if you choose to get an implant.
What Is A Dental Implant?
A dental implant
is a surgical component that actually fuses with the jaw or skull bone to create a support system for a crown, bridge or denture. It can also act as an orthodontic anchor or even secure a facial prosthesis.
Dental implants are a relatively new development in oral solutions. Unlike dentures, crowns and bridges, dental implants are essentially replacement tooth roots. They provide a strong, long-lasting foundation for replacement teeth that will look and feel more like natural teeth. Unlike dentures, crowns or bridges, they don’t need to be replaced every few years.
Dental Implants Require Time
The process of getting dental implants requires several steps.
First, you’ll need to choose a dental practice you can trust to perform your dental implant procedure. Schedule an appointment with your chosen dentist to discuss your options and have x-rays taken of your mouth and jaw.
These x-rays will give your dentist insight into your jaw and gum health. If your mouth and jaw tissues are healthy, you’re likely a good candidate for dental implants. Talk with your doctor to learn more about the health of your gums and mouth.
After x-rays, your dentist will take a dental impression.
A dental impression is a negative mold of your teeth that your dentist gets by having you bite down on a tray full of a semi-liquid substance that hardens to a mold.
This mold will help your dentist create a customized dental implant for your particular mouth and tooth size.
Once your impressions are finished, you may need to have a tooth extracted.
Your dentist will let you know how long to wait between the extraction and the implant process. Once you’ve healed from the extraction, you can move on to the process of getting your dental implant.
Talk with your dentist about pain levels, what to expect during the procedure and how to care for your dental implant and gums afterward.
Once your implant has healed, your dentist will have you come back in to have an abutment placed.
After the abutment is placed, you’re ready to have your permanent crown put on–and your smile restored!
Dental Implants With Gateway Family Dentistry
At Gateway Family Dentistry, we specialize in implants and crown work to help our patients get back their confidence and their comfort. After all, your teeth are a vital part of living. You use them to chew and eat, they impact how you talk and they can cause significant and debilitating pain if they’re infected or broken.
We’re proud to offer dental implant services to Middle Tennesseans and beyond.
Contact us today
to learn more or to schedule your appointment with our team!
Read More From Gateway Family Dentistry
At Gateway Family Dentistry, we know that halitosis can impact your confidence and how you feel day to day. Occasional bad breath happens to everyone, but if it sticks around, it could point to a more serious oral health problem. Studying what causes bad breath and how to treat it can help you keep your breath fresh and your smile healthy. Common Causes of Bad Breath Bad breath can have many causes, from everyday habits to dental problems. Figuring out what’s behind it is the first step to finding the right solution. Poor Oral Hygiene Not brushing and flossing well enough is a major cause of bad breath. When food stays in your mouth, bacteria can grow and create bad smells. Plaque that builds up on your teeth and gums can also make bad breath stick around. Dry Mouth Saliva helps clean your mouth by washing away food and bacteria. If you don’t have enough saliva, bacteria can grow faster and cause bad breath. Dry mouth can occur while you sleep, from certain medicines, or due to certain health conditions. Gum Disease Persistent halitosis may point to gum disease. Bacteria under the gums produce toxins and odors that cause halitosis. Treating gum problems early can help keep your mouth healthy and your breath fresh. Certain Foods and Beverages Foods such as garlic, onions, and strong spices can cause temporary bad breath. Coffee and alcohol can also contribute to drying out your mouth. These smells usually go away, but good oral care can help reduce them. Ongoing mouth odor can increase the risk of gum disease, which may contribute to chronic bad breath. Quitting tobacco use benefits not only your breath but also your overall health. How to Treat Bad Breath The good news is that most bad breath can get better with good oral care and healthy habits. Brush and Floss Daily Brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing daily removes plaque that causes bad smells. Don’t forget to brush your tongue, since bacteria often build up there. Maintaining water intake throughout the day helps maintain saliva secretion and washes away bacteria. Maintaining hydration is especially important for individuals who experience dry mouth. Schedule Regular Dental Checkups Routine dental checkups and cleanings help prevent bad breath. Dentists can get rid of bacterial buildup that brushing can’t reach and spot signs of gum disease or other problems that may be causing halitosis. Antibacterial mouthwashes can briefly reduce bacteria and freshen breath. However, antibacterial mouthwashes can help reduce bacteria and freshen your breath temporarily. But remember, they should be used in addition to regular brushing and flossing, not instead of them. If your oral hygiene is poor, it may be time to visit your dentist. Chronic halitosis can sometimes be linked to gum disease, tooth decay, dry mouth, or other medical concerns that require specialist assessment. At Gateway Family Dentistry, we’re here to help you keep your smile healthy and confident with preventive care and helpful advice. Seeing us regularly lets us catch problems early and give you tips that fit your long-term oral health needs. If you’re dealing with persistent bad breath or need a dental checkup, give our office a call to schedule an appointment. We’re here to help you get fresher breath and a healthier smile.
At Gateway Family Dentistry, we know maintaining a healthy smile involves more than brushing and flossing. The foods and drinks you consume daily play a major role in your oral health.
At Gateway Family Dentistry, we recognize the strong link between oral health and overall wellness. Gum disease is a common, often overlooked...