Getting dental implants is a permanent way to address missing teeth. Whether you are having a single dental implant or a full mouth restoration, you can look forward to a range of benefits that will improve your self-confidence, as well as your ability to eat with comfort. Choosing the right dentist is a fundamental component of a successful dental implant procedure. A dentist that offers consultation will evaluate your suitability for the surgery, manage your risk factors, and ensure that your tooth implant surgery is meticulously planned. This post will help you to prepare for your procedure, highlighting dental implant before and after facts so you can recover speedily.
Dental Implant Before And After: The Importance Of A Photo Gallery
As we’ve mentioned, finding a qualified and experienced dental practitioner is an important first step in a successful procedure. The dentist’s experience with dental implants always needs to be considered before you agree to treatment. For most patients, the most effective way to understand this is to ask to see photos of their before and after gallery.
If you have been missing teeth for a while, your self-confidence may have declined. You might not want to smile or put your mouth in front of your mouth to hide a gappy smile. When you go to a dental consultation near you, viewing the before and after photo gallery of the dentist in question will illustrate how much of a smile makeover you can expect from your procedure.
What To Know Before And After Dental Implants: The Benefits Of A Smile Makeover
In addition to boosting your self-confidence in your smile, getting a dental implant can transform your life in other ways:
Eat with comfort
Having loose or missing teeth makes biting and chewing food uncomfortable and painful. Once your dental implant has been placed, you won’t have to worry about dietary restrictions again. You can exert the same bite force on your dental implants as you can with your natural teeth.
Restore facial fullness and harmony
Not only are teeth vital for eating, but they are also responsible for giving your face volume and fullness. When you are missing teeth, your cheeks may appear sunken, or your lips may fold inwards. This can make you appear older than you are. By restoring your mouth to a full arch, you can enjoy volume in your face again.
The presence of tooth roots also stimulates your jaw bone. When teeth are missing, the absence of tooth roots causes bone loss in the jaw. This can affect your facial profile and harmony.
Stop other teeth from shifting
Having missing teeth also causes your remaining teeth to shift out of position. They do this to fill the gaps along your jaw. This causes them to loosen, and ultimately, more teeth may fall out. Getting a dental implant can anchor your remaining teeth in place and protect them.
Dental Implant Before And After: Facts To Know About The Procedure
Not everyone needs a bone graft
Bone grafting isn’t always required before dental implants, so you don’t have to worry about it. When you have your consultation, your dentist will do an x-ray to check the strength and thickness of your jaw. If a bone graft needs to be done, it could be performed as a separate procedure, or it could be done before the placement of the tooth implant.
Dental implants are placed in stages
A dental implant is made up of three separate components, and each component is placed in a different procedure. This gives your jaw and soft tissue a chance to heal. Each stage will be mapped and timed in your treatment plan.
Dental implants integrate with your jaw
After a dental implant has been placed, it takes a few months for it to integrate with your jawbone. During this stage, the jaw grows around it, so it isn’t a separate component anymore. This makes it permanent and long-lasting. Biocompatible titanium is used for tooth implants, which has a very high success rate.
Tooth implants are placed under anaesthetic
Lots of patients have concerns about implant pain but remember that you will be under local or general anaesthetic during your surgery.
Working with a skilled and experienced dentist means a well-planned procedure that you can heal from quickly. If you have concerns about pain, speak to your dentist about pain management options ahead of the surgery.
Your treatment plan is very important
An experienced dentist will prepare a detailed treatment plan that outlines each stage of your procedure and helps you to prepare mentally and physically. The treatment plan should include factors like
- Each procedure that will be done
- Timelines and dates for each procedure
- The types and sizes of the prosthesis to be used
- What you should do before and after your surgery to heal quickly
- The cost of your treatment
You have the responsibility of ensuring you attend all of your follow-up appointments so your dentist can make sure you are healing on schedule. You also have to ensure that you practice excellent oral hygiene throughout and beyond your treatment.
Dental Implant Before And After: What To Expect After Your Procedure
You may experience some tenderness for a few days
Your body does a remarkable job at healing after a dental implant procedure. And, the healthier you are before your surgery, the quicker you can expect to recover. Another reason it’s so important to find a skilled dental practitioner is that your personal risk factors must be well managed to promote healing.
When you get a consultation at your local dental clinic, you will be asked questions like
- What your smoking status is
- Whether you have any unmanaged health conditions
- What medications you are taking
You will also undergo an examination and have some x-rays taken so your dentist can make sure you are free of gum disease. All of these factors are predictors of a successful outcome.
You must follow your dentist’s post-surgical care instructions
Your dentist will give you specific instructions to care for your surgical sites, and it’s essential to follow these instructions exactly. You will be advised to avoid eating and drinking for a few hours after the surgery and to start eating very soft foods as your gums heal. You must rinse your mouth gently with a saline solution to keep it clean until your dentist tells you to start brushing again.
If you are prescribed any pain medication or anti-inflammatories, you must take them as directed. Use ice or a cold compress to minimise swelling and assist with pain management.
Don’t forget to rest. Even though the incisions are small, your body will heal and recover properly if you give it a chance to rest.
Once healed, you won’t have dietary restrictions
Dentures take some time to get used to. They can cause soreness and gum irritation when they are new. They might also move around a little when you speak or eat. You might need to restrict the types of food you eat too. And, once you have had them for some time, they could loosen and need a repair or reline.
Once your dental implants have integrated with your jaw, your gums have healed, and your permanent crown has been attached, you will be able to enjoy your food completely. You can bite and chew with the same bite force as your natural teeth. The dental implant will look, feel and function just like your natural teeth: to you and to other people.
Are Dental Implants Worth It?
It’s true that dental implants require a significant time and monetary investment at the outset, but once they have integrated, they require the same level of oral care and maintenance as your natural teeth. When the procedure has been well planned and executed, you can continue to enjoy your quality of life.
Tooth implants offer benefits that extend beyond just giving you a full set of visible teeth. They benefit your long-term dental health and allow you to live your life without dietary limitations.
While affordability is always an important consideration, finding a reputable and experienced professional is one of your most reliable indicators of long-term success.
Read the online reviews, book a few consultations and engage the professional to find out if this is the person you are comfortable trusting for the next 12 to 18 months. Ask to see pictures of implant restorations done before so you can picture yourself post-operatively.
Takeaway
You don’t have to book your procedure with the first dentist you consult. There’s nothing wrong with seeking a second (or third) opinion before you make your decision. Finding a dentist who has a warm chairside manner and a proven track record is essential for a successful outcome. Viewing before and after gallery photos will give you a good idea of the calibre of work you can expect
To book a convenient consultation near you, or to view our portfolio of dental implant before and after photos, please contact the friendly team at Oakleigh Smiles at (03) 9007 2258.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
References
Dental implant surgery
https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/dental-implant-surgery/about/pac-20384622
Dental Implants: What You Should Know
https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/dental-devices/dental-implants-what-you-should-know
