If you have missing teeth, you are certainly not alone. In one or both jaws, about 30 million Americans are missing all of their teeth. This usually happens as a result of improper dental habits, such as avoiding brushing twice a day, forgetting to floss, or skipping bi-annual visits to a local dentist for deep cleaning. Consequently, you could develop periodontal disease, which leads to decay.
Luckily, cosmetic dentistry has been a viable option for these patients. Dentists usually replace missing or decayed teeth with veneers, dentures, or dental implants.
While dental implants have been touted for their 98% effectiveness, natural look, and longevity, there are some downsides that you should know about before you let a local dentist drill into your jawbone.
- Infection. Like any surgery, dental implants come with risks. When any part of your skin is exposed via surgery, there is always a chance of a bacterial infection. One of the more potentially serious ones is bacterial endocarditis, which may affect your heart valves. Be aware of these risks, and you should talk to your dentist about how to prevent any infection from developing.
- Persistent Pain. During a dental implant, sedation at the dentist office is common, as it will numb your jaw and other areas of your mouth during the surgery. While you may not feel the pain of the implants at first, your gums could wind up being sore for several months. Implants usually take a few months to heal, but could take even longer if your gums are inflamed, or in a lot of pain.
- Nerve Damage. Even though patients do their best to find a dentist that has sufficient experience, there is always a chance that a nerve can be damaged during the surgery. During the procedure, dentists drill a titanium rod into your jawbone that acts as an artificial root. The adjacent nerves could be affected by this insertion, and cause tinging, numbness, and or pain in the chin, jaw, or lips.
Of course, the biggest problem you will come across is the price of dental implants — they are usually around $4,000 per tooth.
But if they are your only option, they can be the best way to restore your smile. Just be sure to be fully aware of all the dangers. Read more blogs like this: www.alaskacenterfordentistry.com
