Dental implants boast an impressive success rate of between 93 and 98%, depending on what study you’re looking at. Other research shows that they can last for 35 years or longer, although because this procedure is relatively new, there aren’t many long-term studies that can truly capture the complete lifespan possibility of implants. There are steps you can take both before and after restoring your smile with this cutting-edge technology to help increase the success of your new replacement teeth. Read on to learn about five of them!
Replace Missing Teeth Sooner Rather Than Later
Some people put off replacing missing teeth because they don’t quite have the budget for it, they’re mulling over their options, or they just aren’t worrying about it until later down the road. In any case, the best thing to do for your oral health is to replace missing teeth as soon as possible to minimize jawbone deterioration and prevent your surrounding teeth from drifting out of place to fill the gap in your smile. This could make getting dental implants harder, requiring costly and invasive preparatory procedure down the road.
Choose a Provider with Experience & Expertise
Make sure you choose a dentist who knows what they’re doing! You can ask them if they’ve had any specific training on dental implant procedures, whether they work with an oral surgeon who does, or how many cases they’ve completed. Knowing that they have experience and expertise can help put your mind at ease and provide you with the best results.
Quit Bad Habits Ahead of Time
Smoking and excessive alcohol drinking can put the health of your implants at risk because it can slow the healing and osseointegration (when the implants fuse with the jawbone) process down by preventing healthy blood flow through the mouth. Try quitting these habits before undergoing surgery to improve the chances of them successfully fusing with the jawbone.
Take Care of Any Lingering Oral Health Problems
Just like with any other restorative treatment, like dentures or bridges, it’s important to take care of any lingering oral health problems before you undergo treatment, like cavities and gum disease. This will decrease the chances of an infection developing that could compromise the health of your implants.
Maintain Good Oral Health After Restoring Your Smile
Last, but not least, it’s crucial that you maintain good oral health after you restore your smile with dental implants. Brush twice each day, floss daily, and don’t forget your bi-annual checkups and cleanings with your dentist. These will help keep your new pearly whites healthy, and if any problems do arise, allow your dentist to quickly address them before they compromise your entire smile.
With these five tips in mind, you can start working towards your restored, dream smile that won’t just last you several years like traditional restorations, but decades, and possibly even the rest of your life! This makes them well worth the investment of your time and money.
About the Author
Dr. Rafiq Hirji has over a decade of experience in the dental field and is dedicated to keeping up with the latest advancements by taking continuing education courses. He is certified in Level 2 sedation dentistry and offers a wide range of specialty treatments, including dental implants to replace missing teeth. To schedule a consultation and learn whether this modern solution for missing teeth is right for you, visit Daily Smiles MacArthur’s website or call 972-546-4114.