What are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a great alternative for natural teeth replacement. Strong and stable, they can restore a lost tooth and can look, feel, fit, and function like a natural tooth. If you are interested in improving your smile with dental implants in Temple, Texas, please call our office at (254) 778-6440 to schedule an appointment. Our caring, gentle team is excited to help you achieve your dream smile.
Who Does Dental Implants?
If you are interested in getting dental implants to replace missing teeth, your dentist can do them for you. The provider may administer antibiotics or nitrous oxide to ensure you are as comfortable as possible.
Typically, a local anesthetic is used around the area of placement to numb the area as well. Placement of dental implants typically takes between 30 minutes to an hour for one implant and a few hours for multiple implants.
Benefits of Dental Implants
- Dental implants are built to last.
- Implants provide a secure, comfortable fit that looks and feels natural without the slipping of dentures
- Implants protect your jawbone
- Dental implants allow you to maintain the natural shape of your face & smile
- Unlike removable dentures, dental implants do not need to be removed for maintenance
- You'll no longer feel self-conscious about missing teeth
Implants FAQs
Dental implants are absolutely worth the investment. They help restore your mouth to full function and aesthetic while providing long-term durability and stability.
After bone grafting, you may need to wait several months before getting your dental implants. The graft needs time to integrate and heal. In some instances, bone grafts and implants can be placed simultaneously. Your dentist will determine what is best for you.
While there are many benefits of dental implants, there are some potential downsides you need to consider, such as they require surgery; the process typically takes several months from start to finish; and there is a possibility that the implants may not fuse with your jawbone and could fail.
You shouldn't feel any pain when getting dental implants due to anesthesia. However, after treatment is complete, you may experience discomfort, soreness, and mild to moderate pain as you adjust to the implants. Pain can be alleviated with over-the-counter medication.
The number of dental implants you need depends on the number of teeth you're missing and whether you're receiving additional treatment, such as implant-supported dentures or bridges.