Everything You Need to Know About Dental Implants, from Candidacy and Recovery Time to Benefits

If you are missing one or several teeth, dental implants from Downtown Dental Services, Cleveland, Ohio, help patients restore their oral functionality and appearance. But before undergoing the dental implant treatment, you may want to know about the process, benefits, and recovery time. Read on to learn more about dental implants. However, if you need more clarification about dental implants, don’t hesitate to get in touch with Dr. Tony Lu.

What Are Dental Implants?

A dental implant is a titanium screw inserted in your jaw bone to replace your natural tooth root. Once installed in your jawbone, fusion happens over time to provide stability to the implant. An implant post doesn’t work on its own. It’s connected to a tooth prosthesis by an abutment attached to the implant and protrudes through the gums.

Who is a Perfect Candidate for Dental Implants?

Before embarking on dental treatment, our dental team takes dental X-rays and other examinations to have an all-rounded view of your oral structures. Prime candidates for implants should be free from gum disease and cavities. If you have these oral issues, we recommend treatment before implant surgery.

Furthermore, a dental implant’s success depends on the jawbone’s health. You should have sufficient bone to support an implant. However, we recommend bone grafting to rebuild your bone if you have bone loss.

Uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, smoking, or alcoholism can affect the outcome of dental implant treatment. You may still benefit from dental implants if you have any of these conditions, but our dental team will assess your situation and work with your doctor for personalized treatment.

The Dental Implant Recovery Process

Recovering from dental implant surgery varies from one patient to another. Once an implant has been inserted in your jawbone, you need about 3 to 6 months for healing and fusion. If you have undergone bone grafting, you need an additional three months to help the graft rebuild your jawbone.

Once osseointegration (fusion) has taken place, Dr. Lu performs minor surgery to install an abutment. You need about two weeks of healing before attaching a crown or other tooth prosthesis to the abutment. Once your gums have recovered from the abutment placement, we take your bite impressions to fabricate a natural-looking crown, denture, or bridge.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Has your smile lost its brilliance because of missing teeth? Do you feel like you would be more confident if you could fill the gaps? Dental implants are overwhelming favorites to replace your missing teeth. We recommend dental implants because they yield many benefits, including:

• They prevent bone deterioration
• They don’t alter the way you clean your teeth and gums
• They are natural-looking
• They last for life with proper care
• They don’t affect the stability or health of the nearby teeth
• They restore your oral functionality
• They restore your self-confidence and esteem

If you are looking for implant-based restorations in Cleveland, Ohio, you can trust the dental team at Downtown Dental Services. We offer comprehensive implantology services, from installing a single tooth implant to full mouth implants. Please dial (216) 616-1155 to get help right away.

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