Are Dental Implants Safe For Me?
Are Dental Implants Safe For Me?
Dental implant pain is probably one of the first things you’ll be aware of once the effects of your anaesthetic have worn off, and your mouth is no longer feeling numb. It’s only natural for there to be a dull ache where the implant is sitting and for it to feel tender and sore around the implant site.
The dental implant process involves cutting your gums and drilling a hole into your jaw bone into which a small titanium rod is screwed into place. Sounds scary, but thanks to anaesthetic and conscious sedation techniques, trust us when we say that most patients feel NO PAIN whatsoever during surgery. In the main, dental implant pain after surgery is more common.
That said, post op surgery pain can usually be managed with over the counter medications such as ibuprofen and usually subsides in a few days. But what if you’re experiencing a new type of pain several weeks, months or even years later .
- Timescale: the tooth implant procedure isn’t a quick process and involves multiple steps including a 2-4 month healing time. This allows for the bone to fuse with the implant. If you’re seeking a quick fix solution, then you may also want to consider other options.
- Good health: The most successful outcomes for dental implants typically occur in patients that have good overall health. That’s not to say that health issues will rule out your chances of getting implants, but certain medical conditions such as diabetes and lifestyle choices such as smoking, are known to impact the all-important bone fusion process, putting your implants at risk.
- Commitment : Another key to successful dental implants is your level of commitment. Dental implant surgery recovery is a vital stage of the implant procedure. Therefore it’s vital that you follow any after care instructions that have been given as well as complete any courses of antibiotics. Failure to do so could mean that the implant site is subject to infection which in turn could cause the implant to fail.
- Additional dental work: Every implant case is different and it may be that you don’t have sufficient bone to support implants. This being the case your dentist may suggest preliminary dental work such as a bone graft. Alternatively your sinus cavity may also have to be lifted especially if its enlarged and encroaching into the area which needs a bone graft. Both will add more time and expense to the process.
- They don’t come cheap: While cost should never be the only consideration, teeth implants cost is often stumbling block for many since you can expect to pay from between $2850 to $7000 for a single implant with a crown. While some dental insurances will cover implants, many won’t. Therefore, initial outlay is something you need to be aware of. Fortunately most dental clinics offer a variety of payment plans to help you spread the cost.
