Dental Implant FAQ
Vancouver, WA
 Dental implants are one option for dental restoration after you have lost one or multiple teeth. They can be used for a variety of purposes. Many dental health professionals recommend dental implants for restoration, but people may not always know a lot of information about them.
At Alder Dental, we can tell you everything you need to know about dental implants. This includes what makes a person a good candidate, information about the lifespan and success rate of dental implants, and what you can use dental implants for.
Who Can Get Dental Implants?
Dental implants are a great tool for many of our patients, but there are some qualifications that you need to meet in order to receive them. First, we recommend not using dental implants for pediatric patients, since their bone structure is still developing.
Generally, this means waiting until patients are at least 16 to 18 years old. Second, you should be in good overall and oral health prior to surgery. We must ensure that your immune system can handle surgery in general. We must also ensure that your jawbone and gums are healthy enough to provide support for dental implants. This also means that any diseases, such as periodontitis, must be treated first. We may also discuss dental implants vs mini implants.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants are made of titanium, one of the strongest metals. As such, they are not nearly as susceptible to breakdown as natural tooth roots are. As long as you take care of your oral hygiene, since gum health can affect the implants, you should expect to get at least 10 to 15 years out of your dental implants. Dental implants have been known to last up to 25 years.
You can take care of them simply by taking proper care of your teeth and gums. This includes brushing two times a day and flossing at least once every day, although after every meal and snack is preferable.
Are Dental Implants Successful?
Dental implants have an incredibly high success rate – between 90 and 95 percent. In the rare cases that the implant is not a success, you would notice certain symptoms. Some of these include difficulty chewing, gum swelling or recession, your dental restoration feeling loose, or severe pain and discomfort. Luckily, dental implants are easily removed under local anesthetic.
We can also provide a bone graft should you have experienced any loss because of the implant failure. Once this is cleared up, we can talk about other dental restoration options.
What are Alternatives to Dental Implants?
If we are unable to provide you with dental implants, we can discuss other restoration options with you. For example, some of these include crowns, partial dentures (also called dental bridges), and complete dentures. These are the same structures that we attach to dental implants, but they can also be cemented to the adjacent teeth. These still look and feel natural, so you would be able to use them normally.
For more information on what makes a good candidate for dental implants, call Alder Dental at (360) 831-0831. |
