Are Full Dental Implants Safe & Right for You?

Posted On: April 20, 2023 by Dr. Fariba Kalantari

Did you know that over 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth? While there are several possible solutions for this problem, most dentists recommend dental implants. In this article, we’ll explore risk factors that may prevent you from having implants, implant safety, implant process, advantages over dentures, and benefits to your oral health and smile.

You should know that full dental implants are not right for everyone. Some people have health conditions that make it hard for their bodies to handle surgery or heal properly. Here are some examples of conditions or risk factors that may preclude you from getting dental implants:

• Oral cancer
• Smoking
• Pregnancy
• Active infection in your mouth or sinuses
• Nerve damage to your face, gums, or mouth
• Severe jawbone loss

Some of these conditions are temporary. However, even a serious risk factor like bone loss may not necessarily prevent you from having successful dental implants. Your dental implant specialist can help you identify your risk factors and decide whether dental implants are right for your needs.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

Yes, dental implants are extremely safe and enjoy a 98-percent success rate according to implant statistics. That’s because most dental implants are made of titanium. Titanium is lightweight, durable, strong, and uniquely biocompatible with the human body. Unlike other metals, titanium won’t corrode, cause inflammation, irritate your gums and jaws, or degrade over time.

You don’t even have to give titanium implants special care or maintenance. You can keep your implants in great shape for many years by following a sound oral hygiene plan. The same goes for the dental-grade porcelain and other materials dental implant specialists use to make implant crowns that sit atop the titanium posts.

By brushing and flossing daily and making routine dental visits, you can maintain the quality, appearance, and functionality of dental implants for decades.

Dentists have been crafting hypo-allergenic dental implants since 1965. Yet, many dental patients still know very little about dental implants. They still have concerns about the safety of implants and the implantation process.

Lost Teeth Lead to Jawbone Deterioration and Uneven Bite Pressure

When you lose teeth naturally or through intentional removal or trauma, your jawbone will deteriorate around the space left by the missing teeth. Your capillaries will shrivel up, cutting off blood flow and further weakening the surrounding bone.

This starts a domino effect that causes nearby teeth to weaken, which compounds and spreads the problem. Dental implants stimulate your jawbone to grow the same way as natural teeth. They significantly increase the odds of keeping your jaw, gums, and other teeth healthy.

Missing teeth also cause uneven bite pressure. When you are missing teeth, the adjacent teeth receive uneven, abnormal pressure when you bite or chew. They can break, shift, or deteriorate faster than normal. Dental implants distribute bite pressure properly around your mouth and protect your remaining teeth.

The Implantation Process

The dental implantation process is designed to guard your safety and deliver maximum convenience and comfort from start to finish.

Your dental implant specialist begins by performing a thorough dental exam that includes taking X-rays and panoramic 3D images of your mouth and teeth and asking about your medical history. Armed with this in-depth information, the dental implant specialist:

• Identifies risk factors that may make dental implants inappropriate for you
• Identifies extra precautions necessary to accommodate pre-existing conditions
• Develops a customized treatment plan for your personal needs

Certain patients with heart conditions may need antibiotics before having dental implantation surgery to reduce the likelihood of infection. Since the implant process is minimally invasive, most implant patients only need local anesthesia to numb their jaw. Some patients request full sedation or more extensive anesthesia due to fear or high pain sensitivity. The dental implantation team will monitor those patients throughout the process.

Implants Vs. Dentures: Long-Term Durability

When you care for them properly, dental implants can last for decades. They will not break, corrode, shift, or cause discomfort in your mouth. Not so with dentures. Dentures can irritate your gums, jaw, and other teeth. They can also increase opportunities for injury, infection, and the introduction of foreign matter into your gums or bloodstream.

You can’t wear dentures all day and night. You must remove them when you sleep. What’s more, your dentures will need a reline or replacement every so often as your shrinking jawbone leaves more space in your mouth and causes the dentures to loosen.

The bottom line: dental implants are much safer than dentures or living with missing teeth. Despite that, 90 percent of those who suffer from edentulism (missing teeth) have dentures. And over 36 million Americans do not have any teeth.

The consequences of missing teeth include diabetes, nutritional changes, obesity, coronary artery disease, and even some forms of cancer.

If dentures don’t work for you or you just plain hate wearing them, consider dental implants. Unlike dentures, dental implants are permanently anchored into the jawbone. The jawbone tissue grows around the implant and anchors it just like a real tooth. With dental implants, you also get a perfect fit that looks and feels as good or better than your original teeth. Unlike dentures, implants won’t impede your ability to speak and eat normally.

Full dental implants may be individual teeth or bridges that your dental implant specialist permanently anchors into your jaw. To qualify for dental implants, you’ll need healthy oral tissues and jawbone ridges that are in good shape. If you’re suffering from tooth loss, talk to your dental implant specialist about whether dental implants are right for you.

If you are missing teeth and have gaps in your smile, consider dental implants. When you’re ready to complete your smile in the best way possible, contact Famous Hollywood Dental Care by calling 323.461.4676 or our convenient online Make an Appointment form here.