Without proper dental care, your teeth can develop serious tooth problems. Such problems may lead to severe damage to your dental health. Fortunately, in case you find yourself in such trouble, you can turn to dental implants. Dental implants are one of today’s most effective solutions to damaged teeth.

But what should you know about dental implants? Read through to learn more. 

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are small titanium or titanium-alloy screws medically inserted into the jawbone. The implants are inserted through surgery and hold an artificial dental crown to position. Therefore, it enhances the appearance and restores your ability to chew.

The concept was introduced about 50 years ago and has grown in popularity. Currently, about 6% of the United States population have dental implants. Medical analysts project the numbers will grow to about 26% in the next five years.

Things to Consider Before Choosing Dental Implants

Consider the following factors before opting for dental implants. 

  • Your overall health. Before opting for dental implants, ensure your body health can support the procedure. Find out how long you’ll heal after the process and how long the implants may stay. 
  • Brand and model. There are different dental implant brands and models. Therefore, ask your dentist which brand or model is best for you before proceeding. 
  • Healing process. Typically, it takes several months after the dental implant surgery to heal. During this time, you’ll have a temporary abutment. However, the healing process may take longer if you smoke or don’t observe recommended dental care. 
  • Smoking. Smokers usually have trouble with dental implants. If you undergo a dental implant procedure and continue smoking, you may take longer to heal, and the long-term effectiveness of the implants may reduce. 

To learn more about dental implant surgery, visit https://3dsmilesolutions.com/services/implants/. 

How Dental Implant Surgery Works

Dental implant surgery is a process that generally follows the procedure below. 

  1. Dental exam. The dentist examines your teeth to ascertain if you are a dental implant candidate. X-rays and CT scans are vital here. 
  2. Tooth/teeth extraction. After the dentist identifies damaged or unhealthy teeth, they then remove them.  
  3. Bone graft. With reference to the X-ray and CT scans, the dentist may need to do a bone graft. This process is done for patients with insufficient bone to support the implant. 
  4. Insertion of the implant. The dentist drills into the jawbone and inserts the implant. This process should be done after you heal from the bone graft procedure. However, the two processes can take place simultaneously if the bone graft is minor. 
  5. Addition of abutment. Enough bone grows after about three months. At this point, the dentist adds an abutment to the implant section meant to hold the crown in place. Also, all edges around the gum area should be closed. Wait for about six weeks for the gum to heal. 
  6. Crown insertion. The last step is inserting the crown. The dentist should customize it to match your teeth color, shape, and size.  

Cost of Implants

Dental implants cost approximately $3,000 to $4,500 for each tooth, from start to finish. Therefore, implants for the entire mouth may range from $60,000 to $90,000.

The reason why price ranges widely is due to the underlying conditions of one’s dental health. Additional procedures such as sinus lifts or bone grafts add to the initial cost, making the procedure cost much more.