5 Signs You May Need Dental Implants

Have you lost one or more teeth? Do you struggle to eat your favorite foods? If so, you are not alone. In fact, more than 120 million people in the United States are missing at least one tooth. About 36 million Americans do not have any teeth at all.

Losing a tooth can make you feel bad about your smile. It can also make it hard to talk clearly and chew well. The good news is that there is a great way to fix this problem. It is called a dental implant.

At Smile Stop Dentures & Implants, we want to help you get your smile back. Dental implants are a very popular choice for many of our patients. They look, feel, and work just like your real teeth. But how do you know if they are right for you?

In this guide, we will talk about what dental implants are. We will also share five clear signs that you may be a good candidate for dental implants.

What Are Dental Implants?

Before we talk about the signs, let us explain what dental implants actually are. A dental implant is a strong, permanent replacement for a missing tooth root. It has three main parts.

First, there is the implant post. This is a small screw made of a strong metal called titanium. A dentist places this post into your jawbone. Because titanium is safe for your body, your bone will actually grow around the post. This process is called osseointegration . It makes the post very stable, just like a natural tooth root.

Second, there is the abutment. This is a small piece that connects to the top of the implant post. It sticks out just above your gum line.

Third, there is the crown. This is the part that looks like a real tooth. It is made to match the color and shape of your other teeth. The crown attaches to the abutment. Once it is in place, you have a complete, beautiful new tooth!

Dental implants are different from dentures and bridges. Dentures rest on top of your gums. They can sometimes slip or move around when you eat or talk. A bridge uses your other teeth for support. To place a bridge, a dentist has to grind down the healthy teeth next to the empty space. Dental implants do not need support from other teeth. They stand on their own. They are a permanent fix that stays in your mouth all the time.

Now that you know what they are, let us look at the five signs you might be a good candidate for dental implants.

Sign 1: You Have One or More Missing Teeth

The most obvious sign that you need a dental implant is that you are missing a tooth. People lose teeth for many reasons. Sometimes, a tooth gets a very bad cavity and cannot be saved. Other times, gum disease makes the tooth loose, and it falls out. Accidents and sports injuries can also knock teeth out.

No matter how you lost your tooth, leaving an empty space in your mouth is not a good idea. When you have a gap, your other teeth can start to shift and move. They will try to fill in the empty space. This can make your bite uneven. An uneven bite can lead to jaw pain and headaches. It can also make it harder to clean your teeth, which can cause more cavities and gum disease.

Dental implants are a perfect way to fill that gap. If you are missing just one tooth, you can get one implant and one crown. If you are missing several teeth in a row, you can get an implant-supported bridge. If you are missing all of your teeth, you can even get implant-supported dentures. This means the dentist uses a few implants to hold a full set of teeth securely in place.

If you have a gap in your smile, dental implants can make it complete again. You will not have to hide your smile anymore. You can feel proud to show off your teeth!

Sign 2: Your Jawbone Is Healthy and Strong

When you lose a tooth, something else happens that you cannot see. The bone in your jaw starts to shrink and melt away. This happens because your jawbone needs to be used to stay strong. When you chew your food, the roots of your teeth push on the bone. This pushing tells your body to keep the bone healthy. When the tooth is gone, the bone does not get that push anymore.

In the first year after you lose a tooth, your jawbone can lose up to 25 percent of its width. If you lose a lot of bone, your face can start to look sunken and older. Traditional dentures do not stop this bone loss. They just sit on top of the gums.

This is where dental implants are very special. Because the titanium post goes right into the bone, it acts like a real tooth root. When you chew with an implant, it pushes on the bone. This keeps your jawbone strong and healthy. It stops the bone from melting away.

To get a dental implant, you need to have enough bone to hold the post. Your dentist will take special 3D X-rays to look at your jawbone. These X-rays show how tall and wide your bone is. They also show where your nerves and blood vessels are.

If your jawbone is healthy and thick, you are a great candidate for dental implants. But what if you have already lost some bone? Do not worry! You might still be able to get implants. A dentist can do a procedure called a bone graft. This means they add new bone material to your jaw to make it stronger. Once the new bone heals, you can get your implant.

Sign 3: You Have Healthy Gums

Your gums are like the soil that holds a plant in place. For a plant to grow well, the soil must be healthy. For a dental implant to work well, your gums must be healthy, too.

Gum disease is a very common problem. It happens when sticky plaque builds up on your teeth and under your gums. The bacteria in the plaque make your gums red, swollen, and sore. If it gets bad, gum disease can destroy the bone that holds your teeth. In fact, gum disease is the main reason why adults lose their teeth.

If you have active gum disease, getting a dental implant is not safe. The bacteria can attack the bone around the new implant. This can cause the implant to fail and fall out. This problem is called peri-implantitis.

A good candidate for dental implants has pink, firm gums that do not bleed when they brush or floss. If you do have gum disease, you must get it treated first. Your dentist can clean deep under your gums to remove the plaque and bacteria. Once your gums are healthy again, you can move forward with getting your dental implants.

Keeping your gums healthy is also very important after you get your implants. You need to brush your teeth twice a day. You also need to floss every day. And you must visit your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings. If you take good care of your gums, your dental implants can last a lifetime!

Sign 4: You Are in Good Overall Health

Getting a dental implant requires minor surgery. Because of this, you need to be in good overall health. Your body needs to be able to heal well after the surgery.

When you visit Smile Stop Dentures & Implants for a consult, we will ask about your medical history. We need to know about any health problems you have. We also need to know what medicines you take.

Some health conditions can make it harder for your body to heal. For example, if you have diabetes that is not under control, your blood sugar levels can be very high. High blood sugar slows down healing and increases the chance of an infection. If you have diabetes, you can still get implants, but your doctor needs to help you get your blood sugar under control first.

Other conditions, like autoimmune diseases, can also affect how well you heal. If you take certain medicines, like steroids or drugs for osteoporosis, you need to tell your dentist. These medicines can affect your bones and how they heal.

Another very important factor is smoking. Smoking is very bad for dental implants. The chemicals in cigarette smoke reduce the blood flow to your gums and bone. This makes it much harder for your body to heal after surgery. Studies show that people who smoke have a much higher chance of their implants failing . If you smoke, you will need to stop for several weeks before and after your surgery. Quitting smoking is the best way to make sure your implants are a success.

If you are generally healthy, do not smoke, and do not have uncontrolled medical problems, you are likely a wonderful candidate for dental implants.

Sign 5: You Are Tired of Dealing With Dentures

Many people who lose their teeth get traditional dentures. Dentures can look nice, but they often come with problems. If you wear dentures and you are unhappy with them, dental implants might be the perfect solution for you.

Here are some common complaints people have about traditional dentures:

• They slip and move:

Dentures just rest on your gums. Even if they fit well at first, your jawbone will shrink over time. This makes the dentures become loose. When they are loose, they can slip when you talk, laugh, or eat. This can be very embarrassing.

• They make eating hard:

Because dentures can move, it is hard to eat tough or sticky foods. You might have to give up eating steak, apples, or corn on the cob.

• They are messy:

To keep loose dentures in place, you have to use messy glues and adhesives.

• They require special care:

You have to take your dentures out at night to clean them and let your gums rest.

If you are tired of these problems, you are a great candidate for dental implants! Dental implants stay firmly in place. They never slip or click. You can eat all of your favorite foods with confidence. You do not need any messy glues. And you care for them just like your natural teeth—by brushing and flossing.

You do not have to replace every single tooth with an implant. If you are missing all your teeth, you can get implant-supported dentures. The dentist places four to six implants in your jaw. Then, a full set of teeth snaps onto those implants. They stay locked in place until your dentist removes them. This gives you the stability of implants and the full smile of dentures!

The Dental Implant Process: What to Expect

If you have these five signs, you are probably wondering what happens next. The process of getting dental implants takes some time, but it is very worth it. Here are the basic steps you can expect at Smile Stop Dentures & Implants:

Step 1: The Consultation

The first step is to meet with our team. We will talk about your goals and look at your mouth. We will take special 3D X-rays to check your jawbone and plan your treatment. We will also review your health history to make sure surgery is safe for you.

Step 2: Preparatory Work (If Needed)

If you have a bad tooth that needs to come out, we will remove it. If you need a bone graft to make your jawbone stronger, we will do that next. You will need to heal from the bone graft before we can place the implant. This healing can take a few months.

Step 3: Placing the Implant

When your jaw is ready, we will do the implant surgery. We will numb your mouth so you do not feel any pain. Then, we will place the titanium post into your jawbone. The surgery is usually quick and straightforward.

Step 4: Healing and Osseointegration

This is the most important step! After the post is in place, you need to wait for your bone to grow around it. This process, called osseointegration, makes the implant very strong. It usually takes a few months. During this time, we can give you a temporary tooth so you do not have a gap in your smile.

Step 5: Placing the Abutment and Crown

Once your bone has healed tightly around the implant, you will come back to our office. We will attach the abutment to the top of the post. Then, we will place your custom-made crown on top. Your new tooth will look and feel amazing!

Why Choose Smile Stop Dentures & Implants?

Getting dental implants is a big decision. You want to make sure you choose a team you can trust. At Smile Stop Dentures & Implants, we have the skills and experience to give you the best care possible.

We know that every patient is different. We take the time to listen to your needs and answer all your questions. We use the latest technology, like 3D X-rays, to plan your treatment perfectly. Our goal is to make sure you are comfortable and happy every step of the way.

We also believe that everyone deserves a beautiful, healthy smile. We offer clear pricing and financing options to help make dental implants affordable for you.

Call today for a free consultation!

918-446-0128 (Tulsa)

918-331-2221 (Bartlesville)

TULSA OFFICE

Wes Thompson, DDS

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5676 W Skelly Drive, Suite A Tulsa, OK. 74107 (918) 446-0128

smilestopdentalsw@gmail.com

BARTLESVILLE OFFICE

John Lard, DDS

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1820 SE Washington Blvd Bartlesville, OK 74006

(918) 331-2221

apptsdent@gcdapc.com