All you need to know about dental implants
Dental implants have been around for the past 25 years or so. Associated Dentists of Northwest Indiana and Merrillville dentist, Andy Koultourides, shares that they are of late becoming the preferred method for tooth replacement and are quickly replacing the common dentures. Dental implants offer more convenience and are low maintenance. Basically, a dental implant is a fake tooth. It is used to fill gaps from missing teeth and can function like real teeth. An implant is simply a small piece of titanium. The implant is attached into the jawbone and later fuses with the bone. the titanium metal holds a restoration/ replacement tooth in place and is joined to a small piece of metal called an “abutment” in the middle. The fusing process does not take very long and in 12 weeks. This way it becomes permanent and not removable like the common dentures.
Advantages of dental implants over dentures
Dentures are slowly being faded out and implants are being embraced. The main reason for this phenomena is that an implant is permanent (fuses with jawbone). It is a fake tooth that is fixed in place. Dentures are frequently removed and are cumbersome. People with dentures can also tell you that they can slip off while eating. Dental implants do not have that particular trait. Compared to dentures, dental implants are very comfortable. They look and feel like real teeth but do not fall off. In time, people even forget that they have a fake tooth in their mouth. That’s how comfortable they are!
How are they fixed?
A dentist will first check the tooth area and can perform x-ray scans to determine the depth and structure of your jaw. They will then put you on a chair and perform anesthesia on the affected area with numbing medicine. This is to prevent pain in the area during the procedure. The dentist/ oral surgeon will then bore a hole in your jaw where the implant will be fixed into place. This sounds painful but is less painful than a tooth removal. The abutment is fixed onto the implant and then the restoration tooth is fixed.
How long will they last?
Dental implants are very durable and you can have implants for many years without them degenerating or wearing out. In fact, with good dental hygiene, implants can last for a lifetime! Flossing, regular brushing and not biting into hard objects will not require a replacement of your dental implants.
Will my insurance cover dental implants?
Of late, insurance companies have started incorporating dental implants procedures into their dental plan packages. However, most will not cover dental implant procedures. You will most likely have to pay to get an implant but it is guaranteed to be worth your money due to its convenience. Insurance companies are also capable of covering you for a dental implant according to the cause of tooth loss I.e. work related injury, etc.
