Have you suffered from tooth loss? Missing one or more teeth can make it difficult to perform daily tasks, like eating, speaking, and smiling. Fortunately, just because you have suffered from tooth loss doesn’t mean that you need to spend the rest of your days with unsightly gaps in your smile. Dental implants are a preferred tooth replacement option due to their numerous benefits, but what exactly will they feel like? Continue reading to learn what you can expect.
How Do Dental Implants Work?
Dental implants are generally made from titanium, and they look like tiny screws. During your placement procedure, your dentist will place them directly into your jawbone. Over the next couple of months, the implants will fuse to your bone in a process known as “osseointegration.” Permanent dental crowns will be placed on the end of each of your new implants. They are customized to be the exact size, shape, and color needed to blend in with the rest of your smile. Ultimately, they will appear just like your natural teeth do.
How Do Dental Implants Feel After the Procedure?
Once your dental implants are placed, you are likely to experience some swelling and soreness for a few days, but you won’t actually be able to feel the implant in your jawbone. Fortunately, any discomfort that you feel after the surgery can be controlled using recommended over-the-counter and/or prescribed pain relievers as directed by your dentist. Generally, peak discomfort happens 3-5 days before beginning to subside.
How Will Your Dental Implants Feel After Osseointegration?
Once your dental implants have completely fused to your jawbone, they will feel just like how natural teeth would. The bone will become a stable foundation for the replacement teeth. You may even forget that they are any different from the rest of your teeth.
Other tooth replacement options, like dentures, don’t provide the same comfort or stability. Typically, they need to be relined, repaired, or replaced periodically. Once of the greatest benefits of dental implants is the fact that they allow patients to regain up to 90% of their natural bite force. If you have struggled to eat certain foods in the past due to tooth loss, this will no longer be nearly as apparent.
With so many benefits, it’s no wonder why 3 million people are already benefiting from dental implants. Talk to your dentist to find out whether or not they are the ideal tooth replacement solution for you!
About the Author
Dr. Moftah El-Ghadi is an experienced prosthodontist who has been serving the New Bedford community for well over two decades. He earned his dental doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania before pursuing his General Practice Residency at Harvard School of Dental Medicine. He completed his Prosthodontics certificate at Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and has been a Board-Certified Prosthodontist for over a decade. Currently, Dr. El-Ghadi is a proud member of the American College of Prosthodontists, Academy of Osseointegration, and Massachusetts Dental Society. For more information on dental implants or to schedule a consultation, visit his website or call (508) 996-6777.