Dental Implants are not a new development in the dental field. They have actually been around since the mid 1960’s. Here are a few interesting things you might want to know about dental implants:
- You won’t set off metal detectors! There is no need to worry about any of the elements placed in your mouth during your dental implant procedure. All the materials that are used are completely safe. Most dental implants are made of titanium, which is a strong metal and will hold up well in your mouth for years, or possibly your entire lifetime.
- The sutures that are used typically do not have to be removed. They are dissolvable and should dissolve in a few weeks. You won’t have to schedule a separate appointment to have them taken out!
- Bones and gums can be rebuilt for dental implants. The dental implant fuses to your jawbone through a process called Osseointegration. This process was first discovered in the 1950s. The titanium material that is used has the remarkable quality of being able to fuse with the bone in which it is anchored.
- Healing time varies drastically. Some dental implants require minimal healing time. Patients are able to return to work, school or their daily activities within days of their surgery. Others might have a 3-6 month recovery. This variance depends on how much pre-work was done before your surgery. If you needed to have bone grafts then you might have a longer recovery as opposed to someone that didn’t have to undergo this procedure.
- Age is not a factor for having dental implants. Dental implants are not limited to just the elderly people. Even younger people can opt for this dental procedure once growth is complete.
Dental implants are the most successful procedure for replacing a missing tooth. And, the best part is that with proper care, they can last for a lifetime, just like your natural teeth.
