8 tips to keep in mind before getting a dental implant

Getting a dental implant is faster, less uncomfortable and much more necessary than many people think. It is not only a question of esthetics. That’s why I’m going to explain everything you have to take into account before getting a dental implant. So that you do it well, with guarantees and almost without knowing it, because dentistry has advanced a lot and now enjoy a perfect smile is much easier than you think.

1

Why is it so important to have a dental implant?

If you are thinking about aesthetics you are right, but there are two even more important reasons:

The absence of a tooth causes the rest of the teeth to move. This has a great aesthetic implication and later you will need braces to correct it. But above all, it increases the risk of caries since the correct union between the teeth is lost and it favors the accumulation of plaque in the spaces that are created.

Chewing becomes less efficient, forcing the stomach to work harder and harder, with all the implications for digestive health.

In other words, the absence of a single dental piece has consequences far beyond the pure aesthetics of the moment, it has health consequences.

2

How do I know if I can have a dental implant?

A priori, everyone can have a dental implant, but first a series of elements must be taken into account and studied.

The first thing to do is to check the state of health of the mouth to assess the situation of the gums, if there has been any previous problem or if there is bleeding when brushing or chewing. But as a general rule, with a cleaning or a small complementary treatment, our mouth will be ready for the implant.

In the event that the tooth has been missing for some time and as a result part of the bone tissue surrounding it has been lost, which is inevitable if it has not been treated in time, we have to help the bone to regenerate by means of filling or bone grafting techniques, which are simpler than their name may indicate.

Thanks to these techniques, 99.9% of people can have dental implants without any problems.

3

How long does the dental implant process take?

With the latest techniques we are able to make the implant in 6 hours.

From the first day you enter the office until you leave with a perfect smile, between 3 and 6 months may pass, depending on the complexity of the case, but in that time you will only have to visit the clinic about 5 or 6 times. The rest of the time is for the implant to settle and adapt to your mouth.

But these deadlines can be greatly shortened thanks to immediate implants or as it is technically called: immediate load implantology. It consists of a single intervention in which there is no need to wait for healing, and that same day we place the implant and the tooth.

Yes, you read that right, with the latest techniques we are able to make the implant in 6 hours and it will last for life (in fact we have been using this technique for 10 years). This tooth will be replaced by the definitive one in 3-4 months, but you will have the result from the first day.

4

Will it hurt, will it prevent me from eating or living a normal life?

No, the idea that implants are painful or annoying is a thing of the past. Today it is a minimally invasive surgery that only produces a slight inflammation, which is not visible from the outside, and the pain is eliminated with the same medication as a headache.

The first days a soft diet is recommended but on the fourth day you can eat normally. No sick leave is necessary, you can go to work without discomfort and without anyone noticing and, on the seventh day, when the stitches are removed, you can go back to normal life.

Obviously this process is not exact for each person but the dentist can tell you almost from the first moment the approximate recovery process that you will have in your case.

5

How will my implant look like?

There are several factors that affect the esthetic result but the appearance of the gum surrounding the tooth and the tooth itself; size, color and shape, are the main ones.

The implant with immediate loading is the one that offers the best result in terms of esthetics and comfort, since by placing the temporary fixed tooth from the beginning, the volume of the gum is better maintained, resulting in a more natural appearance.

In addition, in our case, we carry out an esthetic study by means of a digital design of the smile so that we know what the result will be like before starting the treatment.

6

Is the maintenance of an implant complicated?

No, an implant is more delicate than a natural tooth, so it will require more care, but it does not require complex or specific care. In addition, the type of maintenance and long-term success can be predicted.

and your dentist should inform you of this before you start treatment.

You should know from the first moment what you should do to take care of the implant, what revisions should be made and if there is any risk that you should take into account. This way you will be able to take better care of your implants and make them an excellent solution for life.

7

How long does the dental implant process take?

The cost of an implant, of the complete treatment, should be between 1.000€ and 1.800€.

As you probably know the cost can vary greatly from one clinic to another. The important thing is to ask yourself why some are so cheap. In our clinic we have dozens of cases of people who had “low cost” implants and come to us to solve the problems that have arisen from a bad intervention.

The cost of an implant, of the complete treatment, should be between €1,000 and €1,800. Any reduction in this figure will be due to the use of lower quality materials, less qualified professionals or a reduction in the time spent. This usually leads to setbacks that imply health problems, new interventions and a significant increase in cost.

Therefore, it is essential to get it right the first time, even if the initial investment is a little higher.

8

How do I choose the right professional?

Your intuition before the first visit is fundamental. How they have treated you, what confidence they have given you, what assessments have the clinic or the professional who will take your case, how they have informed you about the situation, the process…

A good professional will spend time with you. Not only to explore you but to explain how the treatment should be, with its pros and cons, and will make an assessment that is best for you, not for the clinic. And something fundamental, a good professional will listen to you and answer all the doubts you have as many times as you consider necessary.

Conclusion

If you are missing a tooth, it is very important that you see a specialist as soon as possible because the problem gets worse as time goes by. It is not only a question of aesthetics. It is a health issue.

Dental implant procedures are becoming less invasive, less uncomfortable and faster. The famous “fear of the dentist” no longer applies here because in a few sessions and almost without you noticing it, if you are in the hands of a good professional, you can enjoy a perfect smile.

But before choosing your dentist, you must be well informed. About the clinic you go to, about the professional who will treat you, about the techniques they apply and the experience they have. And the price should not be a decisive element, important yes, but not decisive because any lower price is given by a poorer quality of materials, service or less qualified professionals.

At Ahoa we are specialists in dental implants. In addition, we are researchers and university professors, so our treatments are backed by well-proven scientific results. Here you can see how we work and our fees. And, of course, for any questions you have you can call us, write us or come to the clinic, we will be happy to help you in everything you consider necessary.

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