Dental implants are used to replace teeth that have been lost. Implants are surgically inserted into a patient's jawbone. The implant, which replaces the dental root of the missing tooth, fuses with the bone during the months that follow the implant surgery. Once this fusion is complete, the implant is stable inside the jawbone.
A dental implant can be used to replace a single tooth, or it can support other tooth-replacement options, such as dental bridges or dentures.
Most dental implants are successful. However, certain practices can cause a dental implant to be more likely to fail. Here are a few measures you can take to help ensure the success of your dental implant:
Don't smoke.
Smoking delays the healing of the implant wound. Improper healing can prevent an implant from fusing properly with the jawbone, inciting failure.
The implant site of a smoker receives less oxygen than the wound of a non-smoker. In addition, tobacco can be irritating to the soft tissues of the mouth, making a wound less likely to heal quickly. Smoking can also restrict the blood flow to the implant wound.
Smoking should be abandoned months prior to an implant surgery. In addition, smoking should be avoided during the period surrounding the placement of the implant and during the subsequent healing process.
Don't drink too much.
Heavy drinking has also been associated with implant failure. High blood concentrations of alcohol can promote bleeding at the wound.
In addition, alcohol is often prohibited when certain types of pain medication are used. The alcohol may even interact with anesthesia that is administered during the implantation procedure. Severe interactions between alcohol and pain medicines can result in an overdose that could be life threatening.
Wear a mouth guard.
If you regularly participate in contact sports, you should wear a mouth guard after getting a dental implant. A blow to the mouth can shift the implanted rod or screw out of position. Once the implant becomes loose within the jawbone, it fails, and a new implant would need to be installed.
A mouth guard should also be worn if you regularly grind your teeth at night. The guard can absorb some of the bite pressure that could cause a dental implant to shift from its position.
To learn more things that you can do to protect a dental implant or to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your area.
Share15 April 2016
When the bottled water craze began, I jumped on the bandwagon with everyone else who was drinking water from bottles instead of from the tap. I wasn't sure why bottled water was healthier, but I liked the taste. When I went for my next dental check-up, I had my first cavity in a while, so I had it filled and didn't think much of it. Well, I had two more during my next check-up after that, and I began trying to think of why my teeth were suddenly going bad. The only change in my habits was the switch to bottled water, so I made the switch back to tap water and my teeth began to improve. I created this blog to encourage others who have begun getting cavities suddenly to look into their changes in habits. They may find they made a change similar to mine.