Cautious Care: Are Dental Implants Safe?

If you’ve lost one or more teeth and are considering replacements, you could potentially benefit from dental implants. Many experts consider these the ideal way to restore your smile because their unique placement in your jawbone provides several advantages over alternatives like dentures or dental bridges.

Despite this, plenty of patients hesitate to schedule the procedure because they’re unsure how safe it is. Continue reading to learn more about what to expect so you can set your mind at ease!

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are prosthetics that include a titanium rod surgically embedded in your jawbone. Depending on your needs, this rod is capped with an appropriate restoration, such as a dental crown, bridge, or dentures.

Once they’re placed, your jawbone fuses with the metal so that it becomes a permanent part of your grin. This gives your new teeth the strength and stability they’re known for.

Are Dental Implants Safe?

This procedure includes an oral surgery, and many patients wonder whether it’s safe to undergo. Typically, this treatment is considered perfectly safe if it’s provided by a qualified practitioner. They will update your medical history to ensure that no other conditions, like diabetes, gum disease, or autoimmune issues, interfere with your recovery. They can increase your vulnerability to infection by suppressing your immune system and interfering with your body’s ability to heal effectively.

Your dentist will also take X-rays and other images as needed to establish that you have sufficient jawbone density to support your restorations. If you’re not a good candidate right away, don’t worry! Sometimes, a bone graft procedure can bulk it up enough to proceed.

What Factors Affect Dental Implant Success?

Although dental implants have a high success rate of 95%, they’re not entirely invincible. In addition to having another medical condition, some habits and behaviors that can harm them and negatively affect your oral health include:

• Medications. Some prescribed drugs, like heartburn medications, interfere with calcium processing and can keep your jawbone from fusing around your restoration.
• Tobacco use. If you smoke vapes or cigarettes or chew tobacco, you’re exposing your teeth and gums to nicotine, which is a vasoconstrictor. It limits your blood oxygen levels and flow so your body is unable to deliver infection-fighting cells and nutrients to your mouth after surgery.
• Your oral hygiene routine. You should brush and floss twice daily and schedule regular checkups with your dentist every 6 months to prevent tooth decay, gum disease, or other dental problems that could affect your implants.

If you’re unsure whether dental implants are right for you, the best way to find out is to schedule a consultation with your dentist!

About the Author

Dr. Jonathan Aguilar enjoys getting to know his patients so he can tailor their treatment plans to their unique needs. He earned his dental doctorate from the Texas A&M College of Dentistry and has worked in numerous dental settings, including the corporate world, at a non-profit public health clinic, and in private offices. Today, he combines art and science to provide a complete array of top-tier services at one convenient location, including dental implants. He partners with only the best local surgeons and then creates a lifelike prosthetic to restore your smile. You can request an appointment on the website or call (940) 566-5332.