When you’re suffering from tooth loss, you want to know what all of your options are to determine the best tooth replacement plan for your needs, budget, and lifestyle. Among the most preferred option to treat tooth loss are dental implants. Implants offer the next best thing next to your natural teeth. But, receiving implants does require a fairly invasive surgery. As a result, we know that you have some questions. As a leading dentist for implants, Dr. Mariliza Lacap answers the most common questions regarding implants to help you make an educated decision.
What Can I Expect During Dental Implant Surgery?
Using a local anesthesia, bio-compatible titanium posts are surgically inserted into the jaw bone. With the use of anesthesia, you’ll feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure. Once the anesthesia has worn off, you’ll heal fairly quickly as your bone begins to fuse to the post. You may experience minor discomfort, but anti-inflammatory and pain medications will resolve the discomfort.
What is the Recovery Process Like?
After your surgery, you won’t have any open wounds to care for. However, you will need to take a little extra precaution while eating. You’ll want to limit the contact of foods and beverages to the incision sites as much as possible to avoid infection and irritation. You’ll want to stay hydrated while sticking to soft foods.
How Long Will the Entire Treatment Take?
The process to getting dental implants varies depending on your individual treatment plans. While some dental practices offer same-day implants, most often treatment will last two to nine months. Treatment takes a while because it involves multiple phases. The first phase involves the surgical process of inserting the posts. Once your bone has fused to the post, abutments are placed on the posts to allow a prosthetic crown to be attached.
How Long Will My Implants Last?
Implants are made to last a lifetime, however, the length of time your implants last depend on a few different factors. The titanium post will last forever with the right care. However, your prosthetic crown will need to be replaced periodically due to daily wear and tear.
Can My Body Reject Implants?
In very rare cases, your body will reject an implant. The main cause for implant failure is due to infection. With the right aftercare and proper oral health prior to the procedure, your success rate for dental implants is over 95 percent.
Are Implants Covered by Insurance?
In most cases, no. Implants are considered to be an elective procedure so insurances usually won’t cover the surgery. However, there are certain aspects of your treatment that insurance may cover, such as if extractions are needed.
Your Dentist for Dental Implants
At Washington Dental Associates, we are your trusted dentist for dental implants. We will create a customized treatment plan to give you a complete smile. Using the latest innovations in dentistry, we’ll safely and effectively perform your implant procedure. If you’re ready to benefit from implants, contact us today to learn more.