Dental Implants

Common Questions About Dental Implants

• Are there any aftercare instructions for dental implants?

  After dental implant placement, it’s important to be mindful of the placement site to avoid any disturbance. It’s recommended that you avoid chewing near the implant and practice careful cleaning for several weeks to a month after placement. This allows the dental implant to fuse to the jaw properly, and the fewer disturbances during this period, the better. Also, if you have a temporary denture to replace missing dentition, it’s crucial that the denture does not rub on the surgical site.

  Following implantation, extraction, or grafting, you may experience typical discomforts associated with any oral surgery, such as swelling, pain at the site, and minor bleeding. To ensure proper healing and recovery during the first two weeks after any procedure, below are some specific recommendations:

  Pain Management: Ibuprofen is recommended to reduce pain and swelling after surgery.

  Oral Hygiene: It’s important to practice gentle brushing to keep the recovering area clean and avoid irritation from overly aggressive brushing. Warm salt water rinses can also help keep the area clean and reduce pain and swelling.

  Minor Bleeding: It’s common to have a small amount of blood in your saliva for a day or two after oral surgeries. If this happens, gently biting on a gauze pad for 30 minutes can help. If bleeding continues for more than a few days, please contact our office.

  Swelling: Besides ibuprofen and saltwater rinses, periodically using an ice pack on the cheek near the affected area can help alleviate swelling.

• How long do dental implants last?

  Dental implants are meant to last a lifetime. The post itself will fuse with your jawbone and should never require replacement or further intervention unless rare complications occur. Dental crowns, or the artificial tooth itself, that is attached to the dental implant can have a lifetime of between 10 and 30 years. Dental crowns require the same care as normal teeth. With twice-a-day brushing, flossing, and regular dental checkups the lifespan of your crown can be greatly increased.

  Dental implants are a very safe and effective type of restoration dentistry. However, there is a small chance that the dental implant will fail to integrate with the jawbone in the short term period after implantation and need to be removed. Certain medical conditions can put you at a higher risk for implant failure. As with any surgery, there is a potential risk of surgical complications when placing a dental implant.

  At Mint Dental Care we provide all our patients with thorough post-op instructions and a maintenance care contract that serves as a warranty on the implant as long as the contract is followed.

• Are dental implants painful?

  The most painful part of the dental implant process is extracting any teeth that implanted crowns will replace. However, any extraction will include anesthesia, meaning little to no pain during the procedure and only a few days of recovery. Any pain experienced during recovery should also be manageable using over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen.

• How do I know if I need a bone graft?

  A bone graft may be required if you don’t have sufficient bone to support a dental implant. The only way to determine the need for a bone graft is to consult with your dental implant specialist. However, if you’ve lost one or more teeth and haven’t replaced them for an extended period, the likelihood of requiring a bone graft is greater. The gradual loss of bone occurs over time when teeth are absent. Additionally, if you experience a change in your jaw shape over time, it may indicate oral bone loss.

• Are dental implants worth it?

  Many of our patients ask whether dental implants are worth the cost. While every situation is unique, we have to answer unequivocally, yes. Going without teeth, besides affecting both the look of your smile and your ability to eat, will eventually lead to reduced bone in the jaw and further complications from there. Dental implants stabilize bone levels, unlike dentures, crowns, or other restoration methods. In a broader sense, compared to other restoration methods, such as crowns, bridges, or traditional dentures, dental implants are, without a doubt, superior. Offering a more natural feel, fit, and greater lifespan, if possible, dental implants are what we recommend and are the restoration method with which our patients report the highest satisfaction.