Missing Teeth Are Not Scary! Have You Considered Dental Implants?

The impact of missing teeth on your daily life goes beyond just being unable to chew or speak clearly. It can also lead to loss of support for your bite and surrounding tissues (like lips), and even affect your facial appearance.

If you're struggling with the troubles of missing teeth, choosing dental implants can restore your bite function, allowing you to continue eating hard and chewy foods, like apples and nuts. It can also improve your facial appearance and address jawbone loss.

For yellowing teeth or cavities caused by decay or periodontal disease, dental implants are also an effective solution. Implants can replace the original teeth and, with proper care, can last 10 years or longer. Moreover, based on scientific evidence from the past 30 years, dental implants have become the preferred choice for treating tooth loss. Advances in regenerative materials and digital technology mean that implants can now accommodate patients with various conditions.

Compared to dentures and dental bridges, dental implants are a more expensive treatment option, but they have significant advantages. Implants can achieve a restoration effect that closely resembles the function, structure, and aesthetics of natural teeth, making them the first choice for an increasing number of patients with missing teeth. Additionally, internationally recognized clinical statistics show that the five-year success rate for implants is around 85%, and their failure rate is lower than the natural tooth loss rate. Therefore, before starting treatment, it is important to fully understand what dental implants are and other related matters.

1 Dental implant process

Dental implants consist of three parts:

☛ A titanium alloy screw that replaces the tooth root

☛ An abutment — the connection between the screw and the crown

☛ The implant crown

Implants are designed to mimic natural teeth and are surgically fixed in a specific position in the jawbone, making them permanently anchored in the mouth without needing to be removed like dentures.

Next, the implant is placed in the mouth. Before the procedure, the dentist will administer local anesthesia, so you won't feel any pain during the surgery. A small incision is made along the gum line, and a hole is drilled into the bone to create a socket for the implant. Once the area has healed, the oral surgeon will insert the titanium screw as a support for the crown. Finally, a tooth-shaped cap called an abutment is screwed onto the screw, and the gums are sutured, completing the implant procedure.

2 Dental implant costs

The cost of a single dental implant typically includes three fees: the implant fee, the crown fee, and medical service fees. The cost for a single implant ranges from $1,000 to $3,000, but this does not include the abutment and crown fees, which range from $500 to $3,000. Thus, the average cost for a single dental implant is about $4,250. If your situation requires bone grafting or tooth extraction, the cost for a single implant can rise to $10,000. The cost for full-mouth implants ranges from $80,000 to $100,000.

However, many dental insurance plans now cover part of the implant costs. The best dental insurance plans that provide coverage for implants can help you save up to 50% of the implant treatment costs after approximately a 12-month waiting period.

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3 Precautions for dental implant surgery

(1) Precautions before booking surgery

Any adult with mature teeth, regardless of age, can undergo dental implant surgery. However, if you are in the following situations, the treatment time may be extended: under the age of 18; suffering from severe gum disease; suffering from high blood pressure; suffering from diabetes; suffering from a critical illness such as cancer; suffering from severe osteoporosis.

Other precautions include:

● After booking the surgery, perform systematic periodontal cleaning 1-2 weeks before the surgery;

● Before the implant surgery, perform routine examinations: blood pressure, blood routine, glycated hemoglobin, coagulation function, and infection markers;

● Before and after the surgery, try to avoid catching a cold, do not smoke or drink, women should avoid menstruation, and do not wear makeup on the day of surgery;

● On the day of surgery, bring relevant examination results, previous medical records, and treatment drugs that you usually take or have in reserve, and arrive at the clinic on time according to the appointment time.

(2) Postoperative care

● Do not eat or drink any hot food within the first 24 hours. It is strongly recommended to eat softer foods.

● If you are a smoker, do not smoke within the first 48 hours after surgery as this may cause bleeding and affect healing.

● Apply ice packs as often as possible on the day of surgery to help reduce swelling. Before going to bed, apply ice for 10 minutes and then remove it for 10 minutes.

● Do not rinse your mouth on the day of surgery as this may cause bleeding. The next day, you can gently rinse your mouth with warm saline or Peridex (if prescribed by your doctor). You can continue to brush your teeth tomorrow.

● When you lie down today, use a pillow to raise your head. Do not bend over, lift heavy objects, or participate in any strenuous activities for the rest of today.

● Do not use a straw. Any pulling or suctioning may cause bleeding. Only drink from a glass or cup.

● You will notice slight bleeding on the day of surgery. This is normal. If you notice that the bleeding does not begin to slow down, soak a tea bag with cold water and press firmly on the area for 20 minutes.

● If you have taken pain medication, be sure to keep food in your body. You must not drive while taking this medicine as your senses may be impaired. If you have taken antibiotics, follow the instructions your healthcare provider gave you about that medicine.

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