If you are missing one or more teeth due to trauma, tooth decay or gum disease, then you may be a good candidate for dental implants. Amit Pabari, Principal Dentist at Stourbridge Dental and Implant Clinic sets out some points below, which may help you decide.
1. You have a failing tooth which is still in place
If you have a tooth (or teeth) which is badly affected by decay or gum disease, or has broken beyond the point of repair, a dental implant may be a great choice. We recommend that you make this decision before the tooth is extracted as sometimes an implant can be placed at the same time as the tooth is removed.
2. You are frustrated by loose dentures
Loose dentures can cause frustration and embarrassment in social situations and make it impossible to eat certain types of food, with detrimental effects to digestion and overall health. Usually with loose dentures people resort to using lots of denture adhesive, which can leave an unpleasant taste in the mouth as well as being cumbersome to clean. It is entirely possible to use a small number of implants to stabilise the denture making it comfortable in use. This can help to restore confidence eating, speaking and smiling at a lower cost than fixed implant bridgework.
3. Your root canal treatment failed
Root canal treated teeth are susceptible to decay and fracture. Many patients who have failed root canal treatment opt for dental implants, which are not susceptible to decay and almost never break. Implants are an excellent and prudent alternative to the root canal and crowning procedures.
4. You have a fear of dental procedures
Dental implant placement can be carried out under local anesthetic as with normal dental work, during the procedure, you should feel no more discomfort than you would for any typical dental treatment.
However for patients who are particularly anxious, we can offer intravenous sedation to allow you to relax peacefully while we carry out your treatment.
Although you may have soreness for a few days after placement of the implants, over-the-counter pain relief medication will alleviate the discomfort for most patients.
If you believe you could be a good candidate for dental implants and would like to learn more or discuss your options we hold informal presentations at the practice as well as free consultations.